On Friday, Team Saxo Bank's Alberto Contador took home his second victory of the past three days in the 2012 edition of the Tour de San Luis.

Yet, despite his laying claim to the 160.6 kilometer Stage 5 from La Toma to Merlo (Mirador del Sol), his American counterpart, Levi Leipheimer of Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team, finished well withing shouting distance on the day and maintained his lead in the General Classification, 46" ahead of the Spaniard.

"The guys worked really hard today but they were rewarded by the first place in the GC for Levi," Sports Director Davide Bramati said. "Everybody did their job in the flat part of the race. In the climb Chavanel helped Levi mantain a good rhythm. In the final, Contador attacked, and Levi had a good reaction and he was able to stay on the wheel of Contador. After today's stage Levi has a great chance to win the race. Tomorrow we will have to suffer to defend the jersey but the guys now are really motivated and ready to fight until the end."

"It wasn't an easy stage - the wind was really strong in the first part of the race and the guys did a great job to control the race." Leipheimer says. "The last climb was hard, 7 km of uphill with high percentage. We managed to control the race very well from the beginning. In the last climb Contador attacked at about 3 km to go. At that point I took the lead and I only thought about the GC. I'm really happy about our race today. Now we have to control the race 2 more days. Tomorrow it won't be easy, the stage is long and difficult especially at the beginning but we have to do it. We are really close to the victory. It will be an extra motivation for everybody."

Stage 5 Results
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Team Saxo Bank - 4:19:59
2. Daniel Diaz (Arg) San Luis Somos Todos - 0:00:02
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep - 0:00:05

General Classification After Stage 5
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-QuickStep - 17:27:52
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Team Saxo Bank - 0:00:46
3. Daniel Diaz (Arg) San Luis Somos Todos - 0:01:31
4. Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Christina Watches-Ofone - 0:01:36
5. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale - 0:01:50
6. Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Androni Giocattoli - 0:02:13
7. Magno Prado Nazaret (Bra) Funvic-Pidamonhangab - 0:02:39
8. Luis Mansilla (Chi) Chile - 0:03:24
9. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickStep - 0:03:44
10. Cayetano José Sarmiento Tunarrosa (Col) Liquigas-Cannondale - 0:04:43

Photos: Roberto Bettini

Today Levi Leipheimer won the individual time trial stage in the Tour de San Luis.

On the hilly, 19.5-km route, the American rider from Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team was faster than Vincenzo Nibali (Team Liquigas-Cannondale) who came in 33 seconds behind him, and Stefan Schumacher (Christina Watches), who made it with a difference of 38 seconds. Leipheimer was literally flying on the course laid out on the outskirts of San Luis, working towards his success kilometer after kilometer, managing the race to perfection.

“I really wanted to do well today,” said Leipheimer after the arrival. “After yesterday’s stage and the recon we pulled on the route this morning I knew I could compete. I really wanted to thank the team for the faith they placed in me and the guys who are here for the fantastic job they’re doing day in and day out. I think I did the best I could. We worked well and we’re enjoying the benefits. The time trial was anything but simple. The wind was also an important factor. We had to stay concentrated, especially in the final 4 kilometers, which were absolutely grueling.”

Victory in the time trial also took Leipheimer to first place in the general classification for the time being, where he is 53” in front of Schumacher and 55’’ ahead of Nibali. The former leader, Alberto Contador, came in 1’01” behind the rider from Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team, putting him in fourth place in the rankings at 57’’.

“Tomorrow will be a very challenging day but I have no worries" continues Leipheimer. "I feel strong and the team is highly motivated. We’ve won 3 out of 4 stages and we’re first in the classification. Up until now everything’s been going well, our balance sheets are really positive. We’ll face tomorrow’s stage with faith in our means and determination.”

Also worth mentioning is the good performance by Sylvain Chavanel, who is regaining his groove in the time trial. The Frenchman came in 4th, just 39” behind.

On the other hand, Bert Grabsch, the time trial specialist, saw his race compromised by a flat tire at about 2 km from the arrival.

Stage 4 Results
1. Levi Leipheimer 22' 33''
2. Vincenzo Nibali at 33''
3. Stefan Schumacher 38''

General Classification After Stage 4
1. Levi Leipheimer
2. Stefan Schumacher at 53''
3. Vincenzo Nibali 55''
4. Alberto Contador 57''
5. Sylvain Chavanel 1'20''

Photos: © Roberto Bettini

Mt. Crested Butte, CO – Once again, a throng of people turned out for the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge. From the Salida to Monarach Pass and eventually on Mt. Crested Butte, the enthusiasm has been palpable throughout the Centennial State and cycling community.

What was supposed to be a relatively serene day with the field of 130 cyclists whetting their appetites for the monstrous passes from Gunnison to Aspen the following day, Stage 1 from Salida to Mt. Crested Butte turned out to be anything but calm as a plethora of riders certainly felt the altitude.

Following up his win at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Team RadioShack threw down the gauntlet on the uphill climb to Mt. Crested Butte to take Stage 1 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Leipheimer displayed an impressive finish kick and claimed the lead in the general classification and sprint competitions with his solo victory.

“I am very happy to get the win and get the Quiznos Leader Jersey,” said Leipheimer. “We’re all proud to get this jersey and win the first stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.”

With warm weather, blue skies and a picturesque backdrop, Stage 1 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge got underway in Salida this morning with an outpouring of support from local residents and visiting fans. After a neutral start that included two laps through the city, the race headed out of town on a 99.4-mile route to Mt. Crested Butte.

Early in the stage, Bradley White (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, Will Dickeson (AUS) of Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team, Jay Thomson (RSA) of Bissell Pro Cycling Team and Eduard Alexander Beltran (COL) of UNE-EPM formed a break that would stick for a good part of the race and in the first 25 miles built more than a five-minute lead.

