In the time-trial stage at last year’s Dauphiné Libéré, Americans swept the top four en route to Levi Leipheimer’s overall victory in a stunning display of national prowess against the clock.

In Wednesday’s 40.7km undulating course with two Cat. 4 climbs, it was the Kazakhs’ turn to show who’s boss.

Alexandre Vinokourov won his first race since last year’s Vuelta a España, claiming the overall leader’s jersey, while faithful sidekick Andrey Kashechkin was second to stake his claim as the leading candidate for overall victory. Dave Zabriskie (CSC) was third at 38 seconds off the pace to move into third overall.FullResults

“It was important for me today to make a test of how my form is for myself and against my rivals,” said Vinokourov, who stopped the clock in 52:08.95 (46.481kph). “I’m not here to fight for the overall. It’s a good chance for ‘Kash’ to win this race.”

Kash' is in line to win for Astana

Photo: Graham Watson

Vinokourov set the fastest times at both splits on a course that most riders agreed was more challenging than initial suggestions. Starting and finishing in Anneyron along the western reaches of the Rhone Valley, the route featured two punchy Cat. 4 climbs and was blasted by moderate head- and cross-winds as it looped back into the start-finish area.

Vinokourov inherited the yellow jersey from overnight leader Christophe Moreau (Ag2r), who faded to 15th overall after finishing 25th at 2:53. Kashechkin, the loyal understudy on the Astana power charts, lies second at just two seconds back.

And Vino’ said he’d gladly let Kashechkin make a run for the Dauphiné’s top prize while he patiently continues his preparations for July’s big show — the Tour de France.

Moreau had a poor ride and dropped out of yellow

Photo: Graham Watson

“Everyone says I am the big favorite for the Tour, but that’s fine with me,” said Vinokourov, who won the Dauphiné in 1999 to announce his arrival on the international stage. “Today is satisfying because I’ve been working on my time trial at least three times a week. That’s what I need to do to win the Tour.”

The Astana captain says he’s still smarting from being forced out of last year’s Tour after five of his ex-teammates were listed in the Operación Puerto dossier, leaving the Astana team short of the required amount of riders to start.

“Missing the Tour last year just redoubled my motivation for this year,” said Vinokourov, who used that similar rage to barnstorm through the Vuelta last year to win his first grand tour. “I was already strong in 2004 and 2005. I am ready. This year is my year.”

American parade
Trying to disrupt the Astana avalanche was Zabriskie, the American national time-trial champion. He gained back eight seconds on Vinokourov between the first and second time checks relative to the two Cat. 4 climbs at 17.5km and 27.5km, respectively, but forfeited 18 seconds in the closing descending run back into Anneyron, slotting into third on the day.

Zabriskie, who led the American stampede last year, also finished third behind two Astana riders in the final time trial at the Giro d’Italia earlier this month.

“I’d say a bunch of funny stuff, but I don’t want to get my ass kicked,” Zabriskie joked about Astana. “I felt like I was kind of losing it there in the end, so it was nice that I caught Egoi (Martínez – his two-minute man). That kind of helped me keep my concentration. I saw (Vinokourov) got some time on me at the end – that’s just the way it is.”

Other Tour contenders showed their cards in a hotly contested race, with 10 riders within 1:45 of Vinokourov. Cadel Evans (Predictor-Lotto) was impressive at fourth at 39 seconds back with Russian Denis Menchov (Rabobank) in fifth at 40 seconds back. Both riders have worked to improve in the time trials and their results reflected the redoubled efforts.

Leipheimer – racing with the No. 1 start number as the defending champion -- stopped the clock for eighth at 1:11 off the pace. The Discovery Channel captain, racing for the first time since winning two stages at the Tour de Georgia in April, was happy enough with his ride.

“It’s okay – maybe I would have expected a little bit more, but I think it’s fine,” Leipheimer said as he rode the rollers in a post-race cool-down. “I’m just trying to do my best with the shape I am. I just came off a break, so it’s going all right. I certainly made a test today, so we’ll see and take it day by day.”

Leipheimer’s third place in last year’s time trial helped propel him toward his overall Dauphiné victory. After finishing third in 2005, he was especially motivated to claim the top prize. This year, the tables are turned and he has no pressure during the important eight-day French race.

“The important thing is to come out strong and recover well,” he said. “If I cannot win here, it’s more about getting in shape.”

Bobby Julich (CSC) finished 28th at 3:02 back while Christian Vande Velde (CSC) still finished under one hour with 57:56 despite a nasty crash in Tuesday’s stage.

George Hincapie (Discovery Channel), who enters the Dauphiné after racing the first half of the Giro, expressed surprise that he didn’t fare better than 13th at 2:10. He was even more surprised when he was passed by his two-minute man, Kashechkin, something that probably hasn’t happened very often during his career.

“I was okay, not great,” Hincapie said at the finish line. “I got caught, so it wasn’t too hot. I don’t know what the split times were. I wanted to do the best I could. If you put 30 seconds on Dave, you’re going good. I’d like to get a stage win this week. I’ve been feeling good the past couple of days, so I’m surprised I didn’t do better today.”

The 59th Dauphiné changes gears for Thursday’s 197km fourth stage from Hauterives to Mont Ventoux. Three Cat. 4 climbs interrupt the relatively flat approach toward Ventoux’s legendary steep climb. The beyond-category summit is at the end of 21 painful kilometers with an average grade of 8 percent, but anyone who’s been up Ventoux knows it’s harder than that.

The course will also pass the statue memorializing Tom Simpson, who died 40 years ago in the 1967 Tour after collapsing on the Ventoux’s moonlike final approach.

Stage results
1. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kz), Astana, 40.7km in 52:08
2. Andrey Kashechkin (Kz), Astana, 52:17
3. David Zabriskie (USA), CSC, 52:46
4. Cadel Evans (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, 52:47
5. Denis Menchov (Rus), Rabobank, 52:48
6. Stef Clement (Nl), Bouygues Telecom, 53:01
7. Sylvain Chavanel (F), Cofidis, 53:18
8. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Discovery Channel, 53:19
9. Alejandro Valverde (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne, 53:26
FullResultsOverall
1. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), Astana, 10:23:23
2. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Astana, at 0:02
3. David Zabriskie (USA), CSC, at 0:32
4. Denis Menchov (Rus), Rabobank, at 0:40
5. Cadel Evans (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, at 0:41
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Discovery Channel, at 1:03
 

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