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RACE REPORTS: TOUR OF THE GILA STAGE 4: VAN UDEN TAKES VICTORY IN CRASH MARRED FINALE
Road Bike Action
May 2, 2009
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Despite rolling a tire, Leipheimer held onto his overall lead
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Levi Leipheimer's bid for victory in the Tour of the Gila just almost ended a lap and half from the finish in Saturday's crit in Downtown Silver City. Leipheimer rolled his rear tire when he braked hard as Scott Nydam crashed in front him. Leipheimer was able to finish on teammate Chris Horner's bike and maintained his overall lead. Meanwhile, at the front the victory went to 20-year-old New Zealander Roman Van Uden of the Land Rover-ORBEA team
The race was marred by three crashes in the closing laps of the race. Because of crashes, all riders that were with the lead group with two laps to go were given the same time as the winner Van Uden. "This is a really awesome win," Van Uden said. "Its really great riding next to Lance. I never thought I'd get to do that in my life, riding up next to him. I took it wide out of the last corner in first position, put my head down and took it home," he added.
Before the mayhem of the closing laps the Mellow Johnny’s/Astana team controlled the race with Armstrong riding at the front. Fly-V's Ben Day tried to break Mellow Johnny’s stranglehold on the race by breaking free with 15 laps to go. Day held on to a 40 second lead before Trek-Livestrong Colavita, OUCH and Kelly Benefit Strategies began the chase.
Colavita eventually organized at the front hoping to lead out Lucas Sebastian Haedo for a second stage win. The Colavita train got derailed by Nydam’s crash and another pileup on the final lap. Van Uden came out of the final corner in second place and powered clear to the line. Haedo would finish second with Alex Howes (Felt-Holowesko-Garmin) was third.
Tour of the Gila
April 29-May 3, 2009
Stage 4: May 2, Downtown Silver City Criterium, 40/25 laps
1. Roman Van Uden (Land Rover-ORBEA) 1.35.56
2. Lucas Haedo (Colavita Sutter Home p/b) @ s.t.
3. Alex Howes (Felt-Holowesko Partners)
4. Davide Frattini (Colavita Sutter Home p/b)
5. Shawn Milne (Team Type1)
6. Neil Shirley (Kelly Benefit Strategies)
7. Zach Watson (Athletes by Design Cycling)
8. Bradley White (OUCH Pro Cycling Team p/b)
9. Florian Stalder (Team B)
10. Chad Beyer (Team B)
General classification after stage 4
1. Levi Leipheiner (Mellow Johnny's) 8.57.16
2. Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko Partners) @ 2.39
3. Christopher Baldwin (Boulder) @ 2.51
4. Lance Armstrong (Mellow Johnny's) @ 3.03
5. Philip Zajicek (Fly V Australia-Successful) @ 3.36
6. Burke Swindlehurst (Bissell Pro Cycling) @ 3.37
7. Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) @ 3.40
8. Scott Nydam (Team B) @ 3.59
9. Florian Stalder (Team B) @ 4.09
10. Matt Cooke (RideClean)
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