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TOUR OF CALIFORNIA RACE REPORTS: TOUR OF CALIFORNIA STAGE 3: HUSHOVD THUNDERS TO VICTORY
Road Bike Action
February 17, 2009
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Hushovd celebrates his victory in stage 3 of the Tour of California
(Photo: Ken Conley)
Levi Leipheimer maintained the overall leader's yellow jersey in the Tour of California despite a crash with fellow American Lance Armstrong that sent Leipheimer tumbling off his bike. Norwegian Thor Hushovd, of the Cervelo team, won the rain-hit third stage in a close sprint finish with Spaniard Oscar Freire and Australian Mark Renshaw. Leipheimer has a 24 second lead in the overall classification ahead of Australian Michael Rogers and American David Zabriskie.
Once again the event was marked by bad weather as wind and rain pelted the riders on Tuesday. Leipheimer went down hard early in the race after colliding with the back end of the bike of teammate Armstrong. Both Leipheimer and Armstrong ride for the Astana team.
Leipheimer hit the ground, causing a small pileup as other riders tried to avoid him. He stayed down for a few seconds but was not injured. He had to get a replacement bike before rejoining the stage.Armstrong, who is 30 seconds behind Leipheimer, looked back briefly at Leipheimer but remained on his bike.
How Hushovd Won
The third stage of the 2009 Tour of California started in San Jose,
California with brief bursts of sunshine breaking through the clouds.
Unfortunately the sun would fall away as the rain and wind returned to
batter the peloton for the third straight day. The day started with the
organizers shortening the neutral start and eliminating one of the
finishing circuits. The shortened race was of not enough help to
Cervélo rider Ted King who crashed before the race had officially
started and was forced to abandon.
Shortly after the beginning
of the race a break of four riders, Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), Brian
Vandbourg (Liquigas), Jeff Louder (BMC Racing Team) and Bradley White
(OUCH p/b Maxis) broke free and quickly gained 30 seconds. The break
worked well together up the Sierra Road climb, and while Francisco
Mancebo to bridge up briefly to take the KOM points, he dropped back to
the peloton while the break forged ahead.
After the Sierra
Road climb the break began to extend its lead while the peloton was
slowed by numerous crashes. Race leader Leipheimer was one of the crash
victims when he overlapped wheels with Armstrong and went down. While
unharmed, Leipheimer did required a bike change.
As the peloton
regrouped the break was contesting the sprint bonus in the city of
Livermore with Mollema taking the bonus ahead of White, and Louder. The
break stayed together on the day’s second climb up Patterson Pass,
where Mollema took the KOM points ahead of Vanbourg and Louder. As the
break descended Patterson Pass their lead peaked at over 5-minutes.
With
40-miles remaining, the breaks lead had dropped to 4.30, with the
Astana and Columbia riders taking up the chase into the vicious cross
wind. As the race passed through the town of Tracey, and the second the
sprint bonus, the gap continued to drop, reaching 3.30 with 28 miles to
go. In the second sprint bonus Vanbourg crossed the line ahead of
Louder and Mollema.
With 25 miles to go Quick Step, Cervélo and
Columbia came to the front, working to setup Boonen, Hushovd and
Cavendish for the sprint finish. The gap continued to tumble and with
7-miles to go the gap was down to a minute. As the peloton closed in
Louder attacked the break, taking Mollema with him. As Louder and
Mollema hit the final circuit, Mollema attacked hard in one last move
for victory.
With just under two kilometers to go Mollema and
Louder were reeled in by the Quick Step lead peloton. The Cervélo team
then took over at the front as the peloton passed under the one
kilometer to go banner. In the sprint for the line Thor Hushovd powered
clear to the win by three bike lengths over Oscar Freire and Mark
Renshaw. Hushovd won easily as he was given a gap over the other riders
when George Hincapie, who was on his wheel, backed off when he realized
his teammate Mark Cavendish was not in position for the sprint.
Tour of California, February 14-22 2009
Tuesday, February 17
Stage 3: San Jose-Modesto, California
1. Thor Hushovd (NOR/Cervelo) 4hr 28min 12sec
2. Oscar Freire (ESP) at 00sec
3. Mark Renshaw (AUS) s.t.
4. Tyler Farrar (USA) s.t.
5. Mark Cavendish (GBR) s.t.
6. Brett Lancaster (AUS) s.t.
7. Lucas Haedo (ARG) s.t.
8. Freddy Rodriguez (USA) s.t.
9. Markus Zberg (SUI) s.t.
10. Pedro Horrillo (ESP) s.t.
Noted:
23. Levi Leipheimer (USA) s.t.
65. Lance Armstrong (USA) s.t.
General Classification After Stage 3
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Astana) 13hr 51min 14sec
2. Michael Rogers (AUS) at 24sec
3. David Zabriskie (USA) at 28sec
4. Lance Armstrong (USA) at 30sec
5. Christopher Horner (USA) at 34sec
6. Janez Brajkovic (SLO) at 38sec
7. Thomas Lovkvist (SWE) at 38sec
8. José Luis Rubiera (ESP) at 38sec
9. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) at 38sec
10. Robert Gesink (PBS) at 39sec
Noted:
13. Ivan Basso (ITA) at 42sec
16. Francisco Mancebo (ESP) at 56sec
25. George Hincapie (USA) at 05:59
29. Floyd Landis (USA) at 6:04
39. Hubert Dupont (FRA) at 6:28
108. Carlos Sastre (ESP) at 32:00
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