Leipheimer Wins Stage and Takes Lead In Vuelta a Espaņa

(September 3, 2008)

Report filed by Cathy Mehl Astana Cycling Team

Some people have a knack for making the best of a situation. When Team Astana called on Levi Leipheimer to ride the 63rd Vuelta a España, negating the opportunity to defend his US National Championship title last Sunday in the USA, Levi willingly put aside personal aspirations and joined the strong team in Spain to support teammate Alberto Contador’s bid for the overall. In order to claim a “little” something for himself, Leipheimer methodically went about winning the individual time trial and putting on the leader’s jersey today on stage 5 in Ciudad Real. Leipheimer’s win and race lead assures the world that Team Astana has great depth in its squad for this race and reinforces the notion that sacrifices can be turned into rewards when one least expects it…sometimes duo-fold.

In the post-race press conference Leipheimer was asked about his ride on the day's stage: "I've been feeling very strong the last couple of weeks, since the Olympics of course. We did a race in Madrid as well, which I won and the first days of the Vuelta I felt really good and I had a lot of confidence for today." He continued, "However, it was very difficult today. The first 20 kilometers were into the wind and it was really, really hard, but for me normally, I go faster and faster and in the end I felt so strong. I am so happy to win. It's a big victory in a Grand Tour, my first time ever to wear a leader's jersey in a Grand Tour."

Teammate Contador also gave hearty congratulations to Levi: "Levi deserved this victory and I give him my congratulations. This strengthens the options of Astana, because it is always better to have two candidates that one alone. He has the advantage now in the overall and those that should try to take time on him are our rivals, not me."

After several days of hot weather, Wednesday’s 24°C/75°F was a welcome change for the peloton of 167 riders. After less than an hour of racing, an early time-to-beat was put up by Italy’s Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) at 51.30. As rider after rider came in, no one was close to Quinziato’s time and it became clear that his was the high mark of the day. Leipheimer started four minutes before Contador, and at the first check point at 11km he was in 5th place. Known for keeping something in the tank for later, Leipheimer improved by the second intermediate check point at 28km and was now in third, behind Quinziato and Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff). There was still 14.5km to race with the last third being the hardest part of the course—had Levi saved enough?

Getting in his trademark low aero tuck, Leipheimer stormed the final third of the course and brought it home with a new best time at 50.57 with 24 riders still to ride, including Contador. Alberto arrived next and clocked in at 51.46, good enough for a temporary spot in third place. Best of all Carlos Sastre (Team CSC-Saxo Bank) had dropped back and Alberto now held 40 seconds on him for the overall.

With some heavy hitters still to ride it was a tense final hour as Leipheimer and Team Astana waited to see where the Olympic Bronze medalist would land for the day. Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) was the next true contender, riding in his national time trial kit and closing on Levi’s time. Starting with 10 seconds on Leipheimer, Chavanel was challenging for the stage and the leader’s jersey, but he fell short by two seconds with a time of 51.09. He moved into second place on the stage and Contador was off the podium into 4th where he stayed for the day.

Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) started 3rd from last and put in a good ride, but not good enough. His time was stopped at 51.56 with only Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and race leader Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) left to ride and neither came close to the top of the leader board. Levi had won the time trial and for the first time in his long career wore the leader’s jersey for a Grand Tour. It was the perfect reward for the consummate teammate and Team Astana now lead the 63rd Vuelta a España. On the podium Levi received two trophies and a bouquet of flowers, along with the opportunity to taste the bubbly and share with the podium girls at his side. Looking happy, relaxed and proud of his efforts, it was a great moment in the career of Levi Leipheimer.

All Team Astana riders performed well in the stage, most notably Andreas Klöden in 12th and Tomas Vaitkus in 19th, which put four Team Astana riders in the top 20. The strong showing gave them the Teams classification win on the stage and they lead in this classification for GC as well. The team look forward to the rest day on Friday after tomorrow’s sprint stage. The rest day will provide some well-needed time off the bike as the next two demanding weeks of racing and the high mountains loom ahead. But for now Team Astana is in the driver’s seat, once again showing their dominance in the world of cycling. Well done, Levi and all of the Team Astana riders.

Top Ten Results:
1 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 50.57
2 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 0.12
3 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas 0.33
4 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0.49
5 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.59
6 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 1.06
7 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 1.07
8 Martin Velits (Svk) Team Milram 1.15
9 Dominique Cornu (Bel) Silence - Lotto 1.19
10 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner

General Classification after Stage 5
1 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 14.16.11
2 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 0.02
3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.30
4 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 0.32
5 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0.47
6 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 1.26
7 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 1.27
8 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas 1.38
9 Dominique Cornu (Bel) Silence - Lotto 1.48
10 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank 1.51

For additional information regarding the Team, please visit www.astana-cyclingteam.com

More News from Pedal Pushers Online News

«BACK TO TEAM NEWS