I can't think of a better phrase than Phil Liggett's classic line "the ride of his life" to describe Levi Leipheimer's time trial win today in the Tour de France.
By winning the time trail, Leipheimer pretty much assured that an American will be standing on the podium tomorrow for the ninth consecutive year. Granted, it most likely will be for third place rather than first place, but it's still a nice place to be.
Barring unforeseen circumstances -- and there have been plenty on this Tour -- Leipheimer's Discovery Channel teammate, Alberto Contador, will be on the top step of the podium. Discovery Channel has all but won the team title.
Watching today's stage has caused me to reassess what I said Wednesday about the Tour de France and bicycle racing.
One, there is still plenty of glory to be had in cycling at the highest levels. While much of the media will remain focused on cycling's serious doping problem, anyone who can ride 34.52 miles in 1:02:44 as Leipheimer did today deserves all the glory he can get.
And while the doping scandals still may have an impact on events such as the Tour of Missouri, the presence of the Discovery Channel team cannot do anything but help the stature of that event. The Kansas City Star reported this week that Leipheimer likely will participate in the Tour of Missouri.
While the Tour of Missouri doesn't have a title sponsor as of today, it still has plenty of other sponsors, and organizers will be busy in the coming week revealing details about the route. Here's a schedule for the press conferences:
Kansas City: Monday, July 30, 11 a.m.Country Club Plaza, 810 Zone, 4686 Broadway
Columbia: Tuesday, July 31, 10 a.m.the Henry County Courthouse, 100 W. Franklin
Springfield: Tuesday, July 31, 1 p.m.Jordan Valley Park, 635 E. Trafficway
Branson: Tuesday, July 31, 4 p.m.Branson Landing on Branson Landing Blvd.
Lebanon: Wednesday, August 1, 10 a.m.Lebanon City Hall, 401 Madison Blvd.
Columbia: Wednesday, August 1, 2 p.m. Convention & Visitors Bureau, 300 S. Providence Jefferson City: Wednesday, August 1, 4:30 p.m. Convention & Visitors Bureau, 213 Adams
St. Louis: Thursday, August 2, 11 a.m. St. Louis Union Station, Grand Hall, 1820 Market
While there are plenty of problems that cycling has to solve, I'm confident the sport will overcome them.Labels: cycling, racing, Tour de France, Tour of Missouri
Roger 1 comments links to this post 12:09 PM
Find out about the latest cycling news here!
Bicycle racing feeds
» Cyclist Stephen Alfred banned for life for refusing drug test; considered 3rd offense (AP)
02/06/08 00:26 from Yahoo! Sports - Cycling News
» National Development Team Prepares to Open Season in Belize
02/05/08 23:11 from USA Cycling News Headlines
» Astana keen to impress after Giro snub (Reuters)
02/05/08 09:52 from Yahoo! Sports - Cycling News
» USA Cycling Unveils 33-Man National Development Team Roster
02/04/08 22:39 from USA Cycling News Headlines
» British pair out of Giro d'Italia
02/04/08 18:35 from BBC Sport | Other Sports | Cycling | World Edition
» Boonen secures victory in Qatar
02/02/08 09:21 from BBC Sport | Other Sports | Cycling | World Edition
» 2008 Tour of Missouri - Announces Cities & Stages - Daily Peloton
02/02/08 01:06 from Tour of Missouri - Google News
» Lebanon, Rolla to host stages in 2008 Tour of Missouri - Waynesville Daily Guide
02/01/08 22:26 from Tour of Missouri - Google News
» Contador not sure of Tour place
02/01/08 19:14 from BBC Sport | Other Sports | Cycling | World Edition
» Astana and High Road denied Giro entry following doping cases (AP)
02/01/08 19:13 from Yahoo! Sports - Cycling News
» USA Cycling Hosts Women's Leadership and Coaching Clinics
02/01/08 19:04 from USA Cycling News Headlines
» Tour of Missouri Announces Host Cities
02/01/08 18:14 from USA Cycling News Headlines
» Boonen wins Tour of Qatar after capturing his 3rd stage win in race (AP)
02/01/08 17:00 from Yahoo! Sports - Cycling News
» Mountain bike course 'too easy'
02/01/08 15:59 from BBC Sport | Other Sports | Cycling | World Edition
» Rolla, St. James amped over Tour of Missouri participation - The Rolla Daily News
02/01/08 11:34 from Tour of Missouri - Google News
» Boonen wins final stage, overall
02/01/08 10:16 from Yahoo! Sport - Cycling
» Tour of Missouri will be back this fall - Jefferson City News Tribune
01/31/08 22:07 from Tour of Missouri - Google News
» USA Cycling News Update: Feb. 1
01/31/08 19:31 from USA Cycling News Headlines
» Wiggins's father dies in suspicious circumstances
01/31/08 17:21 from Yahoo! Sport - Cycling
» Napolitano wins stage five in Qatar
01/31/08 11:59 from Yahoo! Sport - Cycling
» PEOPLE WATCH - Fort Worth Star Telegram
02/06/08 11:09 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» Lance Armstrong Picks Keane For Running Compilation Not once but ... - Gigwise
02/06/08 10:53 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» Lance Armstrong Fails to Win Back Tory Burch - New York Magazine
02/06/08 08:28 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» Sheryl Crow's mother meaning - The List
02/06/08 07:09 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» Morgans Hotel Group Appoints Michael D. Malone to Board of Directors - FOXBusiness
02/05/08 15:45 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» Airvana Enters Global Sourcing Deal With Thomson - Quick Facts [AIRV] - RTT News
02/05/08 15:33 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» A trip back to the beginning - Buffalo News
02/05/08 12:09 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» Talking Shop: Sheryl Crow - BBC News
02/05/08 09:29 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» A little bit closer to feeling fine - Globe and Mail
02/05/08 08:42 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» A little bit closer to feeling fine - Globe and Mail
02/05/08 08:32 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» View From The Saddle - Can't we all just get along?
