29 Facts About Levi Leipheimer

Levi Leipheimer was born on October 24,1973 and is an American former professional road racing cyclist.

Levi Leipheimer was twice US national champion, winning the time trial title in 1999 and the road race in 2007, and is an Olympic medalist.

Levi Leipheimer is the patron of the widely attended King Ridge GranFondo, a mass participation ride in Sonoma County.

Levi Leipheimer won the bronze medal in the time trial at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency announced in October 2012 that Levi Leipheimer would be suspended for his involvement in doping while riding for US Postal Service, Rabobank, Gerolsteiner and Astana.

Levi Leipheimer accepted a 6-month ban from September 1,2012 to March 1,2013 and was stripped of all race results from June 1,1999 to July 30,2006, and July 7 to 29,2007.

In May 2013, Levi Leipheimer confirmed his retirement from professional cycling following the termination of his contract with Omega Pharma-Quickstep.

Levi Leipheimer was born and raised in Butte, Montana, where his parents ran a sporting goods store.

Levi Leipheimer, riding for Team Einstein, won the 1996 US National Criterium Championships in Grandview Heights, Ohio, but tested positive for ephedrine, a banned substance.

Levi Leipheimer eventually forfeited his title, prize money and national champion's jersey as well as receiving a three-month suspension.

Levi Leipheimer joined Astana, managed by Johan Bruyneel, former manager of US Postal and Discovery Channel.

Levi Leipheimer created a website to petition, unsuccessfully, for admittance to the 2008 Tour.

At the last minute, Astana was admitted to the Giro d'Italia, and Levi Leipheimer finished 18th, helping teammate Contador to victory.

Levi Leipheimer won the bronze medal at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics in the road time trial.

Levi Leipheimer won both time trials of the 2008 Vuelta a Espana, leading the race after the fifth stage, and placed second overall.

Levi Leipheimer began 2009 by winning the Tour of California for the third consecutive year.

Levi Leipheimer broke away during the final climb of stage 2 and led after the stage.

Levi Leipheimer won the 2009 SRAM Tour of the Gila with Astana teammates Chris Horner and Armstrong, who finished second but, as UCI regulations meant that Astana were ineligible for the event, the three rode as Team Mellow Johnny's, named after Armstrong's bike shop.

Levi Leipheimer moved, along with Armstrong and several others from Astana's 2009 team, to Team RadioShack for 2010.

At the 2010 Tour de California Levi Leipheimer finished in third place overall.

Levi Leipheimer was favored to lead the team in California again for 2011, but became the team's chief domestique instead, riding in support of Chris Horner's eventual victory, after the latter posted a stronger time on mountainous stage four into San Jose.

Levi Leipheimer won the stage finishing at the Mount Baldy ski area, and was second in the individual time trial.

Levi Leipheimer won the first edition of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, winning the first stage and the third stage time trial.

Levi Leipheimer started his year by winning the Tour de San Luis in Argentina.

Levi Leipheimer stated that he thought he would die when the accident happened.

Levi Leipheimer returned to competition at the Tour of California, where he won the "Most Courageous" jersey after stage one, in recognition of his return from the serious injury.

Levi Leipheimer followed his California performance with third place overall in the Tour de Suisse.

Levi Leipheimer won a stage of the Tour of Utah, and finished third overall in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, having led the race for one day.

On Tuesday, October 23,2012, a feature-length documentary on Leipheimer's career entitled The Levi Effect: The Story of Levi Leipheimer was screened in select theaters in the United States.