After heading over rolling hills the route took the riders to their first climb of the race – Monarch Pass (11,315 ft.). Lined with throngs of cheering fans, some of whom had camped out to catch a glimpse of the top riders in the world, the first King of the Mountains (KOM) competition of the race was taken by Beltran. Following the KOM, Dickeson and Beltran eventually fell back, leaving White and Thomson in the lead.

“There was a bit of a headwind and I was kind of in the break,” said White. “We dropped the first two guys in the descent and we weren’t sure if we should wait for them. We decided to ride and were going to see if they would come back, but they didn’t.”

After a fast decent on which the riders reached speeds of 60 mph on one inch of rubber, they crossed a slightly uphill, windy valley leading into Gunnison, all while battling strong, up to 20 mph headwinds. Once in Gunnison, the location of tomorrow’s start, the riders faced the first Smashburger Sprint Line, which was taken by White, at which point they took a sharp right and headed north to Crested Butte. A gradual climb, the course then wrapped around the historic town heading up a steep, but short climb to the small ski community.

With 15 km to go, the peloton caught the break and the race was on to the finish. At 5 km the riders reached the second and final Smashburger Sprint Line of the day and the points went to Elia Viviani (ITA) of Liquigas.

Leipheimer attacked out of the lead group on the steep mile-long trek up to Mt. Crested Butte ski station, as he out-climbed Sergio Luis Henao (COL) of Gobernacion de Antioquia by four seconds and Frank Schleck (LUX) of team Leopard-Trek by seven seconds. By winning, Leipheimer added a 10-second bonus to his overall time and leads fellow American Christian Vande Velde of Garmin-Cervelo by 11 seconds. American Tejay Van Garderen of HTC-Highroad and Tour de France winner Cadel Evans (AUS) of BMC Racing Team remain in third and fourth respectively.

“Today was a great day of racing that really gave the riders and fans a taste of what’s ahead in the coming days,” said Shawn Hunter, co-chairman and CEO of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. “The USA Pro Cycling Challenge is going to take everyone to new heights, allowing us to showcase all the state has to offer while pushing the riders to their limit.”

Results - Stage 1
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Team RadioShack
2. Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (COL) of Gobernacion de Antioquia
3. Frank Schleck (LUX) of Leopard Trek

Leipheimer claimed the Quiznos Leader Jersey and the Smashburger Sprint Jersey. Van Garderen kept the Sheets Best Young Rider’s Jersey. The Exergy Most Aggressive Jersey went to Bradley White (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team. And the Nissan King of the Mountain (KOM) Jersey was awarded to Beltran Suarez for his performance on Monarch Pass.

Jersey Leaders After Stage 1
Quiznos Leader Jersey – Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Team RadioShack
Nissan King of the Mountain (KOM) Jersey – Eduard Alexander Beltran Suarez (COL) of UNE-EPM
Smashburger Sprint Jersey – Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Team RadioShack
Sheets Best Young Rider’s Jersey – Tejay Van Garderen (USA) of HTC-Highroad
Exergy Most Aggressive Jersey – Bradley White (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team

General Classification After Stage 1
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack - 4:37:47
2. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo - 0:00:11
3. Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-Highroad - 0:00:17
4. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
5. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team - 0:00:30
6. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team - 0:00:34
7. Rory Sutherland (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling - 0:00:35
8. George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team - 0:00:37
9. Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo
10. Jeffry Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team

The Passion of Jens

His role within Leopard Trek maybe that of a domestique, but first and foremost Jens Voigt is a bike racer. He would finish in 47th place on Mt. Crested Butte, 11 seconds behind teammate Andy Schleck, but as Jens crossed the line it was evident that 48th place simply was not good enough. Shut up Legs?! More like Shut up Lungs!

Next: Stage 2 - Wednesday, August 24 – Gunnison to Aspen (130.3 mi/209.8 km)
Start Time: 10 a.m. MT
Estimated Finish Time: 3:20 – 4:30 p.m. MT
Satellite Feed Time: 5:30 – 5:45 p.m. MT

Tabbed as the Queen Stage of the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge, the 131.1 mile sojourn from Gunnison to Aspen will see the peloton traverse two peaks each over 12,000 feet above sea level.

Read More...

Cloudy with a Chance Of

From the Meteorologist, Joel Gratz, founder of Chance of Weather and Colorado Powder Forecast, here is the forecast for Stage 2.

We lucked out today as a thunderstorm near Monarch Pass missed the riders by about 20 miles (a short distance in weather terms).

Wednesday's stage has three potential highlights:
1. Light tailwind during first 1/2
2. Light/moderate headwind/crosswind during second 1/2 (from Buena Vista to Aspen)
3. High chance of a thunderstorm over Independence Pass

For today's race day forecast or a preview of the weather for the remainder of the race, click here.

Photos: Leonard Basobas/LB Photos

Epic Stage Delivers Most Challenging Route in Race History

Mt. Baldy, CA – Amid breathtaking vistas and challenging roads with continuous switchbacks leading to the top of Mt. Baldy (elevation 7,930 ft.), RadioShack teammates Levi Leipheimer (USA), three-time Amgen Tour of California champion, and Chris Horner (USA) crossed the Stage 7 finish line in first and second place respectively, thrilling fans with a picture-perfect victory. The second-place finish today will keep Horner in the Amgen Race Leader Jersey heading into the final stage of the race tomorrow. Leipheimer remains in second place overall and Tom Danielson (USA) of Team Garmin-Cervelo moves up to third.

“Our team was perfect today,” said Leipheimer. “You don’t get to experience that much in professional cycling. To experience a day where everyone clicks was incredible. There wasn’t a lot of talking between us today because we knew exactly what each person on the team was doing; we didn’t need a lot of communication today. The team had a solid performance and everyone did their jobs; it was just a really special and amazing day. The work they did really allowed me to win. There was never a threat, so I was able to ride for a stage win with Chris on my wheel. I really have to thank the boys for that.”

