By Shane Stokes US rider Levi Leipheimer has dismissed media reports that he pulled out of the US...
Levi Leipheimer (USA) (Image credit: Riccardo Scanferla)
By Shane Stokes
"I had never planned on starting, my intentions were always about the time trial," Leipheimer told Cyclingnews this weekend. "I did not pull out of the road race. [USA Cycling's] Andy Lee knew this all along, yet when I arrived in the US, I read his statements saying I pulled out. This is not true."
USA Cycling spokesman Lee told Cyclingnews that Leipheimer, "didn't feel up for the leadership of our relatively young team at the road race".
The Team Astana rider finished up his 2008 season with second place overall in the Vuelta a España, plus fourth place in Thursday's elite time trial. He was 13 seconds behind team-mate David Zabriskie there, narrowly missing out on a bronze medal.
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