Leipheimer Triples – Takes his Third Tour of California
ESCONDIDO, California, Feb 22, 2009 (AFP) – American Levi Leipheimer won his third consecutive Tour of California cycling crown here Sunday after an eighth and final stage that was won by Frank Schleck of Luxembourg.
Astana’s Leipheimer finished 36 seconds ahead of compatriot David Zabriskie of Garmin with Australian Michael Rogers of Columbia next at 45 seconds and US star Lance Armstrong of Astana settling for seventh place, 1:46 off the pace.
Seven-time Tour de France champion Armstrong launched his comeback from a retirement of more than three years with a 29th-place finish in January’s Tour Down Under and followed that with a solid showing at the Tour of California.
Armstrong had said before the race that his goal was not to win the individual crown but to assist in Leipheimer’s bid for three wins in a row.
The victory allowed Astana to complete a double on Sunday as Spanish rider Alberto Contador, an Astana teammate of Leipheimer and Armstrong, won at the Tour of the Algarve in Portugal.
Schleck edged Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali at the line to win the day in the concluding 155.8km stage from Rancho Bernardo to Escondido, the duo breaking away in the mountain descent of Palomar.
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