Leipheimer leads Discovery bicycling team at 2007 California tour

George Hincapie riding too, but focusing on Euro classics

American Levi Leipheimer will lead the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team at the 2007 Amgen Tour of California, Feb. 18-25.

Filling out the Discovery roster at the 2nd annual California tour is Ivan Basso, George Hincapie, Tom Danielson, Tony Cruz, Brian Vandborg, Jason McCartney and Tomas Vaitkus.

Leipheimer (pictured in 2006) is returning to the squad after an absence of several years (he previously rode for the team as US Postal in 2000 and 2001). He most recently rode at leader of Germany's Gerolsteiner squad.

Individually, the members of this year's Discovery roster did well in the inaugural Tour of California (the 2006 Tour of California was won by Phonak's Floyd Landis.)

Leipheimer, then with Gerolsteiner, won the prologue and wore the golden jersey for two days. He also won the king of the mountains jersey. Hincapie finished in fourth overall last year, winning two sprint finishes along the way. Danielson finished 8th overall; McCartney, 10th.

Leipheimer told VeloNews that he did well the first two days, but may have made a mistake by staying at his home in Santa Rosa at the end of the second day.

“It was an emotional day, and I didn't sleep well that night. I made the mistake of sleeping at home, and I was kind of rushing around, doing stuff, and the next day [stage 2] I was good, but I paid for it, I think. I went too hard the day before time trial. I rode aggressively on Sierra Road with Floyd. I thought we could put the race away between the two of us. I gave a lot of gas – too much, looking back. But whatever… I had the lead, and I was excited.”

In addition to Tour of California, Johan Bruyneel, team manager, expects to put Leipheimer in another big American bike race, the Tour of Georgia, as well as Paris-Nice, the Vuelta a Casitilla y Lyon, the Dauphine Libere and the Tour de France.

Although popular team mate Hincapie is riding the Tour of California and Tour de France, he's looking to do well in the European classics this year. He slated to race in Paris-Nice, Milan-San Remo, Three Days of de Panne, Tour of Flanders, Gent-Wevelgem, and the elusive Paris-Roubaix.