Levi Leipheimer

AUSTIN, Oct 24 (CP) - American Levi Leipheimer has as expected joined Astana. Leipheimer, who placed third in this year's Tour, penned a two-year deal.

The rider will be re-united with many of his former colleagues at the Kazakh-funded team, among them former boss Johan Bruyneel and Tour de France victor Alberto Contador Velasco.

The 34-year-old will hope to shine in next year's Tour, where he considers himself as one of the favourites. The stage-race specialist, who's got overall wins in the Deutschland Tour and in the Dauphiné Libéré on his long list of wins, will likely co-captain the formation together with Contador and Andreas Klöden.

© Magnus Aarre