Cheered on by the crowds of fans, many of whom braved the same route as the professional riders to get to the finish line, the cyclists dug deep and left it all out on the road for what is sure to be remembered as one of the most epic stages in the history of the race. An unforgiving route, after a neutral start in the town of Claremont, riders immediately began the ascent to Mt. Baldy, ultimately climbing more than 15,000 ft. over the 75.8-mile course.

“We hit the final part of Mt. Baldy with Dmitry (Muravyev) out in front, and he had done a lot the last seven to eight miles,” said Horner. “He got us all the way through at the bottom of the hill and then we started the climb. Then, the young Matt Busche took over and he was very, very impressive. I cannot stress how impressive he was today. He is a year and a half pro and while his experience is very limited, his riding ability is really high. When we were down to maybe five riders in the field, Levi (Leipheimer) went up there and told him to punch it and he punched it one last time. From there it was hopping on the Levi train and riding it all the way to the line.”

After an aggressive attack that was quickly reeled back, a 16-man group gained a small lead only 6.5 kilometers into the route. That group was quickly whittled down to only nine, comprised of Andrew Talansky (USA) of Team Garmin-Cervelo; Christopher Froome (GBR) of Sky Procycling; George Hincapie (USA) of BMC Racing Team; Francesco Bellotti (ITA) of Liquigas-Cannondale; Grischa Niermann (GER) of Rabobank Cycling Team; Alexander Efimkin (RUS) of Team Type 1-sanofi; Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA) of Team Spidertech Powered By C10; Rob Britton (CAN) of Bissell Pro Cycling; and Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) of Team Garmin-Cervelo. With the first KOM of the day only five kilometers away, the group had a 30-second lead on the peloton.

With Team Garmin-Cervelo setting the pace in the break up the climb, the lead increased to two minutes after 22.5 kilometers of racing, and a gruppetto was formed approximately two minutes behind the field. Shortly after Froome dropped from the break, the race split into four groups on the road – an eight-man break, the first group of chasers led by Team RadioShack and then two more groups after that. The gruppetto was positioned approximately seven miles behind the break.

After the first Sprint competition, in which Bellotti took first, the break began climbing again with Hesjedal setting the tempo up front and Team RadioShack setting the pace in the main field. Leopard Trek soon joined the chase efforts and the peloton began to stretch, eventually leaving 50-60 riders in the field. As the field crossed the second KOM, McCarty once again took maximum points.

With the gruppetto 17 minutes and 30 seconds off the pace, and 40 riders left in the left in the main field, U.S. Champion Ben King (USA) continued to work hard for teammates Horner and Leipheimer. With the break’s lead down to 45 seconds, Talansky continued to set the pace of the seven-man group at the front as they approached the finish at the top of Mt. Baldy. In addition to Talansky, the break consisted of George Hincapie (USA) of BMC Racing Team, Hesjedal, Bellotti, Niermann, Efimkin and Britton. Nearing the start of the Mt. Baldy climb, Matt Busche (USA) began to set a hard tempo for teammates Horner and Leipheimer, who were second and third in line in the chase group.

Heading uphill, the break split completely apart, leaving only Efimkin in the lead with five kilometers of racing ahead. Soon a group of five, including Horner, Busche, Leipheimer, Laurens Ten Dam (NED) of Rabobank Cycling Team and Andy Schleck (LUX) of Leopard Trek, began closing in. Efimkin was caught with 2.9 kilometers to go.

With two kilometers to go, Horner and Leipheimer took the lead, both out of the saddle, using every ounce of energy to continue the uphill climb. Gaining speed as they neared the finish line, Leipheimer crossed first, reaching his hands in the air and high-fiving teammate Horner as they finished one of the most brutal stages in the history of the Amgen Tour of California.

After some courageous racing today, Horner remains in first place overall, followed by Leipheimer in second and Danielson in third.

“I really tried to ride my own tempo,” said Danielson. “When those guys went (Leipheimer and Horner), I knew other riders might blow up because of the altitude.”

Efimkin (RUS) of Team Type 1-sanofi was awarded the Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider Jersey for his relentless riding in the breakaway throughout the day. All of the other race jerseys remained unchanged with Horner in the Amgen Race Leader Jersey; Peter Sagan (SVK) of Liquigas-Cannondale in the Herbalife Sprint Jersey; McCarty (USA) in the California Travel & Tourism King of the Mountains (KOM) Jersey; and Tejay Van Garderen (USA) of Rabobank Cycling Team in the Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey.

“Amgen is proud to be part of this amazingly successful race, which is helping advance the popularity of cycling in America while also helping increase awareness of the resources that are available to those affected by cancer,” said Stuart Arbuckle, vice president and general manager, Amgen Oncology. “The Breakaway from Cancer nonprofit partners collectively offer people affected by cancer a broad range of support services complementing those provided by a patient’s team of healthcare professionals.”

Founded by Amgen in 2005 as a complementary component to its title sponsorship of the Amgen Tour of California, Breakaway from Cancer continues to raise awareness of the important resources available to people impacted by cancer – from prevention to survivorship.

As part of the today’s race activities, Claremont resident and cancer survivor Edgar Reece fired the official start gun.

Quotebook

Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack), First Place, Stage 7
On today’s win
“Our team was perfect today. You don’t get to experience that much in professional cycling. To experience a day where everyone clicks was incredible. There wasn’t a lot of talking between us today because we knew exactly what each person on the team was doing; we didn’t need a lot of communication.”

