Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) (Image credit: Luc Claessen)
Team Gerolsteiner had all the reason to be satisfied with the outcome of Friday's fifth stage over the famous Col d'Izoard in the French Alps. American team leader Levi Leipheimer defended his yellow jersey of leading rider in General Classification, as he finished in eighth position behind stage winner Ludovic Turpin from AG2R. Leipheimer's advantage remained 28 seconds over runner-up Denis Menchov (Rabobank).
"We kept it together over the first 50 kilometres," commented Gerolsteiner DS Christian Henn. "Nobody got away who could have been dangerous. That was a great performance of the team." Once the climb to the Col d'Izoard was near, the captain took over. "Levi did it on his own in the finale. He rode very strong and didn't show any weaknesses," Henn added.
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