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RACE REPORTS: TOUR OF CALIFORNIA STAGE 6: LEIPHEIMER DOMINATES SOLVANG TIME TRIAL
Road Bike Action & AFP
February 20, 2009
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(Photo: Ken Conley)
Levi Leipheimer moved closer to a third straight Tour of California title Friday with a triumph in the sixth stage, a key 24-km individual time trial. Leipheimer won the time trial en route to the title in each of the past two editions.
On Friday he was eight seconds in front of American David Zabriskie to extend his overall lead in the race that concludes Sunday near San Diego. Astana's Leipheimer stretched his overall lead to 36 seconds over Zabriskie, who overtook Australian Michael Rogers for second place in the standings.
Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong finished 14th in the time trial, 1min 16sec behind his Astana teammate Leipheimer. Armstrong, who is mounting a comeback this year after a hiatus of three and a half seasons, fell from fourth to sixth in the overall standings, 1:46 off the lead.
Friday's stage in the Danish-themed village of Solvang was his first full-scale time trial in competition since the 2005 Tour de France, the year he won his seventh title in the storied race. "Haven't done anything like that for a long time," Armstrong said. "Went as hard as I could. I wanted to be top 10, top 15, so I have to be pleasantly surprised with the result." Armstrong, 37, said the effort was more painful than he remembered. "It was hard," he said. "I felt better on the hills than on the flat parts. But these flat parts are deceiving. They're not really flat. On the way out is a false flat and headwinds. You suffer more on those.
Also a new position (on his bike), trying to get used to that." Armstrong was riding his one-of-a-kind time trial bike that was stolen after Saturday's prologue and then turned in to police in Sacramento by an unidentified citizen. "I haven't been with it, so I don't know what it's been through," he said. "I thought it was kind of a cool thing that it came back. Don't know how it came back, but it came back." The stolen bike saga, which became a cause on the micro-blogging website Twitter, was just one instance of how Armstrong's participation has focused attention on the once low-key Tour of California.
Leipheimer said Armstrong's presence was certainly all to the good for Astana. "To have him around is all positive because riders, staff, everybody is doing their job above and beyond," he said. "The team runs to perfection and no one can let each other down. It's a great environment. It pushes you to be the best you can. It's a lot of hard work and suffering, but in the end it's worth it."
Armstrong, who launched his comeback at the Tour Down Under in Australia last month and plans to race in the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France, has said his primary goal in California is to help Leipheimer capture his third title. "We have a job to do," he said of the last two days. "Levi is firmly in the jersey now. We don't have to make a show, we just have to protect the jersey."
Leipheimer said that the closer he comes to another Tour of California title, the more he is amazed by Armstrong's run of success in the Tour de France. "It makes me respect him that much more," Leipheimer said. "Because I don't know how the hell he won seven times the Tour de France in a row. "The amount of pressure that's on your shoulders, each time it grows. It's unbelievable. "This is just the Tour of California," Leipheimer added. "He won the Tour de France. Not devaluing this race, but the Tour de France is the biggest race in the world."
The Race
The time trial in Solvang has proved to be decisive in all the three previous editions of the Tour of California. Today was not to be any different, as two time defending champion Levi Leipheimer started the day 24-seconds ahead of Michael Rogers of the Columbia-Highroad team, and 28-seconds ahead of US National time trial champion David Zabriskie of Garmin-Slipstream. Seven time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong sat in fourth place 30-seconds behind Astana teammate Leipheimer. Notably absent today was Ivan Basso, who is rumored to have hurt his knee while warming up.
The first rider off was Francesco Chicchi, a sprinter for Liquigas. Although he was the first to start he was not the first to finish as he was passed by Andy Guptill (Colavita / Sutter Home). Of the early starters, it was Stef Clement (Rabobank) that set the best time of 31.23. His time would hold for a good portion of the day as riders struggled on the hilly course.
Out on the course Rock Racing suffered mechanical difficulties as Fred Rodriquez had a rear flat and Tyler Hamilton lost major time with a jammed chain. Clement’s time continued to hold as potential challengers Michael Barry (Columbia-Highroad) and Floyd Landis (OUCH) failed to better his effort.
It wasn’t until Jason McCartney (Saxo Bank) came in with a time of 31.21 that Clement’s time was beat. McCartney’s time failed to stand for long as Tom Zirbel (Bissell) and Gustav Larsson both bested his time.
With Gustav atop the leader board, it was time for the heavy hitters to have a go. First off was Lance Armstrong who started to thunderous cheers from the crowd. With four of the best time trialists in the world on the course it appeared the stage and potentially the overall classification was going to be decided between Leipheimer, Rogers, Zabriskie and Armstrong.
Zabriskie was first to throw down the hammer by recording a split time of 19.19. Rogers followed close behind with a split time of 19.43, while Armstrong went through slightly better at 19.40. Finally Leipheimer charged through with a split time of 19.16, three seconds faster than Zabriskie.
At the finish Zabriskie set the new fastest time at 30.48 with Leipheimer still on course. Armstrong was next to finish coming in 14th with a time of 31.56. Rogers stopped the clock at 31.02 for fourth place. With only Leipheimer still on course all eyes turned to the clock as Leipheimer rounded the final corner. With an incredible effort to the line, Leipheimer claimed victory in the Solvang time trial for the third consecutive year, and increased his lead in the general classification.
Tour of California, February 14-22 2009
Friday, February 20
Stage 6: Solvang, California
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Astana) at 30.39
2. David Zabriskie (USA) at 9 sec
3 Gustav Larsson (SWE) at 17sec
4 Michael Rogers (AUS) at 22sec
5. Jens Voigt (GER) at 30sec
6. George Hincapie (USA) at 36sec
7. Tom Zirbel (USA) at 39sec
8. Jason McCartney (USA) at 41sec
9. Stef Clement (NED) at 43sec
10. Thomas Lovkvist (SWE) at 51sec
Noted:
14. Lance Armstrong (USA) at 1:16
General Classification After Stage 6
Levi Leipheimer (USA/Astana) 24hr 12min 00sec
2. David Zabriskie (USA) at 36sec
3. Michael Rogers (AUS) at 46sec
4. Jens Voigt (GER) at 1:10
5. Thomas Lovkvist (SWE) at 1:29
6. Lance Armstrong (USA) at 1:46
7. Robert Gesink (NED) at 1:54
8. Janez Brajkovic (SLO) at 1:59
9. Christopher Horner (USA) at 2:13
10. Francisco Mancebo (ESP) at 2:15
Noted:
21. George Hincapie (USA) at 6:35
36. Floyd Landis (USA) at 10:26,
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