It was a day for the escape artists as Fly V rider Darren Lill jumped away from his escape partners to win Stage 5 of the Sram Tour of the Gila, ahead of Max Jenkins (United Healthcare) and Robert Britton (Bissell Pro Cycling) on the climb to Pino Altos. Team Radio Shack rider Levi Leipheimer came in safely in 10^th  behind to retain his overall lead by :59 over DZ Nuts Tom Danielson, and win his second straight Tour of the Gila.

The Race Skinny

Rolling out from Silver City, New Mexico weather again looked to be the wild card, and in the end the riders saw wind, rain and snow, but it was an early 14 man breakaway that was the real story. Just after the days bonus sprint at mile 10 a the group formed and quickly gained time as they worked together through the sheltered roads of the Mimbres River Valley. In the group was a mix of veteran and young riders with several holding top 15 GC spots including Paul Mach (Bissell), as well as Trek-Livestrong Stage 3 TT winner Jesse Sergent, and 3-time Gila winner Burke Swindlehurst (teamgive).

As the riders neared the 40 mile point Mach became the leader on the road. As the riders began to climb to the Gila Cliff Dwellings snow flurries began to fall while in the chase behind Team Mellow Johnny's riders and Sutter Home worked at the front to keep the gap from growing past 5 minutes.

After the Gila Cliff  Dwellings turn around the racers faced the toughest of the days climbs, the category 1 Anderson Vista at 7493 feet. As the riders crossed the Gila River, the action in the break and the peloton heated up. With the time gap coming down it was Paul Mach and Danny Summerhill who came off first. Meanwhile, Levi Leipheimer, Tom Danielson (DZ Nuts), Phil Zajicek (Fly V), and Rory Sutherland (United Healthcare) escaped and began to give chase to the group, with 20-year old Best Young Rider Jersey Holder Andrew Talansky behind giving chase.

“Starting the climb out of the cliff dwellings everybody hit it pretty hard, it's pretty steep right at the beginning, I was right in between  Levi's group and the guys coming up behind, so I waited and got in  with Lance and the group. I don't know what happened up with Levi's group, I thought they were gone and then we came over the top and they were right there,” said Talansky.

“We did what we had to do to win the race, I gave it my best on the climb coming out of the cliff dwellings. I did what I had to do, it was just unfortunate that the people that were with me decided to not cooperate—I mean I can understand Levi, that's his job, but the other guys it was kind of silly,” commented Tom Danielson. 

Ahead, the breakway was losing riders, but still maintaining an eroding gap while they climbed to the days second to the last climb, Meadow Creek. In the chase Lance Armstrong went to the front and helped work to erase the deficit.

Not content to stay in the break and risk getting caught from behind from the chase, Lill pounced from a remaining group of 6, and quickly gained a gap, riding to the finish alone. “This is right up there with my win in the Tour of Utah last year, it is a win I am going to cherish.,” said the South African rider. Max Jenkins and Robert Britton were able to best there remaining breakaway companions. Leipheimer came in safely with his chase group and in doing so captured his second straight victory at Gila. Trek-Livestrong U23 rider Taylor Phinney won the green sprint points jersey, while his teammate Sergent fought hard after being dropped from the breakaway to finish 7^th on the stage.

“It was epic conditions and an epic course, one of the best stages in American racing. It went smooth, we were isolated, but we're calm and experienced, Lance was really great today,” said Leipheimer who is looking to win his fourth straight Tour of California.

Photos: Glenn Kasin