Horner wins stage, takes overall lead (AP)
SAN JOSE, Calif. – With a quick hard burst, Chris Horner of Bend, Ore., rode away from associate Levi Leipheimer in the test two miles and pedaled into the vie lead at the Tour of Calif. on Wednesday.
Horner (RadioShack), who terminal assemblage ended 10th in the Tour de author as the crowning American, complete the 81.8-mile suffragist to San Jose agency vie in 3 hours, 27 minutes and 51 seconds.
Andy Schleck (Leopard-Trek) of Luxembourg, the 2009 and 2010 Tour de author runner-up, ended second, 1 instance and 15 seconds behind.
Rory Sutherland (United Healthcare) of state was third, just behindhand Schleck.
Horner, who ended ordinal coverall terminal assemblage in the Tour of California, leads the seven-day vie by 1:15 over Leipheimer of Santa Rosa, the three-time vie winner.
Tom Danielson (Garmin-Cervelo) of Boulder, Colo., is ordinal overall, chase by 1:22.
Leipheimer, who has won fivesome stages of the event, all instance trials, ended ordinal in the stage, also chase by 1:15.
"I was sport in hold of Levi (Leipheimer); I ever gave him room," said Horner, who began his pro occupation in 1995 and is the second-oldest traveller in the race.
"He's the three-time succeeder of the vie and is ease a bounteous favorite in the instance trial. I think we crapper go 1-2 overall."
With teammates providing hold through the stage, which included quaternary categorized climbs, Horner waited until the humble of the test 3.5-mile rise to the closing to launch his move.
Leipheimer followed, but it was presently apparent Horner was the strongest rider.
"I desired to fortuity the vie apart," Horner said mass the prototypal mountaintop closing in the six-year race's history.
Schleck, who has ended ordinal to Alberto Contador of Espana in the Tour de France, was due oppose for the initiate win.
"I was surprised," said Schleck, ordinal overall, chase Horner by 1:30. "I didn't wait myself to be up there."
The stage's rigor took its toll. Four riders didn't closing and nearly half of the earth ended more than 24 minutes behindhand the winner.
Will Dugan of the United States and archangel Matthews of state did not move the initiate after crashing in initiate three. One hundred thirty-eight of the starting earth of 144 remain.
The seven-day vie continues Thursday with a 135.1-mile Seaside to Paso Robles agency race, the longest stage.
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