VALLADOLID, Spain—Levi Leipheimer won the Vuelta of Castilla and Leon on Friday after protecting his overall lead in the final stage.
The American finished 16 seconds ahead of Astana teammate Alberto Contador after holding off the 2007 Tour de France champion in the two mountain stages since winning Tuesday’s time trial.
“Our team was the strongest. After the time trial I didn’t have to do anything, because my teammates did everything,” Leipheimer said.
Lance Armstrong was supposed to challenge Contador and Leipheimer at the race but pulled out Monday after breaking his collarbone in a crash.
Leipheimer completed the five stages in 15 hours, 33 minutes, 23 seconds for his second victory of the season. He won his third straight Tour of California in January.
Alejandro Valverde of the Caisse D’Epargne team won the final 95-mile stage. Leipheimer and Contador were among a pack of riders two seconds back.
Valverde beat Spanish teammate Jose Joaquin Rojas and Euskaltel-Euskadi rider Pablo Urtasun in a sprint, with all three finishing in 3:17.46.
American rider David Zabriskie of Garmin-Slipstream finished 22 seconds behind Leipheimer for third in the overall standings.
Contador, who is an early favorite for the Tour, said he had no doubts about turning from team leader to support rider.
“When he finished ahead in the time trial, I was delighted that he had because there are races for all,” Contador said. “This week served to help the team going into other more important races and I’m happy to have lend a hand to Leipheimer, who’s usually always helping me.”
