Levi Leipheimer’s participation in the Tour of California is in doubt, with the Omega Pharma-QuickStep rider still on the road to recovery having fractured his fibula last month.
The eight-stage race, due to start on Sunday May 13, offers riders an alternative to the Giro d’Italia and Leipheimer, a California resident, has previously targetted the race, claiming three consecutive victories in 2007, 2008 and 2009 before finishing second in 2011.
But the 38-year-old, who finished third in the 2007 Tour de France, has endured a slower recovery than expected after being hit by a car while training in Spain on April 1.
“There’s still pain in my leg,” said Leipheimer. “There’s soreness when I try and apply a little more force or get out of the saddle. I can still train, but it is not easy. I’m not sure about my participation in Tour of California at this point.”
Omega Pharma-QuickStep will “monitor Leipheimer’s condition in the next days, and will determine whether he is healthy enough to make the final selection,” according to a press release issued by the team.
