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Butte’s Leipheimer Wins Tour of California

By Beacon Staff

PASADENA, – Levi Leipheimer won the Tour of California for the second straight year Sunday, beating Britain’s David Millar by 49 seconds in the eight-day, 650-mile race.

The 34-year-old Leipheimer, third in the 2007 Tour de France, led the event for the final five days, finishing in 29 hours, 24 minutes, 32 seconds. He finished in the main pack Sunday in the rainy final stage, about a minute behind winner George Hincapie.

Hincapie, the former U.S. National road winner who was a teammate of Lance Armstrong in each of his seven Tour de France titles, won the 93.4-mile road race Sunday from Santa Clarita to Pasadena in 3:50:57.

Leipheimer earned $17,000 for his overall title as well as additional stage and team prize money from the race’s $150,000 purse.