On his team
“Matthew Busche has a lot of talent and he doesn’t even know it yet. All of the guys really did amazing today. The team had a solid performance and everyone did their jobs. I can’t say enough about Team RadioShack today; it was just a really special and amazing day. The work they did really allowed me to win. I never had to really step in and defend Chris’ (Horner) jersey because there just wasn’t any challenge to it. There was never a threat, so I was able to ride for a stage win with Chris (Horner) on my wheel. I really have to thank the boys for that.”

On preparing for today’s climb
“I came here in the beginning of April last year to preview Big Bear for the 2010 race and to get in some good training and good weather at a higher altitude. I was speaking with Jim Birrell and Andrew Messick and they told me they were thinking about Mt. Baldy, which I wasn’t familiar with. They said it would be great if I could go down there one day and check it out, so I came here couldn’t believe I was still in Los Angeles! I had no idea a climb like this existed here. I told them they had to put Mt. Baldy in the race because it would be amazing. It would be like having a Tour de France stage right here in the Amgen Tour of California, right next to one of the largest cities in the U.S. Let me just say that today was perfect. The weather, the fans, the course. I think they should do this stage every year.”

On Horner’s performance
“Chris (Horner) has really come into his own the past couple of years. You are seeing the results of his changes and I am not surprised at all. I have had some health issues this year and the team wasn’t very confident in me coming into the race; they needed somebody and it turned out to be Chris. I am happy because I showed today that I could have won, but my teammate was better and there is no denying that.”

On today’s conditions
“It was a really fantastic day today. The weather, the scenery, the setting, the fans, everythign was incredible. The last six kilometers of the course were some of the toughest in the world with the altitude and rough roads. It was pretty difficult and required a lot of fitness.”

Chris Horner (Team RadioShack), Second Place, Stage 7 and Amgen Race Leader Jersey Winner
On the final climb to the finish
“We hit the final part of Mt. Baldy with Dmitry (Muravyev) out in front, and he had done a lot the last seven to eight miles. He got us all the way through at the bottom of the hill and then we started the climb. Then, the young Matt Busche took over and he was very, very impressive. I cannot stress how impressive he was today. He is a year and a half pro and while his experience is very limited, his riding ability is really high. When we were down to maybe five riders in the field, Levi (Leipheimer) went up there and told him to punch it and he punched it one last time. From there it was hopping on the Levi train and riding it all the way to the line.”

On leading in the 2011 Amgen Tour of California
“It has been a fantastic week for Team RadioShack, and it was a fantastic day today. Pending anything catastrophic happening tomorrow, I don’t see much chance of losing the leader jersey. We are going to have a very good time Sunday night here in Los Angeles.”

Results - Stage 7
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Team RadioShack (USA)
2. Chris Horner (USA), Team RadioShack (USA)
3. Laurens Ten Dam (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team (NED)

General Classification After Stage 7
1. Chris Horner (Team RadioShack)
2. Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack)
3. Tom Danielson (Garmin-Cervelo)
4. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Cervelo)
5. Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad)
6. Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank)
7. Rory Sutherland (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling)
8. Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek)
9. Steve Morabito (BMC Racing)
10. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervelo)

Jersey Leaders After Stage 7
Amgen Leader Jersey – Chris Horner (USA), Team RadioShack (USA)
California Travel & Tourism King of the Mountains Jersey – Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA), Team Spidertech Powered by C10 (CAN)
Herbalife Sprint Jersey – Peter Sagan (SVK), Liquigas-Cannondale (ITA)
Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey – Tejay Van Garderen (USA), HTC-Highroad (USA)
Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider Jersey – Alexander Efimkin (RUS), Team Type 1-sanofi (USA)

Galleries: 2011 Amgen Tour of California | Bikes, Personalities, and Scenes

Photo: Leonard Basobas/LB Photos

While he was not able to defend his US National Time Trial Championship title this past fall, and therefore is no longer kitted out head-to-toe in the Stars & Stripes, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who does not consider Garmin-Cervelo's David Zabriskie "Captain America."

On Friday, the 32-year old Utah native displayed the form that earned him the US National Time Trial Championship five times prior in winning the 24km Stage 6 Individual Time Trial of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California.

Zabriskie would cross the finish line in the heart of Solvang with a time of 30:35:92 to lead a US sweep of the podium as Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack) and Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad), finished in second and third, respectively.

General Classification leader, Chris Horner (Team RadioShack) finished in a respectable sixth on the day to retain his race lead heading into tomorrow's epic stage up Mt. Baldy. The rest of the top ten would see a reshuffling with HTC-Highroad's Van Garderen being the biggest climber, moving from 10th to 6th place.

Results - Stage 6
1. David Zabriskie (Garmin-Cervelo)
2. Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack)
3. Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad)

General Classification After Stage 6
1. Chris Horner (Team RadioShack)
2. Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack)
3. Rory Sutherland (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling)
4. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Cervelo)
5. Tom Danielson (Garmin-Cervelo)
6. Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad)
7. Linus Gerdemann (Leopard Trek)
8. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervelo)
9. Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank)
10. Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek)

Jersey Leaders After Stage 6
Amgen Leader Jersey – Chris Horner (USA), Team RadioShack (USA)
California Travel & Tourism King of the Mountains Jersey – Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA), Team Spidertech Powered by C10 (CAN)
Herbalife Sprint Jersey – Peter Sagan (SVK), Liquigas-Cannondale (ITA)
Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey – Tejay Van Garderen (USA), HTC-Highroad (USA)
Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider Jersey – Oscar Freire (ESP), Rabobank Cycling Team (NED)

Galleries: 2011 Amgen Tour of California | Bikes, Personalities, and Scenes

Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Although we are out in California to cover the 2011 Amgen Tour of California, we were not able to make it to the kickoff press conference. Below are a few quotes from some of the more prominent riders in this year's event, which officially starts on Sunday, May 15th.

