January 30, 2012 (San Luis, Argentina) – Excitement at the Tour de San Luis continued through the second half of the race, with Alberto Contador (Esp) Saxo Bank scoring another mountain top win, although he was unable to shake tenacious TT winner and GC leader Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep. It was on this tough day that Leipheimer arguably secured his overall victory.

Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale grabbed the spotlight on Stage 6, winning the bunch sprint. Leipheimer and Contador finished at the same time as the bunch and remained in 1-2 overall, with Contador at a 46s disadvantage, which would haunt him to the end of the Tour.

Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep finally put it all together to win the final stage. Leipheimer and Contador once again finished with the pack, securing Leipheimer’s overall win.

Results (brief)

Stage 5
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Esp) Team Saxo Bank 4:19:59
2. Daniel Diaz (Arg) San Luis Somos Todos 0:02
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 0:05
4. Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Androni Giocattoli 0:25
5. Marcos Garcia (Esp) Caja Rural 0:44
6. Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Christina Watches-Ofone
7. Magno Prado Nazaret (Bra) Funvic-Pidamonhangab 0:51
8. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:56
9. Adrián Palomares Villaplana (Esp) Andalucia 0:58
10. Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez (Col) Androni Giocattoli 1:02

Stage 6
1. Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 5:10:26
2. Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
3. Andrea Guardini (Ita) Farnese Vini-Selle Italia
4. Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Esp) Movistar
5. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep
6. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Argentina
7. Jake Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare
8. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Colnago-CSF Bardiani
9. Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Christina Watches-Ofone
10. Francesco Lasca (Ita) Caja Rural

Stage 7
1. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 3:54:37
2. Andrea Guardini (Ita) Farnese Vini-Selle Italia
3. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Argentina
4. Jimmy Casper (Fra) AG2R-La Mondiale
5. Jake Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare
6. Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez (Col) Androni Giocattoli
7. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
8. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Colnago-CSF Bardiani
9. Yasmani Martinez (Cub) Cuba
10. Hector Aguilar Figueiras (Uru) Funvic-Pidamonhangab

Final Overall GC
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 26:32:55
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Esp) Team Saxo Bank 0:46
3. Daniel Diaz (Arg) San Luis Somos Todos 1:29
4. Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Christina Watches-Onfone 1:34
5. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 1:50
6. Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Androni Giocattoli 2:13
7. Magno Prado Nazaret (Bra) Funvic-Pidamonhangab 2:39
8. Luis Mansilla (Chi) Chile 3:24
9. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickStep 3:44
10. Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRC) Movistar 4:46