Tom Boonen capped off a highly successful week for Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team, winning stage 7 of Tour de San Luis in a circuit race sprint finish. Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini -Selle Italia) placed second, and Mauro Richeze (Team Nipo) placed third.
"I'm very happy, I really wanted to win," said Boonen, who hasn't raised his arms in victory since the 2011 Gent Wevelgem. "Today's is not the victory of one rider, but of 6 team players who once again have proved their mettle. Initially we just let the race take its course. With 15 kilometers to go to the arrival we went to work. Everyone including (Levi) Leipheimer did a great job for me. In the final (Francesco) Chicchi led me. The speed was very fast but I managed to find a good trajectory and victory was its outcome. It's a nice feeling to taste victory again."
Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Levi Leipheimer also won Tour de San Luis, finishing with a total time of 26:32.55. He secured the victory by finishing 55th in a stage 7 circuit on Sunday, with the rest of the peloton. He bested Alberto Contador (Team Saxo Bank) by 46 seconds in the general classification (GC).
The 167.1 km circuit race came back together with 20 km remaining, on a hot day where temperatures reached 38 degrees Celsuis (100 degrees Farenheit). Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team worked hard to set up Boonen for the sprint finish despite the chaos of a circuit race.
Tour de San Luis Stage 7
1. Tom Boonen (Bel/Omega Pharma-QuickStep) 3:54:37
2. Andrea Guardini (Ita/Farnese Vini-Selle Italia)
3. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg/Argentina)
4. Jimmy Casper (Fra/AG2R-La Mondiale)
5. Jake Keough (USA/Unitedhealtchare)
6. Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez (Col/Androni Giocattoli)
7. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg/Saxo Bank)
8. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita/Colnago-CSF Bardiani)
9. Yasmani Martinez (Cub/Cuba)
10. Hector Aguilar Figueiras (Uru/Funvic-Pidamonhangab)
Final General Classification
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Omega Pharma-QuickStep) 26:32:55
2. Alberto Contador (Spa/Saxo Bank) @ .46
3. Daniel Diaz (Arg/San Luis Somos Todos) @ 1:29
4. Stefan Schumacher (Ger/Christina Watches-Ofone) @ 1:34
5. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Liquigas-Cannondale) @ 1:50
6. Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col/Androni Giocattoli) @ 2:13
7. Magno Prado Nazaret (Bra/Funvic-Pidamonhangab) @ 2:39
8. Luis Mansilla (Chi/Chile) @ 3:24
9. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra/Omega Pharma-QuickStep) @ 3:44
10. Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc/Movistar) @ 4:46