Levi Leipheimer first donned the yellow jersey on day one after the Prologue and he proceeded to wear it all the way into Long Beach seven days later. He and the other Discovery boys rode a tough race against some fierce competitors. Team CSC, even after losing star time-trialist, Dave Zabriskie, put up a good fight for the title with Jens Voigt finishing only 21 seconds behind Leipheimer. In fact, between the two of them, Discovery and CSC held all top six slots on the GC by the final day.

But in the end, Levi had the support of an amazing crew including Ivan Basso and George Hincapie. They sacrificed themselves utterly for Levi, pulling him through and helping him bring home the win.

After the final stage Levi was asked how this win stacked up against others in his career, “Maybe my most satisfying victory. I don’t know if I could call it my biggest victory. I have a wall at home with some jerseys on it and I can tell you this jersey is going on that wall.”

The final GC board played out like this:

1. Levi Leipheimer (Discovery)
2. Jens Voigt (Team CSC)
3. Jason McCartney (Discovery)
4. Bobby Julich (Team CSC)
5. Stuart O’Grady (Team CSC)
6. Christian Vandevelde (Team CSC)
7. Michael Rogers (T-Mobile)
8. Ben Day (Navigator Insurance)
9. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas)
10. Ryder Hesjedel (Health Net)

Worst moment - hearing that George Hincapie was going to be out of the Classics for this season after breaking his wrist during stage six and having to undergo surgery the next morning (I can tell you that our own Editor BK is going to be heartbroken about this). It’s a big loss for the team and really unfortunate for Hincapie who had been looking ahead to a very promising season in the Classics this year. Let’s just hope he’s healed up in time for the Grand Tours this summer.

Best moment - the face of young Jason Donald from Slipstream in the Prologue as he held the lead for the whole day. Even when he was beaten by Levi, the shock and thrill on his face after coming in second against the best in the world was a great sight to see.

After the stage Donald commented on the experience,“I look back on the ride, and it’s sort of a blur. I knew that Levi’s time wouldn’t hold up from last year. I knew it was going to be much faster. You all know anything’s possible. I can’t believe I’m second to the leader’s jersey in the biggest race I’ve ever done. There’s those times when it just all comes together. It’s hard to believe that Levi Leipheimer has to worry about me!”

All in all it was a great race and a great kick-off to the 2007 season!