January 27, 2012 – The Tour de San Luis is underway in Argentina and the first four stages have been quite exciting, with Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Omega Pharma – Quick Step winning the first two stages in bunch sprints over big names like Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank and Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep. Then, on the first climbing day, it was Alberto Contador (Esp) Saxo Bank who flexed his muscles, winning the stage on a mountaintop finish.

Stage 4 was another interesting day, as it hosted the 19.5km individual time trial. This time it was Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep who rose to the top and proved that when it came simply to the man against the clock, he was the strongest. He completed the TT in a time of 22:33, a total of 23s faster than second place, Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale. The victory catapulted Leipheimer into the overall race lead with a 53s advantage over second place, Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Christina Watches-Ofone.

The Tour de San Luis wraps up on Sunday.

Results (brief)

Stage 1
1. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Omega Pharma – Quick Step 4:53:18
2. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
3. Mauro Richeze (Arg) Argentina
4. Luis Mansilla (Chi) Chile
5. Jimmy Casper (Fra) Ag2R-La Mondiale
6. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox
7. Jose Ventoso (Esp) Movistar
8. Samuel Caldeira (Por) Carmin-Prio
9. Jacob Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare
10. Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Christina Watches

Stage 2
1. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 3:22:40
2. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
3. Jake Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare
4. Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar
5. Jimmy Casper (Fra) AG2R-La Mondiale
6. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
7. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Colnago-CSF Bardiani
8. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Argentina
9. Hector Aguilar Figueiras (Uru) Funvic-Pidamonhangab
10. Francesco Lasca (Ita) Caja Rural

Stage 3
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Esp) Team Saxo Bank 4:29:27
2. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
3. Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez (Col) Androni Giocattoli 0:05
4. Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Christina Watches-Ofone 0:09
5. Daniel Diaz (Arg) San Luis Somos Todos 0:00:12
6. Cayetano José Sarmiento Tunarrosa (Col) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:26
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
8. Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Androni Giocattoli
9. Luis Mansilla (Chi) Chile
10. Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar 0:35

Stage 4
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 0:22:33
2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:23
3. Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Christina Watches-Ofone 0:38
4. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 0:39
5. Magno Prado Nazaret (Bra) Funvic-Pidamonhangab 0:44
6. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Team Saxo Bank 1:01
7. Matias Medici (Arg) Argentina 1:03
8. Cristian Martinez (Arg) San Luis Somos Todos 1:06
9. Luis Mansilla (Chi) Chile 1:11
10. Jorge A. Giacinti (Arg) San Luis Somos Todos

GC after Stage 4
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 13:07:52
2. Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Christina Watches-Ofone 0:53
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:55
4. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Team Saxo Bank 0:57
5. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 1:20
6. Daniel Diaz (Arg) San Luis Somos Todos 1:36
7. Luis Mansilla (Chi) Chile 1:43
8. Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Androni Giocattoli 1:49
9. Magno Prado Nazaret (Bra) Funvic-Pidamonhangab
10. Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar 2:51