Britain?s David Millar (Slipstream) was unable to topple Levi Leipheimer at the top of the Tour of California final standings but he was very proud of his own performance during the tough eight days of racing and especially that of his new Slipstream team.
Millar has extra responsibility at Slipstream this year but it seems to inspire him to do great things. After returning home to Spain, his next objective will be the prologue and the overall classification at Paris-Nice.
?I?m super happy. We knew that we had to hit out really strong here if we want to secure a place in the Tour de France and Giro d?Italia, and so I trained more than ever this winter. I didn?t expect to be at this level and so I?m over the moon,? Millar said.
?It means a huge amount to us as a team. We wanted to make a large impact. Our final end game wasn?t of interest to us, as much the performance of the whole team. We had such great fun racing. The young Americans have blown me away with their initiative, class and sheer heart. I?m proud we?ve found our style of passion with three riders in the final top six overall.?
Even after a tough week, Millar was against making the Tour of California an easy race just because it?s in February.
?It?s a prestigious race. It?s a shock to the system in February, as are the Tour of Qatar and the Tour of the Med, but it?s the peloton who decided how hard we race. Thursday (seven hours in the rain) was just a death march but there was some great racing as well and it would be a shame to maker it an easier race.?
David Millar in action during the prologue. Photos: ISPA
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TOUR OF CALIFORNIA: STAGE REPORTS
Stage seven: Leiphemier wins Tour of California
Stage six: Cavendish wins, then gets disqualified
Stage five: Leipheimer sets up victory
Stage four: wind and rain lash race
Stage three: Leipheimer takes the lead
Stage two: Boonen wins in the rain
Stage one: Haedo wins sprint
Prologue: Cancellara wins
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TOUR OF CALIFORNIA: VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Video highlights: stage five
Video highlights: stage four
Video highlights: stage three
Video highlights: stage two
Video highlights: stage one
Video highlights: prologue
RELATED LINKS
Millar happy with second in Tour of California
Stage six video interviews
Cavendish angry about disqualification
Stage five video interviews
Millar: "We won't let Leipheimer win it"
Stage four video interviews
Stage three video interviews
Millar picks Cancellara as favourite for California TT
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