Jake Schoellkopf/The Associated Press

Team Astana leader Levi Leipheimer pedals through a kitchen corridor at the team's winter training hotel, the Embassy Suites, in Albuquerque. Astana — a team of cycling All-Stars including last year's Tour de France winner — is in town because of the elevation. Training at altitude provides an endurance advantage for riders after they return to sea level. Manager Johan Bruyneel also envisions opening an Albuquerque cycling academy in 2009.

Jake Schoellkopf/The Associated Press

Astana cycling team rider Vladimir Gusev watches as team mechanic Faustino Munoz sets the proper alignment on Gusev's cleat. Astana riders are in Albuquerque to train at mile-high elevation.

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Johan Bruyneel is more farmer than miner.

The accomplished coach is a key cog in a collaborative effort to open an Albuquerque cycling academy in 2009.

But Bruyneel's goal goes beyond sifting through American dirt and eventually dusting off the next Lance Armstrong.

"It's basically to motivate young people to live healthy," Bruyneel said.

The manager of the professional cycling tour's Team Astana sees the big picture. He sees the potential to develop multiple young athletes - on and off the bike.

And that's fine with local rider Alex Vinning.

In November, Vinning was selected, after a lengthy application process, to attend the Cycling Center in Belgium (the model for the Albuquerque cycling academy).

Vinning is, as a co-worker put it, "stoked" to train in Europe. And why not? Europe is the epicenter of competitive cycling. Upon arrival March 10, Vinning will have the opportunity to live as a professional cyclist and develop his ability against a much larger talent pool.

He also sees the three-week, transatlantic trip as a chance to develop personally.

"The biggest thing is to be organized and be responsible for yourself," Vinning said, anticipating life in Belgium. "I, personally, need to work on that. I'm not an organized person."

Vinning, 18, said he struggled in traditional school because he would stay up late "doing nothing." He figures more structure will help.

Vinning has a background in endurance sports. He is a former water polo and soccer player. But he is relatively new to cycling.

His initial interest in bikes involved wrenches and grease. Vinning liked to fix old, run-down bikes. That hobby led him to Nob Hill Velo, a local cycling club. Soon he'll be off to Belgium.

"It's such an honor to be involved with this," Vinning said. "Working with (Bruyneel) and everybody."

Levi Leipheimer is in his first year with Astana, but has worked with Bruyneel in the past. Leipheimer has been part of five teams as a professional cyclist and trained all over the world. He sees a bright future for Albuquerque cycling.

"So far, Albuquerque's been great," he said. "We've had unprecedented support from the community. . . . It's impressed all the riders on the team.

"It's going to become a hot spot for cycling."

Leipheimer's reason for that forecast: mild weather, diverse terrain - especially mountains - and local support.

Fellow Astana rider and defending Tour de France champion Alberto Cantador agreed. Through an interpreter, he said: "It was the right choice to come here."

Bruyneel is hoping the same will be true for his cycling academy.

Straight talk: At a news conference earlier this week, Bruyneel and some Astana riders faced several questions regarding performance-enhancing drugs.

Perhaps no sport has been sullied by doping scandal to the extent of pro cycling in recent years, and last year's Astana team was at the center of the issue. The team dropped out of the Tour de France after one rider tested positive for an illegal blood transfusion.

Separate from Astana, Cantador has faced his own doping allegations. Officials barred him from the 2006 Tour de France in connection with Operaci¢n Puerto, a doping-ring scandal. He was later cleared.

Here's a sample of their comments:

"I definitely know the program we're following is not a public relations program. I've studied a few different programs and, in my opinion, the one we're following is the best available. With our doping program, I don't see how somebody could fool the system."

- Bruyneel on Astana's new drug testing program.

"I think that cycling, in the end, is going to be a leader in the world of sports and be an example for other sports. I think, in the end, we can be proud of that. Cycling will survive."

- Leipheimer on the future of his sport.