Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's Levi Leipheimer won today’s Tour of Missouri Stage 3 individual time trial through Branson, besting second-place finisher Nathan O’Neill by 16 seconds. Riding aboard his wind-cheating Trek Equinox TTX, Leipheimer rocketed through the 18-mile course, averaging over 27 mph and posting one of only two sub 40-minute times.
“I didn’t feel that great,” noted Leipheimer after his ride. “But it was a good course for me. I was smart with my efforts. There were a lot of big rollers. It was hard to get a rhythm because it’s such a technical course.”
Leipheimer’s teammate and overall race leader George Hincapie finished sixth on the day, using his Equinox TTX to put time on his nearest rivals and all but lock up the overall Tour of Missouri victory. With a one minute and forty seconds advantage over second place, three relatively flat stages remaining, and a superpower squad that’s more than capable of controlling the race supporting him, barring a catastrophe, Hincapie should roll into St. Louis on Sunday as the first-ever Tour of Missouri Champion.
There’s still plenty of racing left to go, so stay tuned. The Disco fireworks may not be over, as wily Team Director Johan Bruyneel may very well be hatching plans to let some of his other riders go for individual stage glory, in this the team's last race on American soil.
Stage 3 Results:
1. Levi Leipheimer (Discovery Channel), 39:37
2. Nathan O’Neill (Health Net-Maxxis) 39:53
3. Matti Helminen (DFL-Cyclingnews) 41:04
4. Ben Day (Navigators) 41:09
5. Danny Pate (Slipstream) 41:41
6. George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) 41:44
Overall Results:
1. George Hincapie (Discovery Channel)
2. Will Frischkorn (Slipstream) + 1:40
3. David Cañada (Prodir-Saunier Duval) + 2:22.
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