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Jun 21, 2009 9:30 pm US/Pacific
Lance Armstrong Wins Nevada City Classic
NEVADA CITY, Calif. (CBS13) ―
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Lance Armstrong flies down the Broad Street straightaway with teammate Levi Leipheimer following close behind.
Jake Williams
One of the most historic and challenging professional cycling races in the country took place Sunday in Nevada City, and famed American cyclist Lance Armstrong secured the top spot at the finish line.
Seven-time Tour de France winner Armstrong brought fresh attention to the race when he announced early last week that he and other members of Team Astana, including three-time Tour of California victor Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner, were planning to race in the 49th annual Nevada City Classic.
Leipheimer jumped out to an early lead when the race began just after 5:00 p.m., and stayed near the front along with Armstrong for most of the race.
Armstrong finished a repeated 1.1-mile circuit through the historic mining town in 1 hour, 28 minutes and 20 seconds, sprinting away from the peloton with about six laps to go on the hilly course.
Ben Jacques-Maynes, a Watsonville native, finished 21 seconds behind in second place. Leipheimer, the three-time Tour of California champion, was third, 1 second behind Jacques-Maynes.
"HARD race," Armstrong posted on his Twitter account. "The crowds? Electric..."
Nevada City, a town of about 3,000, saw a huge business boom as tens of thousands of fans packed the small city to watch the 40-lap race that winds around a 1.1-mile course.
The seven-turn route travels up and down steep hills, making it one of the more challenging single-day cycling races in the country.
Armstrong last competed in the Nevada City Classic 19 years ago.
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