|
|
RACE REPORTS: TOUR OF THE GILA STAGE 3: LEIPHEIMER DOMINATES
Road Bike Action
May 1, 2009
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Leipheimer, shown here at the Tour of California, won the stage 3 time trial at the Tour of the Gila
(Photo: Ken Conley)
Levi Leipheimer continued his domination of American stage racing at the SRAM Tour of the Gila by winning the 16-mile time trial. Leipheimer was impressive in stage 3, the Dan Potts Memorial individual time trial in Tyrone over 25 km (16.15 m). The leader in the race (after winning Stage 1 on Wednesday) completed the course in course-record time of 32.59. For Levi Leipheimer it is his 7th victory of the season, his third in an individual time trial. Tom Zirbel (Bissell) finished 2nd, 53 seconds behind Leipheimer. Levi’s Mellow Johnny's teammate Lance Armstrong took his first podium place of the season, finishing 3rd at 1'23". In the GC, Levi Leipheimer has now a comfortable advantage of 2.39 to Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin)
"I simply do my best,” commented a happy Leipheimer after the finish. "Yes, I am a specialist in this work, but that doesn't mean that it is so easy. Having to climb the Little Burro Pass twice made it not so easy. A good test for the Tour of Italy anyway. It is always better to tune-up your time trial skills in a race.”
The Tour of the Gila marks Armstrong's first event since he broke his collarbone on March 23th at the Vuelta a Castilla y León. "It was a tough course, deceivingly hard,” he said. “There were a lot of false flats out there with a combination of hills, wind and altitude. I think I buried myself in parts and couldn't bring it back because of the altitude, but the ride was not so bad all things considered."
The SRAM Tour of the Gila ends on Sunday. Saturday's stage is a climber criterium in Silver City while Sunday's queen stage (the Gila Monster Road Race) will take the riders to the mountaintop at Pinos Altos.
Tour of the Gila
April 29-May 3, 2009
Stage 3: May 1, Tyrone Time Trial 16.5/26.5km
1. Levi Leipheimer (Mellow Johnny's/Astana)
2. Tom Zirbel (Bissell)
3. Lance Armstrong (Mellow Johnny's/Astana) @ 3:03
4. Phil Zajicek (Fly V) @ 1.36;
5. Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin) @1.50
General classification after stage 3
1. Levi Leipheimer (Mellow Johnny's/Astana)
2. Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin) @ 2:39
3. Chris Baldwin (Boulder) @ 2:51
4. Lance Armstrong (Mellow Johnny's/Astana) @ 3:03
5. Phil Zajicek (Fly V) at 3:36
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|