Feb 21, 2008

Leipheimer takes lead

By Elliott Almond / MediaNews

This time it mattered. When Levi Leipheimer and three of his Astana teammates charged up Mount Hamilton on Wednesday, they were pressing their muscles for something bigger than winning the Amgen Tour of California.

They were motivated by the treatment the revamped team from Kazakhstan is getting from European race organizers. On Tuesday, Astana learned it was banned from competing in the first two major Italian races this year because of drug allegations involving the former team. Last week, Astana, which is under new ownership, was excluded from the Tour de France.

"We're the best team in the world and we came here to prove it," Leipheimer said after taking the overall tour lead by 13 seconds. "We're going to answer with our legs and racing style."

Astana answered on a cloudy, cool day that began in Modesto and ended in downtown San Jose. It rode strong while cresting Mount Hamilton and Sierra Road in what is considered the toughest stage in the three-year history of the event.

And for the third consecutive year, Leipheimer found himself descending the grueling Sierra Road with a colorful cluster of riders in hot pursuit. This time he had Rabobank's Robert Gesnik working with him.

"I wasn't really ready to commit everything," said Leipheimer, who was second to Gesnik in the stage with the same time of 4 hours 28.29 minutes.

When team officials radioed that the chase group in the flats included CSC's Fabian Cancellara and Jens Voigt, Leipheimer thought, "Honest to god, we can't make it."

But he and Gesnik finished in front of City Hall 19 seconds ahead of 14 trailing riders.

"The script was a beautiful story today," race director Jim Birrell said.

It was for Astana, which took command by showing superior climbing skills. But the tour that ends Sunday in Pasadena is far from decided.

It continues today with a 135-mile stage that ends in San Luis Obispo. Then comes the pivotal 15-mile time trial Friday in Solvang that could prove as decisive as Wednesday's stage.

Gesnik moved into third overall, 15 seconds behind Leipheimer. But he acknowledged he isn't a serious threat. However, Slipstream's David Millar, 20 seconds back and David Zabriskie, 21 seconds behind, are.

And then there's Cancellara, the reigning world time-trial champion.

"It's a fact Levi has the jersey but the race is still wide open," said Cancellara, who is in second. "Levi doesn't have a comfortable lead."

Not with Cancellara showing remarkable early season form.

"When I heard he was behind me, I said, `Are you kidding me?' " Leipheimer said of his rival.

A day earlier, CSC team director Bjarne Riis said he expected Cancellara to suffer during the mountain stage.

Cancellara claimed he "won and lost" on the day.

"I was feeling better than ever on the climbs," he said. "That was a victory."

But Astana tried to make him pay. Jose Luis Rubiera did most of the work on Mount Hamilton, as he once did for Lance Armstrong during the Alp stages of the Tour de France. Janez Brajkovic and Chris Horner also joined their Astana teammates to make a formidable group.

One who couldn't handle the climbs was Slipstream-Chipotle's Tyler Farrar, who held the leader's jersey at the start. He withdrew because of a stomach virus, a team physician said.

Watsonville's Ben Jacques-Mayne tried to stay on the back of the lead group up Mount Hamilton, but the Team Bissell leader couldn't gain any ground on the top riders. He is 16th overall but out of contention at 4 minutes 23 seconds behind.

No matter who is feeling good Friday, Leipheimer will be difficult to stop. He said the politics of cycling has provided extra motivation.

"We're not going to hang out heads low," he said.

Not with a tour to win.