Reigning champion Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) won the fifth stage of the Tour of Germany on Sunday, a 163km leg between Bad Tolz and Seefeld.

The American crossed just two seconds ahead of Kazakhstan's Andrei Kaschechkin (Astana) and Italy's Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre-Fondital).

A riders' protest ahead of the start of Sunday's decisive climbing stage prompted organizers to eliminate the day's hardest ascent, the 2,020-meter Kühtaisattel climb, which was pelted with high winds, freezing temperatures and icy roads.

"You have to think of the safety of the riders. The conditions were unacceptable," said Milram captain Erik Zabel.

Bad weather triggered a rider protest and a shortened stage

Photo: Tour of Germany

After riders refused to race for 40 minutes, organizers relented and rerouted the course around the climb, eliminating about 30km from the 192km stage, but keeping the finish at the top of the 13km, Cat. 1 Mosern climb.

The peloton split on that final ascent, and Leipheimer got away from a small lead group to take the stage. Germany's Jens Voigt (CSC) finished fourth and took over the leader's jersey from compatriot Zabel.

Voigt was delighted and admitted the shortened stage helped him.

"I benefited from the shortened course," confessed Voigt. "The big mountain was removed from the run and that helped me."

The 34-year-old Voigt is now three seconds ahead of Russia's Vladimir Gusev (Discovery Channel), with defending champ Leipheimer fourth at 18 seconds back, heading into Monday's sixth stage - a 196.6km mountain stretch from Seefeld to St. Anton.

Race note
During Sunday's stage, new anti-doping measures in Germany were announced by a coalition of the German Cycling Federation, the top German teams, sponsors and race organizers. They include more doping tests during training – which the teams will finance – and a doctor to be appointed by the cycling federation, who will control medical matters.

Top 10
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, 163km in 3:44:20
2. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Astana, at 0:02
3. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Lampre, same time
4. Jens Voigt (G), CSC, s.t.
5. Leonardo Piepoli (I), Saunier Duval, s.t.
6. Vladimir Gusev (Rus), Discovery Channel, at 0:17
7. Inigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro (Sp), CSC, at 0:29
8. Andy Schleck (Lux), CSC, at 0:36
9. Eddy Mazzoleni (I), T-Mobile, s.t.
10. Evgeni Petrov (Rus), Lampre, s.t.

Overall
1. Jens Voigt (G), CSC, 22:27:51
2. Vladimir Gusev (Rus), Discovery Channel, at 0:03
3. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Lampre, at 0:13
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, at 0:18
5. Inigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro (Sp), CSC, at 0:25
6. Evgeni Petrov (Rus), Lampre, at 0:36
7. Leonardo Piepoli (I), Saunier Duval, at 0:38
8. Eddy Mazzoleni (I), T-Mobile, at 0:43
9. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Astana, at 0:49
10. Andy Schleck (Lux), CSC, at 0:57

Complete results