Levi Leipheimer, as a solo rider for Lance Armstrong’s Team Mellow Johnny’s, crossed the finish line just behind stage winner, Jai Crawford of Team Fly V Australia, securing his overall win in this year’s Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, presented by Zions Bank.

Today’s fifth and final stage was the Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort road race, which began at Park City’s Newpark Resort & Hotel and finished at Snowbird. Known as the “Queen Stage,” the 100 mile route featured more than 11,000 vertical feet of climbing.

As the day of racing got underway, strong winds buffeted the field. A group of 18 riders broke away from the main peloton within the first few minutes of racing. The group contained those in contention for the XO Communications Sprinters Jersey.

The Breakaway pushed their lead to as much as two minutes as they fought for the last remaining sprint points. David Tanner of Fly V Australia and Trek-LIVESTRONG’s Taylor Phinney went into today separated by only one point.

The race soon hit the first big climb of the day passing Sundance Ski Resort and then continuing over the Alpine Loop. The race began to spread out and the break deteriorated, allowing Crawford to bridge up to the leaders. This move gave him the advantage he needed to later win the stage.

Crawford’s group held their lead as they entered Little Cottonwood Canyon. Crawford and UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling presented by Maxis rider, Marc De Maar, pushed themselves up the canyon leaving behind the rest of the remaining group. It wasn’t long before De Maar faltered and Crawford rode alone.

Leipheimer left the chase group with five kilometers to go in hot pursuit of Crawford. Leipheimer caught Crawford within the last kilometer to the finish line, but Crawford held him off during the final meters to the line and took the stage win.

“I made a big effort to catch up to Jai and I caught him just before the end,” said Leipheimer, “He could see me coming, so I think he left a little bit in the tank for the finish. I think the bottom line is, that he deserved the stage win more than anyone and he got it.”

“This is actually my first win of the year on my last day of racing in America,” said Crawford. “It’s great for me and it’s great for my wife as well. It was a great race and I loved it.”

Leipheimer’s effort to catch Crawford and finish second solidified his lead over the rest of the general classification.

The final top five general classification riders are Leipheimer with a total time of 12:39:40 winning the AT&T Yellow Leaders Jersey. Canyon Bicycle’s Francisco Mancebo earned second with a total time of 12:42:10, Ian Boswell of BISSELL Pro Cycling Team moved from fifth place overall to third with 12:43:36, Crawford climbed from eleventh place to fourth with a time of 12:43:38, and Darren Lill of Fly V Australia went from third place to fifth with 12:44:12.

The other jersey winners were Crawford winning the Toyota Dealers King of the Mountains Jersey from Mancebo, because of his stage win today, Fly V Australia’s David Tanner kept the XO Communications Sprinter Jersey, and Boswell’s performance today earned him the Siegfried & Jensen Best Utah Rider’s Jersey, taking it away from Lill.

The final top five team general classification was Fly V Australia moved up from second to first, Team Holowesko Partners move up from eight to second, Trek-LIVESTRONG moved up from eleventh to third place, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling presented by Maxis was fourth having been in seventh place, and On The Rivet presented by Ion Sports Nutrition was fifth.

“I have had a great time here this week,” continued Leipheimer, “I think Utah is a fantastic place for a bike race. The climb up to Snowbird is worthy of a Tour de France finish. I would love to see the race grow and become bigger and better.”

“I couldn’t have hoped for anything better for this year’s tour,” said Steve Miller, president of the Tour of Utah. “The race has been tremendous. We had a strong field of international caliber riders that rode hard and made following each stage exciting. We’re going to sit down soon and make plans for another successful Tour next year.”

For a complete list of results, go to www.tourofutah.com

Photo: by Eric Schramm