2 Utahns steer clear of crash at Tour de France

With dozens of their competitors and teammates falling with just a couple of kilometers left in Monday's Tour de France stage, cyclists Dave Zabriskie and Levi Leipheimer were able to avoid any of the carnage.

Salt Lake City's Zabriskie, assuming his role as a support rider for Team CSC again, paced the pack and helped protect the yellow jersey worn by Fabian Cancellara. After the peloton reeled in the breakaway with about five miles to go, Zabriskie rolled to the back of the pack and stayed out of harm's way and was credited with the same time as the stage winner.

Leipheimer, the Discovery Channel team leader, a former Salt Lake resident and Rowland Hall graduate, likewise stayed out of the mess and will be in good shape as the tour heads back into France today with another long, flat stage that will be dominated by the sprinters with a mad dash at the stretch.

Leipheimer is 40 seconds behind the leader as he waits for a mountain stage to make his move. Zabriskie sits 2:59 back but could make up some time during the upcoming mountain stages and time trials.