Last One In, First One Out - An Easy Day At The Office

The Land of Levi
Solvang, CA (February 22, 2008) – A review of the overall standings going into Stage 5 of the Amgen Tour of California would have given the most ardent, let alone the most inexperienced, cycling fan the impression that the title was still in the balance.

Levi Leipheimer (Astana) ended any speculation of who would claim the title In Pasadena with an incredible effort in the 15 mile Individual Time Trial that was redolent of the penultimate stage of last year’s Tour de France.

It was anything but easy for Leipheimer, however, as Slipstream’s Christian Vande Velde and then David Millar set the fastest marks while Levi was already on a course overflowing with enthusiastic fans and blessed by good weather.


Like most riders in this discipline, Levi went to his happy place where pain teeters precariously on its threshold. He quite literally “reached into his bag of pain,” as Phil Liggett might exclaim.


Leipheimer, although “a little cross-eyed” going into the final turn, bested David Millar’s mark by 29 seconds with an amazing 30:46.

Photos: Leonard Basobas