George is by far one of the greatest cyclists in the world. His decent in stage 3 of the Tour of California off the front (west) side of Mount Hamilton (4,360-foot) proves this. I've ridden that mountain many times and it is sketchy at best. To descend at those speeds truly shows he is at the top of his sport.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Gesink and Leipheimer Driving it Home!!!
Astana’s Levi Leipheimer took a narrow lead in the Amgen Tour of California after finishing second in the third stage following a breakaway with stage winner Robert Gesink of Rabobank.
The two got a gap on the Cat. 1 Sierra Road climb and held off a steaming pack of about 20 chasers for the final 20 miles to the finish in San Jose. The chase group included CSC's Fabian Cancellara, who had become the leader on the road when the man in yellow at the start, Slipstream-Chipotle's Tyler Farrar, dropped out mid-race with a stomach bug.
Leipheimer and Gesink — the TOC's best young rider last year — finished with enough of a gap for Leipheimer to take the yellow leader's jersey. The diminutive Leipheimer, the third place rider at the 2007 Tour de France and defending champion in the Tour of California, tucked in behind the powerful, 6-foot-1 Dutch rider Gesink for much of the final 20 miles.
The stage served up a 102.7-mile leg-breaker from Modesto to San Jose, with five categorized climbs, including the hors categorie grind to the 4360-foot summit of Mt. Hamilton and the 2000-foot Cat. 1 Sierra Road ascent, which has been decisive in previous editions of the tour.
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