| Leipheimer confident he, his team can hold lead |
| Friday, August 26, 2011 20:46 |
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Chris Kobos of Ckobosphotography.com
BY BRIAN GOMEZ STEAMBOAT SPRINGS – Levi Leipheimer maintains the yellow leader’s jersey isn’t his for good – just not yet. He’s confident but cautious. He’s proactive but protective. The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist credited the seven other riders on his American-based Team RadioShack squad for helping him stay in the lead Friday at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, with another strong effort over 82.8 miles from Avon to Steamboat Springs. Leipheimer, 37, of Santa Rosa, Calif., took 24th in a 93-rider sprint finish won by Italian Elia Viviani at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Sixth Street, keeping an 11-second edge that he gained Thursday over Christian Vande Velde when he prevailed in a 10-mile time trial in Vail. His only remaining obstacles are more crosswinds today from Steamboat to Breckenridge and a jaunt Sunday over Lookout Mountain from Golden to Denver. MORE: Photo gallery ... video “We have a slight advantage because we are in the lead,” Leipheimer said, adding that he thinks “it’s more difficult to take the lead than it is to defend it. We’ve done a great job to take the lead, and now, it’s all about defense. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.” There were a “lot of chances for the other riders and my competitors to attack and put us under pressure,” Leipheimer said about the fifth leg of the seven-stage race in which 121 riders went twice around Avon, dashed across undulating roads through ranching country and concluded a 5,034-foot climb with a mad dash clocked at speeds as fast as 45 mph. “You need to manage it so it’s not a dangerous breakaway, so it’s not a large breakaway,” Leipheimer said. “That takes a lot of work” from his little-known teammates. “As soon as that breakaway is established, then they have to start pulling to make sure the gap doesn’t get too big. So they’re working all day long. Every day that we defend is just a testament to how strong Team RadioShack is. … We’re another day closer to Denver.” |
