By James Raia
ESCONDIDO, California, Feb 22 - American Levi
Leipheimer secured his third straight Tour of California title
on Sunday, crossing in the main pack of the eighth stage won by
Luxembourg's Frank Schleck.
Leipheimer, whose team mates include seven-times Tour de
France winner Lance Armstrong, assumed the race lead with in
Monday's second stage and remained top of the overall
classification through to the finish.
Armstrong, competing for the first time in North America
since returning to cycling from a three-and-a-half year
retirement, finished seventh overall.
Leipheimer began the 156km final stage with a 36-second
advantage over compatriot David Zabriskie and was never
threatened, coming home safely surrounded by his Astana team
mates.
Schleck claimed the gruelling stage that featured four
climbs, including an ascent of snowy Mt. Palomar (1,561 metres)
in a time of three hours, 48 minutes and 40 seconds.
Vincenzo Nibali was second in the same time with American
George Hincapie third trailing by 39 seconds.
(Editing by Steve Keating and John O'Brien)