02/05/08 19:37 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» NYC receives ``Bicycle Friendly'' award
02/05/08 19:34 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» The Guru has left the temple
02/05/08 18:25 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» Danger in the bike lane
02/04/08 20:05 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» Bike adventurer loves Âfair SAÂ
02/04/08 20:02 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» Crossbreed Folding Wheel Makes Bikes Even Smaller
02/04/08 19:59 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» We need a Bicyclist Bill of Rights
02/04/08 18:29 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» KC: Become a Safety Ambassador
02/01/08 20:07 from BicycleNews-MoBikeFed
» Philly next to embrace public-use bicycles?
02/01/08 19:58 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» 8th Annual Bicycle Film Festival Calls for Entries
02/01/08 19:56 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» Mayor Slay supports STLBikeFed's new Hit & Run Justice Fund
02/01/08 19:11 from BicycleNews-MoBikeFed
» Chillicothe moving forward with rail-trail deal
01/31/08 00:42 from BicycleNews-MoBikeFed
» The HumanCar has the power to revolutionize transport
01/30/08 19:27 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» Commuting in the liquid lane
01/30/08 19:24 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» Fixed-gear bicycles gain popularity among students
01/30/08 19:17 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» Jennifer Aniston was a bike messenger
02/06/08 00:30 from Cyclelicious
» Jennifer Aniston's new $12,000 bike
02/05/08 20:42 from Cyclelicious
» Canadian's buys Cannondale, Sugoi
02/05/08 18:15 from Cyclelicious
» typetext
02/05/08 05:24 from Cyclelicious
» Crazy bus passenger
02/05/08 05:02 from Cyclelicious
» Sheldon Brown
02/04/08 19:35 from Cyclelicious
» DKNY orange bicycles
02/04/08 18:48 from Cyclelicious
» Cycling and right hooks
02/04/08 17:31 from Cyclelicious
» Look for me at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show 2008
02/04/08 05:33 from Cyclelicious
» St. Louis Cyclists Fight Back
02/03/08 17:10 from The Cycling Dude
» Folding bicycle wheel
02/02/08 18:45 from Cyclelicious
» 2008 Tour of Missouri cities announced
02/01/08 23:01 from Cyclelicious
» In a pickle... (and win a free lock)
02/01/08 19:07 from Cyclelicious
» Major Taylor
02/01/08 17:16 from Cyclelicious
» For the record...
02/01/08 00:16 from Cyclelicious
» This is dumb.....
02/06/08 11:54 from Bike riding donut guy
» Sick day
02/06/08 07:03 from Up in Alaska
» typetext
02/05/08 13:50 from Bike riding donut guy
» It's all about the fastnachts..........
02/05/08 10:36 from Bike riding donut guy
» Sick, again
02/05/08 03:14 from Up in Alaska
» Super Bowl...........
02/04/08 10:17 from Bike riding donut guy
» The story of stuff
02/04/08 05:30 from Up in Alaska
» An informal poll..........
02/03/08 11:28 from Bike riding donut guy
» Biking the Back Nine
02/03/08 03:54 from Dan On Bike
» Ten
02/02/08 11:01 from Bike riding donut guy
» Peak weekend and the big move
02/02/08 10:10 from Up in Alaska
» January 2008
02/02/08 01:28 from Dan On Bike
» January 2008 Total
02/01/08 01:28 from Dan On Bike
» Too much fun.........
01/31/08 21:30 from Bike riding donut guy
» Camping in January
01/30/08 06:44 from Up in Alaska
Cycling blogs
Other blogs of note
Archives