American Levi Leipheimer Of Astana Wins Dauphine Libere Prologue
AVIGNON, France, June 8, 2008 (AFP) - American Levi Leipheimer won the opening prologue of the Dauphine Libere, which usually serves as an appetizer for the Tour de France, here on Sunday.
The event’s 2006 champion beat out Norway’s Thor Hushovd by one second and was six seconds ahead of Spain’s Alejandro Valverde over the 5.6km course.
Leipheimer kept up the success of his Astana team just a week after Spaniard Alberto Contador, the reigning Tour de France champion, added the Tour of Italy crown to his record.
Australia’s Cadel Evans, who finished second overall in last year’s Tour de France, finished in sixth spot, 13sec behind the winner.
Spanish hopes for the Dauphine overall title — Samuel Sanchez, Carlos Sastre and Oscar Perreiro — all finished further back.
Sanchez was 16 seconds behind Leipheimer, Castres was 17sec from the leader and Perreiro had a 21sec deficit.
On this fast, flat section favoring the strong riders, Leipheimer averaged 54km/h and had the help of a strong tail wind, from which the last quarter of the field benefited, in the final kilometer.
Leipheimer is an accomplished time trialer. He won the final race against the clock in last year’s Tour de France where he finished third overall.
Categories: Dauphine Libere, Features, Races, team astana
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