It was the hardest stage of the Tour of the Gila, but Armstrong (centre) and his teammates Levi Leipheimer (left) and Chris Horner (right) passed the test. Leipheimer won the Tour of the Gila on Sunday after finishing first in two of the early stages and coming in third behind Armstrong in the last stage, dubbed the Gila Monster. Armstrong moved up in the overall classification from fourth to second after Sunday's stage. -- PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
PINOS ALTOS - THE last big test for Lance Armstrong before his return to the Giro d'Italia was more than 105 miles (170 kilometres) of steep roads and winding descents in the mountains of southwestern New Mexico.
It was the hardest stage of the Tour of the Gila, but Armstrong and his teammates Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner passed the test. The Astana riders, who entered the five-day event as independents, used the tour as a tune up for the upcoming race in Italy.
Leipheimer won the Tour of the Gila on Sunday after finishing first in two of the early stages and coming in third behind Armstrong in the last stage, dubbed the Gila Monster. Armstrong moved up in the overall classification from fourth to second after Sunday's stage.
Armstrong said he feels good enough to be a contender for some stage wins in Italy but that Leipheimer has the best chance for an overall win.
'The first priority is to protect him and make sure that he fulfills his potential there,' the seven-time Tour de France winner said. 'It would be an amazing thing for an American to win the tour of Italy again. I'd be pleased to be there and help.'
The Astana riders, who were wearing the kits of Armstrong's Mellow Johnny's bike shop, moved to the front of the peloton as it closed a gap of more than three minutes that had been built by a breakaway of 11 riders in the first 40 miles (64 kilometres) of the stage.
At the start of a 7-mile (11-kilometre), 1,600-foot (490-meter) climb to Copperas Vista, the Mellow Johnny's riders caught the lead pack. With Horner in front, he and Leipheimer positioned to get Armstrong the stage win.
It looked like it was going to happen until the last 500 meters. He was caught behind the wheel of another rider and had to go around. By that time, Leipheimer was ahead with first-place finisher Philip Zajicek on his wheel. 'When I finally got back to the wheel uphill, I was cooked,' Armstrong said.
Astana general manager Johan Bruyneel said the plan Sunday was for Armstrong to win the stage. 'It didn't really play out like we wanted it to be,' he said.
Several thousand people crammed downtown Silver City on Saturday to watch the criteriums and hundreds of people lined nearby Pinos Altos' main street to watch Sunday's finish. -- AP
