Leipheimer triumphs in Tour of Germany

PARIS (Reuters) – Levi Leipheimer confirmed the strength of
American cycling when he won the Tour of Germany after the
168-km final stage between Bad Kreuznach and Bonn on Tuesday.

Italian Daniele Bennati won the mass sprint at the end of
the stage to take his third win of the race and the best
sprinter’s jersey.

Gerolsteiner rider Leipheimer retained his overall lead of
31 seconds over second-placed German Jan Ullrich. Leipheimer’s
team mate, Austrian Georg Totschnig, completed the podium.

Leipheimer’s triumph follows on from compatriot Lance
Armstrong’s record seventh Tour de France win and Bobby
Julich’s wins in Paris-Nice and the Tour of Benelux.

“It’s great to win this race,” Leipheimer told reporters in
Bonn. “The race has matured, and it’s one of the best races in
the world now.

“It’s very well organised, the roads are safe, and the
spectators are incredible — for example, the Tour of Spain
never has that many crowds. It’s truly a great race,” the
31-year-old added.

Leipheimer, who also won the mountains classification, took
the overall lead after winning last Thursday’s fourth stage on
the 2,670-meter Rettenbachferner climb.

Second-placed Ullrich had been suffering from the
after-effects of a cold was satisfied with his result.

“I would have liked to win — I was 31 seconds short in the
end, and that’s a pity,” said the German, who won Monday’s time
trial for his first stage victory on his home Tour.

“But I’m very satisfied given the circumstances. I didn’t
expect to be on the podium as my illness really handicapped
me.”

In the final sprint, Lampre-Caffita’s Bennati, winner of
two earlier stages, beat Australian Baden Cooke and Swiss
Fabian Cancellara.

The end of the stage was in front of the T-Mobile
headquarters and several of the team’s riders tried to attack
on the final circuit around the city but the Gerolsteiner and
Lampre-Caffita squads were able to reel them in for an exciting
finish to the race.