Rogers captures Tour of California

Aussie Michael Rogers won the Tour of California Sunday, edging runner-up David Zabriskie and upstaging three-time defending champ Levi Leipheimer, who finished third.

Canadian Ryder Hesjedal won the 134.4 km (83 mile) final stage of the eight day event which was overshadowed by Floyd Landis’ accusations of doping by his former American teammate Lance Armstrong.

“They made me sweat until the end,” Rogers said. “I really didn’t expect this stage to be so hard.”

Columbia team rider Rogers, 30, lifted the title in America’s premier road cycling race ahead of Zabriskie (Garmin) and Leipheimer (RadioShack). Leipheimer had won the previous three editions of the event.

Rogers, who had seized the yellow jersey on Thursday, fended off the attack of Zabriskie and Leipheimer to finish in the group behind the five who contested for the stage victory in the hills above Los Angeles.

Zabriskie was second overall, nine seconds behind Rogers while Leipheimer was 25 seconds back.

“We gave it a good try,” said Leipheimer. “Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Am I disappointed? Not at all.”

Hesjedal claimed the final stage as he out-sprinted George Hincapie and Carlos Barredo, while a determined attack by his Garmin teammate Zabriskie and Leipheimer on the final lap of the circuit in the rolling country west of Los Angeles fell short.

The winner of the first Tour of California in 2006, Landis wasn’t asked to compete in this year’s race.

The event lost its marquee performer Armstrong on Thursday when the seven-time Tour de France champion crashed out of the race with injuries to his face and elbow.

The crash happened just hours after Armstrong was forced to fend off fresh accusations of doping — this time from his former cycling pal Landis.

THOUSAND OAKS, AFP