Leipheimer Wins US Pro Cycling Challenge First Stage

Last updated : 23 August 2011 By Kev Monks

Levi Leipheimer won the first stage of the US Pro Cycling Challenge today.

The race, most of which is at altitude, left Salida and headed to the 1880's mining town of Mount Crested Butte.

Four riders in White, Thomson, Dickinson and Beltran got clear and it was Beltran who took the King Of The Mountains points over Monarch Pass.

Jay Thomson and Bradley White shred off the other two and were two minutes clear with 50 miles to go. 

HTC Highroad were on the front of the peloton which included the Schlecks who were moving up along with local boy Tom Danielson of Garmin.

Bradley White took the first intermediate sprint and with twenty miles to go, White and Thomson's lead was a minute and fiifteen seconds.

The duo were caught with four miles to go and after Julie Sagan of Liquigas took the second sprint, the race was on.

Patrick Gretsch in the yellow jersey was up at the front of the peloton before Andy Schleck (pictured below) went to the front.

 

Cadel Evans came up as did the Radio Shack team who had Levi Leipheimer who made his move.

No-one could get near the American and Leipheimer took the stage with Cadel Evans in third.  

With Gretsch coming in over a minute back, Leipheimer, who recently won the Tour Of Utah, took over the leaders jersey.

Tomorrow stage is 209km from Gunnison to Aspen.

Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM.