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RACE REPORTS: TOUR OF CALIFORNIA STAGE 7: MARTIN MAGNIFICENT IN LA
Road Bike Action & AFP
May 22, 2010
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(Photo: Ken Conley)
Tony Martin won the seventh stage of the Tour of California on Saturday, as Australian Michael Rogers extended his overall lead by finishing second in the 33.6km time-trial on the streets of Los Angeles.
Rogers finished 22-seconds behind his German Columbia teammate, and stretched his narrow lead in the overall standings over American David Zabriskie. "First and foremost protect the jersey," Rogers said of his mission on Sunday. "I am confident we can do it tomorrow, we are a strong team. It is not a huge lead, for sure. But nine seconds in meters is a long distance. It is not over before it is over but we are a step closer now."
Zabriskie, who started the day four seconds back overall, lost more ground with only the 134.4km final stage in the western Los Angeles suburb of Thousand Oaks remaining on Sunday. He finished third on Saturday to fall nine seconds off Rogers' lead. "I am disappointed of course, I was a little bit off, but I felt pretty good," he said. "The race is not over yet. Tomorrow will be a hard race, it can be windy there and there's a couple of good climbs."
Three-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer was fourth and moved up to third in the overall standings, 25-seconds adrift.
Martin, winner of time trials in last year's Criterium International and Bayern Rundfahrt clocked 41:41 on the course that skirted such landmarks as Los Angeles City Hall and Memorial Coliseum. "It was a very spectacular course, I had never been to LA before," Martin said. "It was perfect for me, almost flat and not too many corners."
Floyd Landis, whose admission of doping and accusations against others - including Lance Armstrong - created a furore this week, was in attendance. He spent time in the tent of Ouch team sponsor and longtime Landis backer Brent Kay, but didn't speak to reporters.
Tour of California Stage 7: Los Angeles 33.6km
1. Tony Martin (Ger/HTC-Columbia) 41:41
2. Michael Rogers (Aus/HTC-Columbia) @ .22
3. David Zabriskie (USA/Garmin-Transitions) @ .27
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA)RadioShack) @ .33
5. Jens Voigt (Ger/Saxo Bank) @ .59
6. Bert Grabsch (Ger/HTC-Columbia) @ 1:06
7. Maarten Tjallingii (Ned/Rabobank) @ 1:12
8. Christopher Horner (USA/Radioshack) @ 1:19
9. Rory Sutherland (Aus/Unitedhealthcare p/b Maxxis) @ s.t.
10. Robert Hunter (RSA/Garmin-Transitions) @ 1:21
General Classification After Stage 7
1. Michael Rogers (Aus/HTC-Columbia) 29:46:06
2. David Zabriskie (USA/Garmin-Transitions) @ .09
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA/RadioShack) @ .25
4. Jens Voigt (Ger/Saxo Bank) @ 1:12
5. Rory Sutherland (Aus/Unitedhealthcare p/b Maxxis) 0:01:26
6. Christopher Horner (USA/Radioshack) @ 1:32
7. Peter Sagan (Svk/Liquigas-Doimo) @ 1:34
8. Ryder Hesjedal (Can/Garmin-Transitions) @ 1:46
9. Janez Brajkovic (Slo/Radioshack) @ 2:10
10. Thomas Danielson (USA/Garmin-Transitions) @2:21
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