See also: Sept. 3 — Leipheimer leads Vuelta a Espana
American Levi Leipheimer blistered the 15-mile individual time trial at the Amgen Tour of California on Friday, beating his closest challenger by a full minute.
Two-time world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara, whose hopes for a golden jersey rested on this course around Solvang, had a disappointing day. Instead of climbing back into the lead that he held after the prologue, the Team CSC rider fell out of 2nd place.
The stage win by Leipheimer puts him closer to an overall victory for Tour of California for the second straight year. He'll be able to rely on his strong Astana team on the 105-mile stage from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita on Saturday, and the concluding 93-mile bike race into Pasadena on Sunday.
Leipheimer, who was shielded by his team from Thursday's rugged winds, set the fastest time of 30:47 on Friday.
Slipstream's David Millar set the second fastest time of 29 second behind, followed by Christian Vande Velde of Slipstream following by 45 seconds, Gustav Larsson, Team CSC, by 57 seconds and finally Cancellara by 1:05 in 5th place.
Leipheimer, riding last year for the Discovery Channel pro cycling team, won the golden leader's jersey in the prologue and held it through the race in 2007. This year, he captured the golden jersey after Stage 3.
Top 10 across the finish line on Stage 5:
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Astana
2. David Millar (GB), Slipstream, 29 seconds behind
3. Christian Vandevelde (USA), Slipstream, 45 seconds
4. Gustav Larsson (Swe), CSC, 58 seconds
5. Fabian Cancellara (Swi), CSC, 1:05 behind
6. David Zabriskie (USA), Slipstream, 1:15 behind
7. Janez Brajkovic (SLO), Astana, 1:19 behind
8. Tom Zirbel (USA), Bissell Pro Cycling, 1:24 behind
9. Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (USA), Bissell Pro Cycling, 1:25 behind
10. Kim Kirchen (Lux), Team High Road, 1:29 behind
Top 10 overall:
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Astana
2. David Millar (GB), Slipstream, :49 behind
3. Christian Vandevelde (USA), Slipstream, 1:08 behind
4. Fabian Cancellara (Swi), CSC, 1:18 behind
5. Gustav Larsson (Swe), CSC, 1:19 behind
6. David Zabriskie (USA), Slipstream, 1:36 behind
7. Christopher Horner (USA), Astana, 2:07 behind
8. Jurgen Vandewalle (B), Quickstep, 2:11 behind
9. Robert Gesink (Nl), Rabobank, 2:18 behind
10. Alexandre Moos (Swi), BMC, 2:27 behind
George Hincapie, Team High Road, finished in 23rd place on Friday, 2:13 behind Leipheimer. He rose to 18th overall, 7:30 behind the golden jersey. See other results at VeloNews.
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