Armstrong won the race, but not before benefiting from a little last-lap lead out from the up-and-coming Oregon rider, who won the juniors race earlier in the day. The tempo Armstrong and Leipheimer set on the hilly circuit, which winds up into the hills before descending back into town, quickly shattered the field. Like many in the race, Boswell was soon lapped by the lead group of Armstrong, Leipheimer and Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling Team). The young rider hung with the leaders for an incredible seven laps before dropping off again.Near the end of the race, after Armstrong had dropped his break companions and was soloing in for the win, the seven-time Tour winner came up on Boswell again. This time the young rider decided to give the legendary Tour rider a boost.
"He caught me at the top of the climb, and again I jumped on his wheel," Boswell wrote on his blog. "As we crested the top the paced slowed so I decided to give him some help. I went to the front and gave it all I had, and leading through the start/finish I heard one lap to go. The crowds were going wild. I lead him into the sharp left hand turn and accelerated up the climb knowing I only had one lap left. It was an awesome feeling leading the greatest Tour de France riders in history up the finial lap of his first victory since his seventh Tour win."
You can read Boswell's complete post about the race and view photos at his blog: The Boz Blog.
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