2nd Amgen Tour of California - Stage 5 ITT
Levi Leipheimer defends his golden fleece leading Discovery Channel mates in a
split of the top ten standings with their main rivals Bjarne Riis's Team CSC.
In the battle against the clock Jens Voigt set a blistering pace as the top
three riders finished displacing Jason McCartney to second place who beat Jens
CSC team mate and World Time Trial champion Fabian Cancellara with a finishing
time of 29:58:51.
Jens Voigt crests Ballard Canyon road.
Photo c. Mark Adkison
Ph.D.
But in this war of world champions and the two of the strongest teams in the
pro tour, both with the some of the strongest time trialist in pro cycling the
final chapter was being written on the course with Levi Leipheimer crashing
every split time for the day as he defiantly drove to defend his yellow jersey.
It was nothing short of a show of power as the Californian crossed the finish
line with 18 seconds in hand over CSC's strong man the ever popular Jens Voigt.
Levi on a crusade to seal his victory of the 2007 Tour
Photo c. Mark Adkison
Ph.D.
Tom Zirbel (Priority Health/Bissel) set the early time to beat with a time of
30:56:87. As Zirbel finished the current World Time Trial Champion Fabian
Cancellara left the the start gate with 66 riders still on the program to start
including the time trial specialists.
The days weather was blessed with the typical winds and clear blue skies of
the late winter days in California with the riders riding through the green
hills and farmlands of the central valley surrounding the Danish famed town of
Solvang. J.J Haedo was the next to finish in a time good enough to join Zirbel
on the podium in second temporarily.
Ivan Basso,
Photo c. Mark Adkison
Ph.D.
Ivan Basso (Discovery Channel) showed well with a time 30:43:01 popping Ben
Jacques Maynes and team mate Zirbels on Priority Health to 3rd and fourth with
world champ Fabian Cancellara besting them all at the finish to take the lead
and set the time for the favorites to beat.
CSC's Bobby Julich passes Toyota/United Pro's Chris Baldwin at the summit of
Ballard Canyon.
Photo c. Mark Adkison Ph.D.
In the battle of the super teams George Hincapie posted a time of 30:20.54
moving Ivan Basso to third as the leaders the top ten placed riders in the
general classification lined up at the start gate all within 20 seconds of Levi
Leipheimer.
The top of the leaders board was split with Discovery and CSC rider as the
final competitors started to finish. Christian Vandevelde followed up for CSC a
time of 30:37:10 to to displace Basso; and Bobby Julich followed shortly after
pushing Christian and George one step down as the CSC and Discovery took over
the leaders board.
Jason McCartney a stunning performance.
Photo c. Mark Adkison
Ph.D.
Next to strike was an on form Jason McCartney putting in a stunning
performance setting the time to beat for Levi of 30:05:14...
But Jens Voigt powered through the course to put CSC on the top step of the
rankings with a time of 29:58:51
Meanwhile Levi didn't disappoint as he led every split point to post a
scorching performance, taking the win to secure his position as race leader;
pushing Jens into second place.
In the end it was Discovery with 4 riders in the top ten taking the Team
Classification for the stage and CSC tipping the scales with 5 riders in second.
Stage 5 Official Results ITT
Pos. No. UCI Code Rider Team Time Gap
1. 21 USA 19731024 LEIPHEIMER Levi DSC 00.29'40"
00.00'00"
2. 8 GER 19710917 VOIGT Jens CSC 00.29'58" 00.00'18"
3. 26 USA 19730903 MCCARTNEY Jason DSC 00.30'05" 00.00'25"
4. 3 SUI 19810318 CANCELLARA Fabian CSC
00.30'17" 00.00'37"
5. 25 USA 19730629 HINCAPIE George DSC 00.30'20" 00.00'40"
6. 2 USA 19711118 JULICH Bobby CSC 00.30'22" 00.00'42"
7. 7 USA 19760522 VANDEVELDE Christian CSC 00.30'37" 00.00'57"
8. 6 AUS 19730806 O'GRADY Stuart CSC 00.30'40" 00.01'00"
9. 22 ITA 19771126 BASSO Ivan DSC 00.30'43" 00.01'03"
10. 141 USA 19780922 JACQUES-MAYNES Benjamin PHB 00.30'54" 00.01'14"
11. 41 AUS 19791220 ROGERS Michael TMO 00.30'55" 00.01'15"
12. 147 USA 19781030 ZIRBEL Tom PHB 00.30'56" 00.01'16"
13. 71 ITA 19780115 PELLIZOTTI Franco LIQ 00.30'58" 00.01'18"
14. 24 USA 19780313 DANIELSON Thomas DSC 00.31'00" 00.01'20"
15. 51 NOR 19780118 HUSHOVD Thor C.A 00.31'00" 00.01'20"
16. 94 AUS 19781211 DAY Ben NIC 00.31'00" 00.01'20"
17. 101 CAN 19801209 HESJEDAL Ryder HNM 00.31'18" 00.01'38"
18. 52 KAZ 19760815 FOFONOV Dimitri C.A 00.31'18" 00.01'38"
19. 48 DEN 19730309 PIIL Jakob TMO 00.31'23" 00.01'43"
20. 57 FRA 19830303 LEMOINE Cyril C.A 00.31'27" 00.01'47"
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