Nebraska Cycling News

Leipheimer Retains Jersey, Fairly top USA Cycling Development Team Finisher in San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, Calif. - Reigning World Champion Paolo Bettini (Quick Step-Innergetic) of Italy captured his first career win on American soil with a victory in stage four of the AMGEN Tour of California Thursday.  Bettini edged reigning U23 World Champion Gerald Ciolek (T-Mobile) of Germany in a sprint finish at the end of the 213-kilometer stage from Seaside to San Luis Obispo.

American Levi Leipheimer (Santa Rosa, Calif./Discovery Channel), the only rider to wear the yellow jersey in the event thus far, retained his overall lead after finishing in the 93-rider lead group.  After stage four, Levi remains three seconds ahead of German Jens Voigt (CSC) and 15 seconds ahead of Australian Rory Sutherland (Health Net-Maxxis) in the overall classification.

The longest stage of the eight-day race took its toll on two more USA Cycling National Development Team riders as John Devine (Dixon, Ill./VMG Racing) and Tejay Van Garderen (Fort Collins, Colo.) withdrew from the race before the finish in San Luis Obispo, ending their first experience in a USA Cycling Professional Tour event.

Caleb Fairly (Amarillo, Texas/VMG Racing) was the highest-placed finisher on the day for the development squad, finishing 102nd as part of a small group that came across the line 1:27 after the peloton.

Brent Bookwalter (Cedar Springs, Mich./VMG Racing) finished 112th, 2:08 down on the lead group.  He remains the highest-placed rider for the national development team in the Best Young Rider classification in 15th place, 12:17 back from current leader, Australian Matthew Lloyd (Predictor-Lotto). 

After an aggressive start that featured several breakaways, a seven-man move that featured seven different teams escaped from the field and increased their lead to four-and-a-half minutes before the Discovery Channel Team, in protection of Leipheimer's overall lead, and the teams hoping for a sprint finish began to reel in the break.

With just five kilometers remaining, the move was caught and a sprint finish was set up with the reigning world champions going 1-2, while stage two winner Juan Jose Haedo (CSC) of Argentina completed the podium in third. 

In what will likely be the decisive stage of the second-annual AMGEN Tour of California, riders will compete in a 23.5-kilometer time trial in Solvang on Friday.  The individual race against the clock will provide each rider with an opportunity to lay down the fastest time and move up in the overall standings.

The reigning USA Cycling U23 National Time Trial Champion, Bookwalter will look to move up in the Best Young Rider Classification before Saturday's stage from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita and the final stage circuit race in Long Beach on Sunday.

2007 USA Cycling Professional Tour

AMGEN Tour of California

February 18-25

Stage Four Results - Seaside to San Luis Obispo - 213 kilometers

1. Paolo Bettini (ITA) 5:05:47

2. Gerald Ciolek (GER) s.t.

3. Juan Jose Haedo (ARG) s.t.

102. Caleb Fairly (Amarillo, Texas) +1:07

112. Brent Bookwalter (Cedar Springs, Mich.) +2:08

DNF. John Devine (Dixon, Ill.)

DNF. Tejay Van Garderen (Fort Collins, Colo.)

General Classification after Stage Four

1. Levi Leipheimer 17:52:12

2. Jens Voigt +0:03

3. Rory Sutherland (AUS) +0:15

86. Brent Bookwalter +12:46

118. Caleb Fairly +20:56

For complete results, visit www.tourofcalifornia.com <http://www.tourofcalifornia.com/>