Leipheimer, Zabriskie will try to hold ground

As expected, Sunday's Tour de France stage through England was a race for the sprinters with a mass of bodies jockeying for position over the final few kilometers.

Former Salt Lake resident Levi Leipheimer, the Discovery Channel team leader, was in the middle of the peloton, crossing the line 76th, but being credited with the same time as stage winner Robbie McEwen.

Dave Zabriskie, however, was used as a tempo rider to help his Team CSC leaders bridge a large gap between the main group and a small group of breakaway riders. After he did his job, he went to the rear of the field and lost 2 minutes, 27 seconds — one of only six riders not credited with the same time as McEwen.

Leipheimer and Zabriskie will try to hold their ground in today's stage through France and into Belgium. The mostly flat course will undoubtedly produce another sprint finish with most riders using loads of energy, but not losing much time to the leaders.