May 5 update: Armstrong says he'll ride for Leipheimer at Giro d'Italia
You might think the odds that someone could beat Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer in an uphill stage finish are about the same as a 50-1 horse winning the Kentucky Derby.
Well, Mine That Bird won at Churchill Downs on Saturday and Phil Zajicek, 30, won the final stage of the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico on Sunday.
Leipheimer and Armstrong, teammates on Mellow Johnny's bike shop team for this year, did finish 1st and 2nd overall in the five stage Gila bike race; Zajicek finished in 3rd overall.
VeloNews reports that Zajicek, from Eugene, Oregon, has won stages of the Tour of the Gila in previous years. But Sunday's victory in the 106-mile final stage was sweet because he bested Leipheimer and Armstrong in a final sprint.
For the final climb, the lead group had dwindled to just six cyclists, including Zajicek and the three Mellow Johnny's riders, Leipheimer, Armstrong and Chris Horner.
Zajicek said he let the others take pulls at the front. At the finish, Leipheimer tried to lead out Armstrong for a stage win, but Zajicek took it instead.
Zajicek is a member of the Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living cycling team.
Next Saturday, Armstrong, Leipheimer and Horner put on their regular Astana cycling jerseys to race in the 3-week Giro d'Italia.
Meanwhile, Olympic gold medalist Kirstin Armstrong won her third stage on Sunday to take the overall win at the Tour of the Gila.
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