BRECKENRIDGE — The attacks came from Garmin-Cervelo, but Radioshack’s teamwork thwarted what it is likely the last chance for anyone to overtake the yellow jersey from American Levi Leipheimer at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.
Saturday’s 105.8-mile fifth stage from Steamboat Springs to here in Breckenridge ended with Italian Elia Viviani of Liquigas-Cannondale capturing his second consecutive win in 4 hours, 4 minutes and 31 seconds on the event’s penultimate day.
For Viviani, a 22-year-old with a track racing background, the win should bolster his chances of earning a spot with Italy’s World Championship road-racing team in Denmark in a month, one of his primary goals for the season. He currently holds the race’s green jersey for best overall sprinter.
“The tactic for the team was to attack,” Viviani said. “If (teammate Daniel) Oss and I were in the first group, the sprint was for me in the green jersey. The team wanted to win this stage.”
Jaime Castaneda of Colombia placed second while Oss placed third in the same time.
The Boulder-based team of Garmin-Cervelo worked to winnow an 11-second gap between Radioshack’s Leipheimer and American Christian VandeVelde, who sits in second in the overall standings (general classification).
The top five in the general classification remained occupied by Americans and unchanged for another day with Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) in third at 17 seconds back, Boulder’s Tom Danielson (Garmin-Cervelo) at :21 back, and George Hincapie (BMC Racing) :53 behind. Tour de France champion Cadel Evans is seventh, 1:18 back from Leipheimer.
Asked whether riders like VandeVelde had any opportunities to steal the leader’s jersey on the final stage, Leipheimer said he didn’t want to think about it.
“If I were in Christian shoes, I would attack, and I’m sure he will,”
Leipheimer said. “I’m just going to have to stay focused. We’re another day closer. I think today was a big test. It’s a bit of a relief to finish today in the lead.”
Sunday’s finale from Golden to Denver will send riders around the town before a climb up the famed Lookout Mountain, the record ascent of which is held by Danielson in 16 minutes, 2 seconds. They’ll then descend back through Golden, and travel on relatively flat ground to Denver, where the week-long event will finish in front of the Capitol.
Riders will lap the city five times before an expected sprint finish.
Because the steep climb is early in the stage, any breakaway by VandeVelde or other riders to gain time on Leipheimer could easily be quashed before the finish.
“Just think positive and just keep doing what we’re doing,” Leipheimer said. “I think we’ve done a great job so far, and we just have to carry that momentum one more day.”
A breakaway group of four riders — Italy’s Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale), a two-time winner of the Tour of Italy; Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek), this year’s Tour de France runner-up; Dutch cyclist Laurens ten Dam (Rabobank); and American Tom Peterson (Garmin-Cervelo) — was caught by the peloton about half a mile before the finish after being in front for most of the stage.
“The final climb suited me,” said Schleck, who has struggled mightily with the high-altitude racing that has included climbs up two 12,000-foot peaks. “But I couldn’t get more than 15 seconds out of it.
We gambled too long, and suddenly the peloton was there.”
Race organizers said that crowds in Breckenridge rivaled those in Steamboat Springs. Saturday’s stage race is expected to be the largest draw for people yet. Pat McQuaid, president of UCI, cycling’s governing body, said he was impressed by the massive crowds that had turned out for the stages.
“I’ve been to Colorado before for the Coors Classic, so I knew there was a lot of support for cycling,” McQuaid said. “From the UCI’s point of view, our strategy is to globalize the sport — and this fits in with that.”
Daniel Petty: dpetty@denverpost.com or
