Aussie cyclist Rogers captures Tour of California

THOUSAND OAKS, California (AFP) – Aussie Michael Rogers won the Tour of California Sunday, edging runner-up David Zabriskie and upstaging three-time defending champ Levi Leipheimer, who finished third.

Canadian Ryder Hesjedal won the 134.4 km (83 mile) final stage of the eight day event which was overshadowed by Floyd Landis' accusations of doping by his former American teammate Lance Armstrong.

"They made me sweat until the end," Rogers said. "I really didn't expect this stage to be so hard."

Columbia team rider Rogers, 30, lifted the title in America's premier road cycling race ahead of Zabriskie (Garmin) and Leipheimer (RadioShack). Leipheimer had won the previous three editions of the event.

Rogers, who had seized the yellow jersey on Thursday, fended off the attack of Zabriskie and Leipheimer to finish in the group behind the five who contested for the stage victory in the hills above Los Angeles.

Zabriskie was second overall, nine seconds behind Rogers while Leipheimer was 25 seconds back.

"We gave it a good try," said Leipheimer. "Unfortunately, it didn't happen. Am I disappointed? Not at all."

Hesjedal claimed the final stage as he out-sprinted George Hincapie and Carlos Barredo, while a determined attack by his Garmin teammate Zabriskie and Leipheimer on the final lap of the circuit in the rolling country west of Los Angeles fell short.

The winner of the first Tour of California in 2006, Landis wasn't asked to compete in this year's race.

The event lost its marquee performer Armstrong on Thursday when the seven-time Tour de France champion crashed out of the race with injuries to his face and elbow.

The crash happened just hours after Armstrong was forced to fend off fresh accusations of doping -- this time from his former cycling pal Landis.

Armstrong vehemently denied the accusations from Landis who attended Saturday's stage but didn't speak to reporters.

Rogers said the focus should be on the athletes and not the drug problems but also added the chilling admission that, "doping is killing our sport."

He said, "I'm getting a little bit sick of all this stuff", adding we need "to get away from negativity".

Leipheimer said he is mystified by Landis' doping claims against Armstrong and others.

"I can't begin to understand what's going through his mind, but it doesn't make sense to me. I don't think it's worth trying to reason with him."

Leipheimer defended the sport by saying, "I really believe cycling is much, much cleaner than in the past. It's fair and it's clean."

Armstrong's current RadioShack teammate George Hincapie said Landis' statements were "definitely very disappointing."

"Whoever wants to talk about something eight years old can waste their time," Hincapie said.

Unlike Hincapie former Tour de France winner Greg Lemond said earlier this week he believes "most of Floyd Landis' statements" and the future of the sport could be at stake.

"I imagine from my own experiences that today he is paying a heavy price for his honesty and I support Floyd in his attempt to free himself from his (doping) past," the 48-year-old American Lemond said.

"My position ... is to advocate for deep and systemic change in the sport to eliminate the scourge of dope.

"The sport needs to change its governance and its culture to survive long term."