August 28/11 19:56 pm - USA Pro Cycling Challenge: Stage 6 report and results

Posted by Editoress on 08/28/11
 

In a strong show of solid teamwork, Team RadioShack claimed another victory on American soil with team leader Levi Leipheimer earning the win in the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge, August 22-28 in Colorado.  The final stage from Golden into downtown Denver ended in the shadow of the State Capitol  after a challenging 115.9km/70.9mi route took the riders over Lookout Mountain before descending into the downtown area to complete six laps on the city streets in front of loud, enthusiastic and massive crowds. The victory went to Italian Daniel Oss  (Liquigas-Cannondale). The overall classification didn’t change on the final day despite a number of attacks from Team Garmin-Cervélo.

For Levi Leipheimer (37) the USA Pro Cycling Challenge is his 17th overall victory as a pro rider in a stage race. The win marks the 30th win of the season for Team RadioShack.

“This has been a great year for Team RadioShack.  We couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Leipheimer.  “We’re fortunate and lucky to have so many victories this year.  We’ve had twice as many as last year and it’s thanks to great teamwork. For this race I need to mention especially Ivan Rovny who was awesome in the mountains but the whole team did a great job. Also a big thanks to our great sponsors.  I have to say RadioShack and Nissan have really been behind us these past two years and it’s made a big difference in our performance.”  Under the watchful eye of Team Director Alain Gallopin, the riders from Team RadioShack rose to the occasion to defend Leipheimer’s race lead.

Seven stages in seven days took the riders in 17 teams from Colorado Springs on Monday and made their way through the high passes of the Rocky Mountain ski areas before ending Sunday in the “Mile High City” of Denver.  Leipheimer originally took the race lead on the uphill finish into Aspen on Stage 1 but lost the yellow jersey the following day in the descent of Independence Pass.  A perfect ride on the time trial stage Thursday put Leipheimer back in the lead by 11-seconds, an advantage he carried all the way to Sunday.  Second place went to Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Cervélo) and third to TeJay Van Garderen of HTC-Highroad.

“It took some of the best form of my career to beat Christian and Garmin-Cervélo,”  continued Leipheimer.  “They were the local favorite and I appreciate the race they put on.  The way it all played out – taking the jersey, losing the jersey and then putting on one of my best performances ever to take it back and then hold on to it.”

In June of this year Levi Leipheimer won the Tour de Suisse and then the Tour of Utah  earlier this August.

“After the crashes and disappointment of the Tour, I was able to refocus and pick out some smaller goals.  I ended up using the Tour as training and in the back of my mind I already had Utah and Colorado in my mind.  It couldn’t have gone any better.  This season is maybe my best ever, though it all went up and down.  I had some illness in the beginning.  I was riding second in Catalunya and I got sick and had to go to the hospital.  I had to fight my way back from a pretty low point in April.  But since then I’ve been super focused.  I’ve been working really hard.  I’ve had the help of my teammates and friends and family.”

Speaking of the crowd on hand in Denver, Leipheimer  said, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a big crowd in the United States.  That makes this an important victory.  Thank you to all the fans for coming out.  It’s been phenomenal.”  Asked if he would consider coming back next year, Levi  answered, “Without a doubt.  You couldn’t pay me to stay away. It’s hard to put into words the experience I’ve had this week racing in Colorado.

“When I was 13 years old I watched the Tour de France on television and I read magazines about the Coors Classic on the roads right here in Colorado and the fights between Bernard Hinault, Greg LeMond and Andy Hampsten. Now to be here all these years later and to experience the size and scope of this race is beyond my expectations.  This has really raised the bar for USA cycling.  This victory means so much to me, mainly because of the way we raced this week.  It was a battle tooth and nail all the way to the last corner.

“We now have two huge races in America and I hope they continue because it’s fantastic for us as American cyclists to come back and race on American soil.  It’s great to bring the sport back to America on a scale this big.”

Team RadioShack press release

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