Levi Leipheimer (USA) - Team RadioShack

On the Amgen Tour of California
“The Amgen Tour of California is always a goal of mine every year; I always seem to find extra motivation in my training throughout the year. The race is always on my mind, everyday, rain or shine, and that has always helped me train hard, and it has always paid off.”

On the 2011 race
“I’m here to do my best. I’m here to try and win the race for our team and our sponsors. We have a strong team here. It’s a team that can defend, should we take the lead, and we have another rider who is capable of winning the General Classification, Chris Horner.”

“The 2011 edition of the Amgen Tour of California is a mini Tour de France, and I don’t think we could ask for anything more.”

“This is by far the hardest edition of the Amgen Tour of California in six years. I rode Mt. Baldy last April before last year’s Tour because I had gotten word that it might be added to the route. That is a real climb – worthy of the Tour de France. Now, all of the sudden we have two mountaintop finishes with Mt. Baldy and Sierra Road.”

On racing the Amgen Tour of California instead of the Giro d’Italia
“I live in California so the choice is easy. I choose to race in the Amgen Tour of California, and it’s hard to do both. I’ve done it a couple of times and every year it gets harder and harder and that just means you’re more dead at the end. I’d rather do eight sunny days in California.”

On the time trial in Solvang
“I’m looking forward to the time trial in Solvang. I think Solvang is the most beautiful time trial course you will see all year.”

On the safety of cycling
“I think we as riders have a unique perspective, because we can do it [race] and then watch it on television. On television it looks fairly docile and at times boring – we want riders to attack. But then, when we race, it’s nerve-wracking and stressful, and sometimes, a moment of relapse or loss of concentration can be serious. When riders talk about safety or danger, we’re not doing that to gain sympathy or dramatize our sport. I’ve been scared on downhills – in the Giro d’Italia the roads are small and steep and the riders have a lot of skill, but there is not a lot of room for error. Safety is a big issue for us. It’s not so much about complaining – safety is a real issue.”

On the weather
“The group is, for the most part, experienced enough to know level of risk to take out on the course. The race organizers have our back, and we feel confident that they’ll be able to asses the situation on Sunday morning and determine what is safe and what is not. When you have snow accumulating on the road – you just don’t see that – going downhill is nearly impossible to navigate with snow on the road.”

Andy Schleck (LUX) - Leopard Trek

On the 2011 Amgen Tour of California
“This will be my fourth time racing in the Amgen Tour of California, and if I look at the profile for this year’s race, it is by far the hardest. I plan to take the race as it comes. I would love to win a stage. I’m not going to sit back in the peloton and relax. If I can be up there, I will. I train good and feel good, so I’ll have to take it how it comes on the road.”

On his season so far
“I am pretty happy with my season so far. I was trying to do well in the Classics and tried to win. I kind of took a break, a few days off my bike, but I was not lazy so I came here early to get over the jet lag and get some good miles done. I feel alright. I have to see now. My goal is still the Tour de France, but I believe I can have a good race here.”

On the loss of teammate and friend Wouter Weylandt
“The loss of Wouter last week was personally a big shock for me. He was a good friend of mine. There are no words to describe the feelings that were going through me, my brother and the team. The day after the crash, everyone at the Giro [d’Italia] showed respect and it was really nice to see.”

“It has been hard for me to stay focused on training, but I’m sure he would have wanted me to stay in the race and do my best. The team is here and we ride for Wouter.”

On plans for honoring Wouter Weylandt at the Amgen Tour of California
“For now, all the riders are going to have personalized wristbands – over here first and then over in Europe. Also, his girlfriend is five months pregnant, so a fund has been set up to support his family and his kid in the future.”

On the safety of cycling
“I feel more nervous when I watch the race on television than when I’m racing it myself. I’m not scared for myself. I know that it’s dangerous, but it’s me in control. I get more nervous for my brother when we are racing together – he is my teammate, my family.”

On racing the Amgen Tour of California instead of the Giro d’Italia
“It is a simple question for me – I can choose and I choose to come here. This is the best preparation for me for the Tour de France. Also, if you take the Tour de France and the Amgen Tour of California, in terms of organization and security, it’s the best race of the year. I think the Giro d’Italia is just too hard, and it’s getting harder and more stressful each year. If I want to do a good Tour de France, I can’t do both.”

Ben King (USA) - BMC Racing Team

On being the current U.S. National Road Race Champion
“It’s been a pretty special experience to start my first year as a professional wearing the stars and stripes jersey of the National Champion, and I’m excited to start the nation’s biggest cycling race wearing this jersey. It was amazing to be in South Carolina with them then-teammate Taylor Phinney who took the Time Trial; it was a pretty incredible experience; one that I’ll always remember.”

On the Amgen Tour of California
“I’m really proud to be here to support the team at the Amgen Tour of California. There’s definitely a lot of professionalism to learn from. I feel like I’m learning a lot and still developing. It has been a great experience and the teams’ been really supportive.”

On preparing for the Amgen Tour of California
“We study the course maps because they are pretty detailed and give you a good idea of what you’ll be facing, and we get tips from teammates.”

Oscar Freire (ESP) - Rabobank Cycling Team

On his goals for the Amgen Tour of California
“The team’s overall goal, as well as my personal goal, is to win a stage. We don’t have a leader for the General Classification, but we have a lot of young riders so we will try to win a stage. It’s a difficult race because we’ll face really hard stages.”

Tejay Van Garderen (USA) - HTC-Highroad

On the race
“Wining this year’s Amgen Tour of California is definitely the goal for me. The goal could be to do well or win, so I’m going to try to win. If I fail, I fail. I know it’s going to be hard, but it’s what I’m going to try to do. It’s really cool to race the Amgen Tour of California because it is special to race in my home country.”

On the weather
“The peloton is pretty cautious in difficult weather situations. Usually when there are extreme conditions, the peloton has enough respect to take it a little easier.”

