Levi Leipheimer rode into the yellow jersey atop Mount Ventoux at the Dauphiné Libéré bike race on Thursday.
The Santa Rosa, California, resident climbed into the overall lead by finishing just 15 seconds behind stage winner Denis Menchov. Together with Christophe Moreau, the three attacked the peloton on the climb with Leipheimer setting the pace most of the way.
Leipheimer grabbed the lead the day after he and three other Americans won the top 4 spots in the individual time trial. On Thursday, George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) finished 3:13 behind the stage winner, placing him in 10th overall at 3:02 behind. Wednesday's stage winner David Zabriskie (CSC) finished 8:10 behind the winner and Floyd Landis (Phonak) finished 9:30 behind.
Riding as the leader for the German Gerolsteiner team, Leipheimer did well in the Dauphiné Libéré last year, finishing in third place. He then finished sixth overall in the Tour de France last year, then went on to win overall in the Tour of Germany.
At one time a cyclist with US Postal Service, he was one of the riders to help keep pace for Lance Armstrong on the climbs. He also became a time trial specialist, noted by his winning the Tour of California prologue and finishing in the top 4 Wednesday at the Dauphiné.
His strong climbing skills and time trialing abilities make him a podium candidate at the 2006 Tour de France.
The winner of the stage, Russian Menchov riding for Rabobank, won the Vuelta a Espana last year after Roberto Heras was discredited in a doping scandal.
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