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[23.02 08:19] Frank Schleck and Team Saxo Bank closed this year’s edition of Amgen Tour of California with an impressive victory in the queen stage in the San Diego area.

The team launched a major attack early on in the mountainous stage from Rancho Bernardo to Escondido and from here on Frank Schleck controlled events towards the finish line. After several attempts Liquigas’ Vicenzo Nibali was the only one able to hang on and in spite of a fiercely chasing Astana crew the duo made it all the way.

Schleck sprinted his way to victory and concluded a successful week for Team Saxo Bank with a victory in the prologue for Cancellara and the mountain jersey for Jason McCartney. Jens Voigt finished best overall for the team in fourth place.

I was extremely motivated today and this type of stage made it possible for me to go all the way. It was a great day for the team where we took a risk and it’s fantastic to see our tactics pan out this way. I was worn at the end but luckily so was Nibali so I made it. It’s still early in the season so I’m happy to get this victory already and hopefully I’ll be able to maintain my form for the classics, said a happy Frank Schleck after the stage.

It’s been a fantastic week for us. First the prologue victory and generally during the week we’ve made our mark every single day. To be able to finish with such a great win for Frank is the perfect outcome. Amgen Tour of California has grown into an important race and with this year’s peloton this is a major achievement by Frank. He was out there in the break all day and still managed to finish the job in the end, which takes guts and form, said sports director Bradley McGee after the victory.

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