Taylor Phinney (USA) - BMC Racing Team

“I’m really excited to be here. I get to ride in my stars and stripes (jersey) during the time trial, so I couldn’t be more excited about that.”

“We have a really strong team here with George (Hincapie) and a couple of younger guys. To be honest, I’m really excited to race with the guys at this table – legends of the sport and the younger guys coming up. It’s going to be a really cool race to watch. I don’t like to say that we enjoy beating up on the older guys, but we have a few private smiles afterward if we do better than the guys who have been dominating the sport for a while. This is definitely one of those races where you can see some of the younger guys in the top-ten overall.”

On the weather
“I used to train at home in Colorado, so the altitude doesn’t bother me. There are guys who have been here for a couple weeks and then there are guys that are flying in tomorrow. It will be interesting to see how the altitude affects the race.”

On the Stage 6 time trial in Solvang
“I haven’t really had a good test in the time trial yet, so Solvang will be my first big test before Nationals. As a course, it kind of suits me. The time trial is my biggest goal here. I will be giving it my all for sure.”

Johan Van Summeren (BEL) - Team Garmin-Cervelo

On the Amgen Tour of California
“The Amgen Tour of California is a big objective for Garmin. I think we have many riders who can do very well in the General Classification or going for a stage win. I’d like to give the best of myself and maybe try to win a stage, or at least help other team members to make it the best possible.”

Andrew Talansky (USA) - Team Garmin-Cervelo

On the Amgen Tour of California
“The Amgen Tour of California is obviously a big objective for my team. Coming into this race, the depth and strength of our team is what we’re going to play off of. We have Dave [Zabriskie] coming back, who placed second overall in the race last year. The team has always been strong. We’re definitely one of the strongest teams in the race, and looking at it on paper, this is one of the strongest teams we’ve brought to this race. We want to win the overall [General Classification].”

On the weather conditions
“We were here on Monday and the conditions were very similar. We have to leave it to the race organizers. They have our safety in mind and we trust their decision. Everyone will have to deal with the same conditions, so it’s pretty fair.”

Jim Birrell, Race Director, 2011 Amgen Tour of California

On the race overall
“To be able to bring a platform like the Amgen Tour of California to the Tahoe region is a great privilege and honor. The 2011 Amgen Tour of California will go down in the history books as the toughest edition thus far. The breakaway mile really resonates well with the health and wellness message of this race.”

On the route
“The race will showcase the state in such a unique way, including everything from the iconic imagery of what you can see here in South Lake Tahoe to Donner Pass; coming into Sacramento and then making our way down into gold rush country; returning to a community that’s been with us since the inception of the race (San Jose) via two serious climbs on Mt. Hamilton and Sierra Rd. We added a new element to Stage 4 with the mountaintop finish, so what you will see unfolding is a lot of courageous competition. From there we were originally going to take the coastal route, but due to a rough winter we developed a really compelling alternate stage. For the individual time trial, we’ll go back to a venue that has played host three times – all of which Levi won – Solvang. Next we’re on to the crown jewel of this race where we finish at the top of Mt. Baldy. We’ll conclude this great race with a wonderful story starting in Santa Clarita and finishing in the town of our title sponsor Amgen – Thousand Oaks.”

On safety precautions
“Safety is paramount. We do everything in our power to provide the best chances of success on the road. Our team and course directors spend countless hours identifying any danger out there. We really take it to heart.”

On the weather
“We’ve been watching the forecast and will continue to monitor the situation. Our team will come together tomorrow night (Saturday) and will determine our action plan. Our concern is going to be what’s on the road. If it’s just wet, it will be all systems go. We have the brightest and most experienced individuals on our team to help render the best decision given the circumstances. We’ll work with the Lake Tahoe local organizing committee to determine where there will be the most accumulation. Our partners will be able to guide us in the decision making process and we’ll figure out how to negate it. We’ll look at all the variables we can to make the decision that’s safest for these riders.”

Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Pyrenees, Not Cobbles Will Be Decisive

When the route for the 2010 Tour de France was unveiled in October of last year, it looked as if the the Tour organizers had once again reached into their devilish bag of tricks to test the mettle of its participants.

Beginning on July 3rd and running through to the 25th, the route for the 97th Tour de France is highlighted by cobblestones and high mountains. In the early going, the Tour will pay homage to the Classics by incorporating seven cobblestone sectors, traditionally used in Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Paris-Roubaix, on Stage 3. And with only one Individual Time Trial, on the next to last day before the stroll into Paris, the organizers were certainly looking for the cobbles to help make the initial selection.

"We don't put cobblestones for riders to fall, but to make a selection," said race director, Christian Prudhomme. "There will be 11 kilometers of cobblestones in the last 30 kilometers. There will be some damage."

While the placement of the cobbled sectors and the cobbles themselves have many including Lance Armstrong believing that there will be some carnage, do not expect it to decide the overall. With 18 stages remaining, any of the contenders that make it through the cobbled gauntlet safely will still have plenty of road to make up any lost time.

The final, and perhaps decisive selection; however, will be made in the Pyrenees. There will be plenty of high mountain drama in Alberto Contador's backyard during the Tour's final week as it includes not one, but two ascents of the Col du Tourmalet, which is being celebrated for it's 100th anniversary from its first inclusion in the race. The first pass through will be as part of the legendary gauntlet of the Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet and Aubisque, better known as "The Circle of Death," on Stage 16, and the second will be on the following stage as one of only three mountain top finishes along the entire route.

