Contador fights back in Tour de San Luis

Contador (Saxo Bank) attacked in the final kilometre on Mirador del Sol to claim his second stage win of the Argentinean tour but Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step) responded to limit his losses, finishing third.

Local rider Daniel Diaz (San Luis Somos Todos) finished second in the stage at 2 seconds.

"It wasn't an easy stage - the wind was really strong in the first part of the race and the guys did a great job to control the race," said Leipheimer. "The last climb was hard, 7 km of uphill with high percentage. We managed to control the race very well from the beginning. In the last climb Contador attacked at about 3 km to go. At that point I took the lead and I only thought about the GC.

"I'm really happy about our race today. Now we have to control the race 2 more days. Tomorrow it won't be easy, the stage is long and difficult especially at the beginning but we have to do it. We are really close to the victory. It will be an extra motivation for everybody."

The general classification saw another shake up with both Stefan Schumacher (Christina Watches-Ofone ) and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) losing time on Leipheimer after finishing sixth and eight on the stage.

Overall, Leipheimer now leads Contador by 46 seconds with Diaz third, at a gap of 1 minute and 31 seconds.

”As the leading team, Quick Step took the responsibility of the pacemaking in the field and a whole lot of riders were simply exhausted as we hit the foot of the climb. said Saxo Bank sporting director Philippe Mauduit.

"Alberto made a relative early escape, first alone and later he was followed by Levi (Leipheimer) and Diaz (Daniel) while Schumacher and Nibali cracked on the final kilometers. It was a terrific re-match after yesterday's time trial and I guess there's hardly any better climber than Alberto in the peloton here and we're more than content with our two stage wins in the race. Levi is a powerful guy and I don't think it's realistic that we can take back the leader's jersey."

The 201km sixth stage from Lujan to Quines contains a 1700 metres category one climb and ends 500 metres above sea level.

Stage 5: La Toma - Merlo (Mirador del Sol) 160.6km

1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank 4:19:59
2 Daniel Diaz (Arg) San Luis Somos Todos 0:00:02
3 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 0:00:05
4 Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Androni Giocattoli 0:00:25
5 Marcos Garcia (Spa) Caja Rural 0:00:44
6 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Christina Watches-Ofone
7 Magno Prado (Bra) Funvic-Pidamonhangab 0:00:51
8 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:00:56
9 Adrian Palomares (Spa) Andalucia 0:00:58
10 Miguel Angel Rubiano (Col) Androni Giocattoli 0:01:02

General classification:

1 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 17:27:52
2 Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank 0:00:46
3 Daniel Diaz (Arg) San Luis Somos Todos 0:01:31
4 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Christina Watches-Ofone 0:01:36
5 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:01:50
6 Jose Serpa Perez (Col) Androni Giocattoli 0:02:13
7 Magno Prado (Bra) Funvic-Pidamonhangab 0:02:39
8 Luis Mansilla (Chi) Chile 0:03:24
9 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 0:03:44
10 Cayetano Jose Sarmiento (Col) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:04:43