How high can Levi Leipheimer climb?

June 11, 2006, Stage 7: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Grenoble, 131km

It is the start of the final stage of the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and American Levi Leipheimer (photo) is still in the yellow jersey conquered on Mont Ventoux three days before.  With only a category 3 climb and three category 4 climbs, Stage 7 is nothing compared to what the riders have faced since Ventoux, notably the previous day's stage to La Toussuire won by Iban Mayo.

At the end of the stage, won by Thor Hushovd of Norway, Levi Leipheimer had his biggest career win, joining Greg LeMond (1983), Tyler Hamilton (2000) and Lance Armstrong (2002, 2003) as American winners of the prestigious Dauphiné Libéré.  Not an explosive climber, Leipheimer got it done in the only way that he can, with consistency and control in both the time trials and the mountain stages.

With his return in 2007 to the team of Johan Bruyneel (Leipheimer rode for USPS earlier in his career), Discovery Channel, Leipheimer will ride next month's Tour de France as team leader for an American team for the first time.  After top-ten overall finishes with Rabobank and Gerolsteiner, can Levi crack the top 5?  Can he climb onto the Tour podium?

First, Levi is back to the Dauphiné Libéré to defend his 2006 win.  After dropping to 13th overall at the Tour de France in 2006, after finishing 6th in 2005, will Levi still give it all in June or will he save something for July?

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