Levi Leipheimer wins Castilla y Leon

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As if Lance Armstrong needs any further incentive to make a quick recovery from his broken collarbone, his Astana team dominated the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon. Levi Leipheimer, of Santa Rosa, won his second major race of the season, finishing first in the Spanish stage race where Armstrong broke his collarbone earlier in the race. And Astana teammate Alberto Contador finished second overall.

While he was standing on the podium, Leipheimer, who also won the Amgen Tour of California last month, said, ‘I am very grateful to Alberto and my other teammates. On the first day of the race, Alberto told me this race suited me better than him and that he would help me. He was right. The long time trial and the not-so-steep mountaintop finishes favored me.’

Astana race director Sean Yates said, ‘We were all very disappointed when we lost Lance Armstrong on the first day of the race. We hope he can share a part of this victory and hope to see him back soon.’

-- Diane Pucin