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RACE REPORTS: TOUR OF CALIFORNIA STAGE 8: LEIPHEIMER TAKES NUMBER THREE
Road Bike Action & AFP
February 22, 2009
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(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
American Levi Leipheimer won his third consecutive Tour of California cycling crown after the eighth and final stage that was won by Frank Schleck of Luxembourg.
Astana's Leipheimer finished 36 seconds ahead of compatriot David Zabriskie of Garmin with Australian Michael Rogers of Columbia next at 45 seconds and US star Lance Armstrong of Astana settling for seventh place, 1:46 off the pace. "To win it once, that was huge," Leipheimer said. "To win it twice, that was a little bit of a surprise. It felt like I was a little bit lucky. To win it three times, it's the sweetest victory of the three. It's hard to describe."
Seven-time Tour de France champion Armstrong launched his comeback from a retirement of more than three years with a 29th-place finish in January's Tour Down Under and followed that with a solid showing at the Tour of California. "I'm not sure I will be back in 2010 but the guys were excited to be back. It was a hell of a time," Armstrong said. "Most of these boys came ready to go. You could tell. I think some of them got better as the race went on. Perhaps our team got a little tired as the race got on, always riding on the front and defending."
Armstrong had said before the race that his goal was not to win the individual crown but to assist in Leipheimer's bid for three wins in a row. "To keep a streak going like that becomes so difficult," Leipheimer said. "I told Lance this week I don't know how the hell he won seven times the Tour de France. Unbelievable. I have a lot of respect for that. The pressure builds. The expectations are higher. You can't get second place because that's losing. To pull it off and grab the yellow jersey and to have a guy like Lance Armstrong have your back the entire way, it's a lifelong dream for me."
The victory allowed Astana to complete a double on Sunday as Spanish rider Alberto Contador, an Astana teammate of Leipheimer and Armstrong, won at the Tour of the Algarve in Portugal.
Schleck edged Italy's Vincenzo Nibali at the line to win the day in the concluding 155.8km stage from Rancho Bernardo to Escondido, the duo breaking away in the mountain descent of Palomar.
American George Hincapie led the next group 40 seconds later with Leipheimer finishing ninth overall in the stage for the victory. "We had the best team in the race. There was no question about it," said Leipheimer. "We didn't need a lot of communication between each other. We knew what each other was thinking."
The Race
The final stage of the 2009 Tour of California started under overcasts skies in the city of Rancho Bernardo, California. The main obstacle for the day was the climb up Palomar Mountain climb. At 11.7 miles, with an average seven percent grade, 4,200 feet of climbing and 21 switchbacks it had the potential to decide the race. Notable non-starters for the final stage included Tom Boonen, Carlos Sastre, and Thor Hushovd.
As the riders approached the first of four KOM spots, a break of eight including Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank), Jason McCartney (Team Saxo Bank), Thomas Peterson (Garmin-Slipstream), Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), Christophe Riblon (AG2R La Mondiale), Serge Pauwels (Cervélo TestTeam), Alexandre Moos (BMC Racing Team) and Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling) rode clear and quickly established a 25 second gap.
Over the top of the climb it was Jason McCartney taking the points ahead of teammate Andy Schleck and Ben Jacques-Maynes. The break increased their gap on the road to the second climb, but has grade increased the break began to come apart with Andy Schleck, Jason McCartney Serge Pauwels and Ben Jacques-Maynes holding a 30 second gap over the top. As they went over the top McCartney again took the points ahead of Jacques Maynes and Pauwels.
After the climb, Schleck dropped back, leaving McCartney, Pauwels, and Jacques-Maynes out front. The three leaders were rejoined by the other riders from the break near the bottom of the descent. With all of the break working together the break increased their gap to 1.20.
At the base of Palomar Mountain the gap was up to 2.20. As the chasing peloton hit the climb Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing) attacked hard, taking Frank Schleck and Floyd Landis with him. As the break broke apart, a second group formed including Frank Schleck (Team Saxo Bank), Jens Voigt (Team Saxo Bank), Thomas Danielson (Garmin-Slipstream), Kevin Seeldraeyers (Quick Step) and Robert Gesink (Rabobank) rode clear of the peloton.
As the climb up Palomar Mountain continued, the front group continued to shuffle with Levi Leipheimer (Astana), Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank), Fränk Schleck (Team Saxo Bank), Jens Voigt (Team Saxo Bank), Michael Rogers (Team Columbia - Highroad), David Zabriskie (Garmin-Slipstream), Robert Gesink (Rabobank), Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas), Thomas Danielson (Garmin-Slipstream) going over the top together with Jens Voigt taking the KOM points ahead of Leipheimer and Gesink.
On the descent, Nibali and Schleck rode clear, with Glenn Chadwick (Rock Racing) and Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) bridging to make a lead group of four. With 31 miles remaining, Chadwick attacked the group and quickly established a 10-second gap.
The chasers finally brought Chadwick back at the base of the Cole Grade climb. Half way up the climb, Schleck and Nibali attacked and rode clear of Mollema and Chadwick. Behind Armstrong took control of the peloton as they absorbed Mollema and Chadwick. With Nibali and Schleck working together they extended their lead to 1.05.
With Naibali only 2.21 down on Leipheimer, Astana remained on the front keeping the gap at about a minute. With 3 miles to go Columbia-Highroad, Rock Racing and Garmin-Slipstream took over at the front to bring it back for the sprinters – but it wouldn’t be enough. Nibali and Schleck entered the final kilometer with Schleck sitting on Nibali. With two hundred meters to go Schleck sprinted clear of Nibali to take the win. George Hincapie won the field sprint for third, while Leipheimer finished safely in the bunch to win his third straight Tour of California.
Tour of California, February 14-22 2009
Sunday, February 22
Stage 8: Rancho Bernardo - Escondido, California
1. Frank Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) 3hr 48min 39sec (avg 41.334 km/h)
2. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) same time
3. George Hincapie (USA) at 40 sec
4. Rory Sutherland (AUS) s.t.
5. Grischa Niermann (GER) s.t.
6. Jose Luis Rubiera (ESP) s.t.
7. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) s.t.
8. Jens Voigt (GER) s.t.
9. Levi Leipheimer (USA) s.t.
10. Hubert Dupont (FRA) s.t.
Selected
31. Lance Armstrong (USA) s.t.
General Classification After Stage 8
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Astana) 31hr 28min 21sec
2. David Zabriskie (USA) at 36sec
3. Michael Rogers (AUS) at 45sec
4. Jens Voigt (GER) at 1:10
5. Thomas Lovkvist (SWE) at 1:29
6. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) at 1:37
7. Lance Armstrong (USA) at 1:46
8. Robert Gesink (NED) at 1:54
9. Thomas Danielson (USA) at 2:24
10. Jose Luis Rubiera (ESP) at 2:48.
Selected:
15. George Hincapie (USA) at 4:19
23. Floyd Landis (USA) at 10:26.
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