ToCA: Levi retains overall lead, Haedo takes stage win

By Jessica | Permalink | No Comments | February 24th, 2007 | Trackback

For awhile today, it looked like I’d jinxed Levi Leipheimer’s hold on the leader’s jersey with yesterday’s post. The attacks came early and often today, and eventually landed Stuart O’Grady in a break that got enough time on the peloton to make him the leader on the road. The Disco boys eventually pulled the break back, but they waited until the final circuits in Santa Clarita - so it was an exciting day of racing.

The stage winner, J.J. Haedo, rocketed out of the bunch sprint out of nowhere to take his second stage victory this year. I swear, I didn’t see him until he threw his hands up in victory. Now, that’s partly because of the pixelly image I was watching, but mostly because he’s one of those amazing sprinting talents who can produce that kind of crazy energy bursts just when he needs it. I can’t wait to see this guy race in Europe - I hope CSC puts him in the rosters for the big races.

The top five on the day:

1. J.J. Haedo (Team CSC)
2. Greg Henderson (T-Mobile)
3. Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step)
4. Thor Hushovd (Credit-Agricole)
5. Freddy Rodriguez (Predictor-Lotto)

With today’s stage over, I think I can more safely say the yellow jersey isn’t coming off Leipheimer’s back, which means he’ll have worn it for the entire race. That’s no small feat, so hat’s off to Leipheimer and Team Discovery Channel.

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