US rider takes lead in Spain

MADRID. American rider Levi Leipheimer of Astana took the lead of the Tour of Spain on Wednesday after winning the fifth stage, an individual time trial on a 42.5 kilometer course in Ciudad Real.

Leipheimer, who was third in the Vuelta in 2005, finished 12 seconds ahead of France's Syvain Chavanel of Cofidis and 33 seconds ahead of Italy's Manuel Quinziato of Liquigas after he blasted the final 14 kilometers of the course.

Spain's Alberto Contador, the winner of the Tour de France in 2007 and the Tour of Italy this year, finished fourth in the time trial, 49 seconds behind his Astana teammate.

"I was very strong today. But Contador is the leader of the team," said Leipheimer who along with Germany's Stefan Schumacher of Team Gerolsteiner had been one of the favorites to win the race's first individual time trial.