CARBONDALE, Colorado - Max Sommers couldn't believe it when his dad, one of the Western Slope Omnium's chief organizers, showed him the start list for Friday's Leg Breaker Time Trial, the first race in the three-phase, weekend cycling event.
"My dad handed me the start list for the pros and I saw Levi Leipheimer and Lance Armstrong," the 12-year-old relayed. "I was like, 'Shut up!' He was like, 'No, they're actually coming for the time trial.'"
That's right. Levi Leipheimer and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, two of the cycling world's biggest names, found their way to tiny Carbondale for the Omnium's kickoff race.
The Astana Cycling Team members are thick in training mode for the July 4-26 Tour de France, and used the 16-kilometer time trial, which routed riders along County Road 109 between Carbondale and Glenwood Springs, to test out some new equipment.
"They were testing out some prototype Trek time trial bikes," said Mitch Hyra, who's co-promoting the Omnium alongside Max's dad, Bill Sommers.
Hyra fielded a call from Armstrong's publicist on Thursday and gladly input the stars' names into the start list, albeit inconspicuously. With hopes of heading off a media and fan frenzy, Hyra did his best to keep everything under wraps in advance of the time trial.
"I actually made a conscious decision,” Hyra said. “I told like four people." (Read more...)
Jeff Caspersen
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, CO
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