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Racing aboard his team-issue Trek Equinox TTX 9.9 SSL and Trek Madone 6.9 Pro, American Levi Leipheimer continued his winning way by capturing the overall victory in 24th Vuelta a Castilla y León. Enjoying a successful week of racing, his Astana Cycling Team controlled the race from start to finish in a powerful display of determination and teamwork. Teammate Alberto Contador finished second overall and captured the Spanish rider classification. For Leipheimer (35), this win marks his eleventh overall victory in a stage race as a professional rider.
"I am very grateful to Alberto and my other teammates,” commented Leipheimer on the final podium. "On the first day of the race, Alberto told me that 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. The way Alberto pulled on the climb to Laguna de los Peces was impressive. The other teammates had to work too all day long. Everybody raced against Team Astana."
"Rabobank, Garmin and Caisse d'Epargne made it very difficult for us,” said Team Director Sean Yates. "And then there were all the Spanish teams. It is a big race for all the Spanish teams. They don't have so many opportunities to race in the same races as Contador and to be on TV. They don't want to miss a move. They are all chasing each other. We like to see a harmless breakaway happen but it never happens with the time gaps being so small.”
"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 at the races," concluded Yates.
"For me it was an honor and a pleasure to work for Levi,” said Contador. “Levi has worked so much for me in the past. I am also satisfied about my condition. I was afraid I would not be fully recuperated from Paris-Nice, but that was not the case. I am in good shape."
Alberto Contador takes now ten days rest and will start on April 6th in the Tour of the Basque Country. Levi Leipheimer will focus on his next two objectives, the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France.