Leipheimer experiences 'a very hard day'

The first climbing stage of the 2007 Tour de France, apparently, was not the one where former Salt Lake resident Levi Leipheimer was to make his move.

Entering the stage 60 seconds behind Team CSC's Fabian Cancellara for the yellow jersey, Leipheimer kept pace with the peloton but never attacked the field in an effort to cut into that lead.

When the lead pack crossed the finish line, the Discovery Channel leader was safely tucked into the field and received the same time as Cancellara but crept up the overall standings into 22nd place overall — still 60 seconds back.

"It was a very hard day," Leipheimer told VeloNews.com. "There was a lot a collaboration to bring the break back, but guys are going to feel it tomorrow. The last 5km, I was on the limit. I was really feeling it today."

Salt Lake's David Zabriskie again lost ground. This time, the national time trial champion rolled across the line at a leisurely 11:15 behind the leader.

Zabriskie sits 18:24 off the pace, patiently providing a supporting role to Team CSC leaders until his number will be called in a time trial.

Today's mostly flat stage will be dominated by the sprinters hoping to make back some time lost in the mountains on Thursday.