Levi Leipheimer has won his third straight Tour of California.
Leipheimer took over the lead in the nine-day race last Monday
and never gave it up.
Lance Armstrong, who began a comeback last month, spent this
race in support of Leipheimer, his Astana teammate. Armstrong, the
seven-time Tour de France winner, finished seventh overall.
The 96.8-mile final stage in San Diego County on Sunday featured
a gut-busting ride up snowcapped Palomar Mountain, where the
cyclists reached the 5,123-foot level on a two-lane highway with 21
switchbacks.
Dozens of spectators tried to run alongside the riders near the
top, including a man in a University of Montana jersey who wore a
football helmet decorated with antlers.
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