Where Are They Now? (Part I)

Eight Americans and one Canadian rode in the 2012 Tour de France, with Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) 5th place GC finish being the highest placement, and also the Best Young Rider.  This post will identify the nine riders, and give an update on their status, particularly as to whether they might ride again in the Tour for 2013.

Tejay Van Garderen (BMC): His 2012 Tour result are noted above.  So far in 2013 he has at least three top-5 finishes, and he entered this week’s Tour of California among the favorites.  I rank him as a sure thing for this year’s Tour de France.

George Hincapie (BMC): 2012 was his last Tour de France, and he set the record for most appearance in that race at 17.  He retired from competitive racing.  He was among the former teammates who testified against Lance Armstrong, and confessed to doping during their association with him.  Certain of his prior race results were annulled, and he received a 6-month ban on competing in sanctioned events, even though he had already announced his retirement.  Hincapie will not ride in this year’s Tour.

Chris Horner: (RadioShack): He scored a 13th place GC finish in the 2012 Tour.  He is riding well this spring, with a 6th place finish in Tirreno-Adriatico.  Expect Horner to be part of the RadioShack team again in this year’s TDF.

David Zabriskie (Garmin-Sharp): Like George Hincapie, Dave also testified against Armstrong, and admitted his own past doping.  USADA and UCI stripped him of 3 years’ race results, and imposed a 6-month ban on competing.  The ban ended March 1, 2013, so he is racing again.  He is currently riding in the Tour of California, and should be on the Garmin team for the 2013 Tour de France.

Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Sharp): Like Zabriskie, Vande Velde also testified against Armstrong and confessed to doping.  He lost 2 years’ of race results, and received the same 6-month ban.  He fractured his metacarpal in the Volta a Catalunya early in 2013.  I have not heard how his recovery is going, but if he heals sufficiently and maintains his conditioning, he will likely ride in the 2013 TDF.

Tom Danielson (Garmin-Sharp): Same story as Hincapie, Zabriskie and Vande Velde.  He has served his 6-month ban and is racing again.  He has done well so far in 2013, with four races in which he finished in 11th place or better.  He should be an important member of the Garmin team for this year’s Tour de France.

Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp): 2012 was a disappointing year for Tyler, including narrowly escaping the Lanterne Rouge in the Tour de France.  He also suffered a concussion in the Tour of Britain later in the season.  But he has been cleared to ride again, and has several high placements in 2013.  In one interview, he said he is refocusing his training on the sprint discipline, and that he hopes to win some sprint stages at the 2013 TDF.

Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp): Ryder vaulted into national hero status in Canada last year with his GC victory in the Giro d’Italia.  In the Tour de France, he led his team through five stages (8th GC) before a crash in Stage 6 dropped him from the Tour and cut short his chance for double glory.  He is riding strongly this year, and is currently among the leaders in the Giro.  Expect Ryder Hesjedal to make plenty of noise in this year’s Tour de France.

Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma Quickstep 2012): Like others in this list, Levi testified against Armstrong, and was sanctioned for his own failings – stripped of some race results and banned for 6 months.  When those sanctions were imposed, Omega Pharma Quickstep fired him.  He has served his time and can race again, but I have searched in vain for any news of his being hired by another team.  The only thing I found was that in early May, he teamed with two high school mountain bikers – Liz Maguirre and Nathan Barnett – to win the co-ed division of a mountain bike race in Northern California called the Boggs Enduro.  (See attached photo from the Lake County Record Bee.)  I do not expect Levi Leipheimer to ride in the 2013 Tour de France.  I will miss him.  I wonder if he will ride in the Tour of Utah?

Nathan Barnett, Levi Leipheimer and Liz Maguirre celebrate their victory in the co-ed division of the Boggs Enduro, May, 2013.  (Photo from Lake County Record Bee)

Levi Leipheimer (yellow jersey) chased by Paco Manceba, 2010 Tour of Utah

My Granddaughter, Kylee Shaffer, in the finals of the Utah High School Mountain Bike league, 2012.  Kylee, how would you like to team up with Levi Leipheimer in a race like this?