This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Like most weeks in late June and early July, pro cyclist Levi Leipheimer has been riding through valleys and mountains to log training hours on his bike.
Only this year, his views are of the Wasatch Mountains and not the French Alps.
For the first time since 2002 when he made his Tour de France debut, Leipheimer isn't participating in cycling's grandest race.
Leipheimer's team, Astana, was banned from the race officially because tour organizers said the team had too many ties to past drug scandals.
However, a prevailing belief is the French were tired of Johan Bruyneel coaching a rider to a win.
Bruyneel guided Lance Armstrong to seven wins and Alberto Contador to the 2007 title.
The ban means Contador can't defend his title and that Leipheimer, the third-place finisher a year ago and who would have been America's best hope, is spending the coming weeks grunting through the local mountains instead of the Alps.
Leipheimer, the Rowland Hall graduate who resides in California, is training in Utah under the guidance of his coach, Max Testa.
Instead of the yellow jersey, Leipheimer's goal this summer is a gold medal in the 2008 Olympics. However, he would have liked to have both on his calendar, Testa said.
"Being in Spain now would be too hard for him," Testa said. "I am trying to keep him busy. It would be hard for him to watch on TV."
Also not participating in the 2008 Tour is Salt Lake rider Dave Zabriskie, who is recovering from a crash in May.
Being unable to participate was particularly hard for Leipheimer because it was for reasons out of his control and because he felt he had a good shot at winning, Testa said.
"This is the race all his career he focuses on," Testa said. "He felt he could win. Last year he thought he could win but unfortunately for him the other strongest rider was on his own team."
Leipheimer will race in the Cascade Classic in Bend, Ore., July 9-13 as part of his preparation for the Olympics.
"The Olympics are his main focus now, the tour is next year," Testa said.
The tour will have just four Americans in the race, three of whom are support riders on Garmin Chipotle. The other is George Hincapie, a captain for Team Columbia who is riding in support of Kim Kirchen.
"From our standpoint, it's going to be a different tour for the American people," Testa said. "I don't know if we have anyone who can go for the overall."
The one who could will be here, in Salt Lake City, riding the up beautiful mountain climbs, just not the ones he wanted to be on right now.
Storylines
Key stages: July 8 time trial; July 13 high mountains; July 20 high mountains; July 23 L'Alpe-d'Huez stage; July 26 individual time trial
The favorite: Silence-Lotto's Cadel Evans - The Australian finished in the top 10 the last three years, including second in 2007. He had a strong spring, winning stages in the Vuelta a Andalucia and Paris-Nice, among others. His team boasts Yaroslav Popovych, a former workhorse for Lance Armstrong's team.
Defending champ: Spain's Alberto Contador, who won't compete this year because his team, Astana, is banned for past ties to drug scandals.
Others to watch: Caisse d'Epargne's Alejandro Valverde; Rabobank's Denis Menchov; CSC-Saxo's Carlos Sastre; Lampre's Damiano Cunego
Americans racing: Columbia's George Hincapie; Garmin Chipotle's Christian Vande Velde, Danny Pate and Will Frischkorn
The event
When: Today through July 27
TV: Versus, daily coverage
Why we care: Even with few Americans in the race and no American favorite, the race is still cycling's grandest affair filled with high speed descents, leg numbing climbs, and ghastly crashes you'll want to see over and over again.