Schedule
Prologue - 3 July : Rotterdam ITT, 8.9 km
Stage: 1 - 4 July : Rotterdam - Bruxelles, 223.5 km
Stage: 2 - 5 July : Bruxelles - Spa, 201 km
Stage: 3 - 6 July : Wanze - Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, 213 km
Stage: 4 - 7 July : Cambrai - Reims, 153.5 km
Stage: 5 - 8 July : Épernay - Montargis, 187.5 km
Stage: 6 - 9 July : Montargis - Gueugnon, 227.5 km
Stage: 7 - 10 July : Tournus - Station des Rousses, 165.5 km
Stage: 8 - 11 July : Station des Rousses - Morzine-Avoriaz, 189 km
Stage: 9 - 13 July : Morzine-Avoriaz - Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, 204.5 km
Stage: 10 - 14 July : Chambéry - Gap, 179 km
Stage: 11 - 15 July : Sisteron - Bourg-lès-Valence, 184.5 km
Stage: 12 - 16 July : Bourg-de-Péage - Mende, 210.5 km
Stage: 13 - 17 July : Rodez - Revel, 196 km
Stage: 14 - 18 July : Revel - Ax-3 Domaines, 184.5 km
Stage: 15 - 19 July : Pamiers - Bagnères-de-Luchon, 187.5 km
Stage: 16 - 20 July : Bagnères-de-Luchon - Pau, 199.5 km
Stage: 17 - 22 July : Pau - Col du Tourmalet, 174 km
Stage: 18 - 23 July : Salies-de-Béarn - Bordeaux, 198 km
Stage: 19 - 24 July : Bordeaux - Pauillac ITT, 52 km
Stage: 20 - 25 July : Longjumeau - Paris Champs-Élysées, 102.5 km

A Young Man's Game - The Contenders

Any list of contenders has to begin and end with the current and three time Tour de France champion, Alberto Contador (Astana), but if he should happen to win this, the 97th Tour de France, it will not be easy.

Alberto Contador (Astana) - He is without doubt the best stage racer at this moment. If the young Spaniard does not fall by the wayside on the cobbles as former Tour contender and countryman, Iban Mayo, did in 2004 he will certainly be salivating once the high mountains of the Alps and Pyrenees come into play. Prediction - 1st

Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) - Second only to Contador last year, Schleck has not shown particularly great form this year, but if he has timed his training well and peaks in the final week look for him to be on the podium again. Prediction - 3rd

Lance Armstrong (Team Radio Shack) - What else can be said about the former 7-time Tour de France champion? He seems to have lost the decisive accelerations in the high mountains that he repeatedly used during his previous seven Tour victories, but with his impending retirement from the Grand Boucle no one will have more motivation to win the the race. Prediction - 2nd

Carlos Sastre (Cervelo Test Team) - The former Tour de France champion has much to prove given last year's underwhelming performance in the race. The Spaniard is still considered a good to great climber, but will need a great deal of team support to put him into any type of contention. Prediction - Top 15

Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Transitions) - A fourth place in 2008, a healthy Vande Velde will have the use of a strong and flexible team to help him garner a podium placing. Prediction - 4th

Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) - Riding for the first British team to compete in the Tour de France in 20 years, Wiggins and Sky will most likely impress early, but it remains to be seen whether he will have enough help to contend in the mountains. Prediction - Top 10

Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia) - The 2010 Amgen Tour of California winner has yet to put it all together in July, but has HTC-Columbia sacrificed his chances in supporting Mark Cavendish? Prediction - Top 10

Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) - Evans represented himself well at this year's Giro d'Italia, but how much does he have left in the tank? Prediction - Top 10

Denis Menchov (Rabobank) - The Russian has been a perennial contender and only needs to win the Tour de France in order to claim victories in all three Grand Tours. A strong fighter, Menchov will be in the mix. Prediction - Top 10

Roman Kreuzinger (Liquigas-Doimo) - If you are looking for a true dark-horse, look no further than Kreuzinger, who could be the first Czech on the fabled Tour podium Prediction - 5th

Tony Martin (HITC-Columbia) - The same that was said about Kreuzinger certainly applies to this young German. One of last year's revelation of the Tour, Martin is sure to be in the mix again. Prediction - Top 10

Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Omega Pharm Lotto) - The Belgian was a revelation at the Giro a few years ago and should not be discounted. Can he finally shake the up-and-comer label and compete in the biggest race? Prediction - Top 15

The Biggest Race, The Most Confident

Big events usually bring out the best in the most competitive. Lance Armstrong proved it time and time again, and the same can be said of HTC-Columbia's Mark Cavendish. While it may be sometime before anyone can shake away any of the Brits' confidence in the sprint, he still has a ways to go to claim the maillot vert in Paris.

Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) - Unfortunately for Manxman, the maillot vert goes to the most consistent finisher over the span of the three week race and not the most dominant sprinter. Cavendish is sure to win his share of sprint stages, but his inability to climb well will hurt him at this edition of the race which features miles and miles of mountains. Prediction - 2nd

Tyler Farrar (Team Garmin-Transitions) - Farrar has certainly come into his own as a sprinter and this year he has the team to compete with Cavendish's HTC-Columbia train. Prediction - 3th

Thor Hushovd (Team Cervelo Test Team) - A former maillot vert winner, the ever consistent Norwegian will be vying for the jersey all the way up to the finish on the Champs-Elysees. Prediction - 1st

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) - The former multiple World Champion will certainly be in the mix of every bunch sprint, but he will have a hard time catching a wheel and working his way through the teams fielding strong lead out trains. Prediction - 4th

Dots In My Eyes

Its often difficult to name the contenders for the maillot pois a rouges, let alone predict who might win it as there are a host of good climbers in the race who may be allowed to venture off the front at anytime during the race. Here are but a few.

Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) - Always one to go off the front, Chavanel will represent his Quick Step sponsors well. Prediction - 2nd

Christophe Moreau (Caisse d'Epargne) - Similar to Chavanel in thought process, this may be Moreau's jersey to lose. Prediction - 1st

Robert Gesink (Ned) - An extremely strong climber, Gesink could certainly be considered as one of the maillot jaune contenders in the future. He may be given the freedom to ride for stage wins late in the race, if team leader Menchov falls out of contention. Prediction - Top 10

Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) - A former maillot jaune wearer, the Italian may have other designs on which jersey to compete for this year. Prediction - Top 10

Amets Txurruka (Euskatel Euskadi) - Another great Spanish climber who will have his day in the sun once the mountain stages arrive. - Prediction - 3rd

Start List

Prologue - Rotterdam ITT, 8.9 km
It all kicks off in the Netherlands this year, a country which will surely be clad in orange after their national team's victory over Brazil in the World Cup. Look for Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team), Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank), David Zabriskie (Team Garmin-Transitions) and Levi Leipheimer (Team Radio Shack) to pull on the first maillot jaune of 2010. Follow our LIVE Tour de France coverage on LIVESTRONG.com.

In an eight-day battle against the best field ever assembled to compete in the United States, which included Tour de France winners, Olympic medalists and World Champions, Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) claimed the Stage 8 win.

“Once I made it up to the remainder of the break, I knew I had a shot to win, so I focused and the team was awesome,” said Hesjedal. “To win on the last day against a field like this is a big highlight for me.”

The final stage of the 2010 edition of America’s largest cycling race consisted of four 21-mile circuits that took the riders through the communities of Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Agoura Hills, and included one challenging King of the Mountains (KOM) climb at about six miles in – Mulholland Hwy, or better known by local cyclists as the “Rock Store Climb” (Cat. 3/4 - 1,824 ft.).

Long regarded as one of the most scenic climbs in southern California, Mulholland Highway featured steep climbs and numerous switchbacks, which made it the perfect place for spectators, and they turned out in droves. A challenging finish to a difficult race, Stage 8 tested the cyclists until the final stretch to the finish line.

Beginning with a neutral start and a break that was soon caught, the peloton approached the first pass at the climb, which was swept by the Garmin-Transitions team with Hesjedal first, Tom Danielson second and Zabriskie third. As a new Los Angeles resident, Zabriskie utilizes the Rock Store climb as part of his standard training rides. Lined with fans, some of which had camped out to secure their spot to watch the cyclists compete in the final day of the race, “Rock Store” made the final stage of the race an extremely challenging course. As the riders passed the Malibu Family Winery, they began a twisting and technical descent on Westlake Blvd. headed back into Thousand Oaks.

Split at the end of the first lap, there were 28 riders in the front with 15 chasing behind, but as they neared the second pass at “Rock Store” the group joined together to form a pack about 45 riders strong. The next big break occurred on the climb and included Rabou, who took the KOM, Carlos Barredo (QuickStep), Yaroslav Popovych (Team RadioShack), Sebastian Langeveld (Rabobank), George Hincapie (BMC Racing Team), Oscar Pujol (Cervélo TestTeam), Jeremy Vennell (BISSELL) and Bradley White (UnitedHealthcare presented by Maxxis). With each circuit taking approximately 40 minutes, the break held for the next lap, and Rabou once again took the KOM heading into the final circuit of the race.

After some unsuccessful attempts to pull away from the lead group, Hincapie, Barredo and Pujol were able to get off the front and create a gap of about a minute. At the same time, pulling away from the chase group were Leipheimer, Rogers, Horner and Zabriskie, who were soon joined by Hesjedal. The remaining riders from the original break began to fall back to the main group, while Horner and Hesjedal went forward to join the break. Langeveld, the Rabobank rider who was in the original break, fell back to give race leader Rogers a bit of shelter as the attacks came and went. In an all out sprint to the finish, Hesjedal took the win to the cheers of enthusiastic fans lining the streets of Thousand Oaks.

Results - Stage 8
1. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Transitions
2. George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team
3. Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step

After eight challenging and epic days of cycling that covered more than 800 miles of scenic California roads, and a thrilling fight to the finish at the conclusion of today’s final stage, Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia) was crowned champion of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California. With a week-long total time of 33 hours, 8 minutes and 30 seconds, Rogers took the highly coveted title of race champion in front of enormous cheering crowds in Thousand Oaks, home to title sponsor Amgen, besting his third place finish in the 2009 race.

“For our team the only race that’s more important than the Amgen Tour of California is the Tour de France,” said Rogers. “This is a huge result for us. We can really walk away from the Amgen Tour of California with smiles on our faces.”

David Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions_ finished in second place overall for the second consecutive year at 9 seconds behind Rogers, and three-time champion Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack) finished third at 25 seconds behind.

“The Amgen Tour of California finished on a spectacular high today,” said Leipheimer. “The stage was phenomenal, the crowds were Tour de France-esque and you could really feel the excitement. I don’t think we could ask for anything more for the last day of the Amgen Tour of California. In my opinion the Amgen Tour of California has grown exponentially quicker and bigger than any race in the history of cycling.”

Final General Classification
1. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC-Columbia
2. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin-Transitions
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack
4. Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack
5. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Transitions
6. Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank
7. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Unitedhealthcare Presented by Maxxis
8. Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo
9. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team Radioshack
10. Phil Zajicek (USA) Fly V Australia

Jersey Winners
Amgen Race Leader Jersey - Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC-Columbia
Herbalife Sprint Jersey - Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo
California Travel and Tourism Commission King of the Mountains Jersey - Thomas Rabou (NED) Team Type 1
Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey - Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo
Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Jersey - Yaroslav Popovych (Team Radioshack)

Photo: Leonard Basobas/LB Photos

Santa Cruz, CA - What do you get when three world-class time trialists contest a sprint...one really long sprint.

After covering 182.3 km of scenic roadways along California's iconic Pacific Coast Highway 1, David Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions), Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia) and three-time defending Amgen Tour of California champion, Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack) would round the final corner together to contest the Stage 3 finale along the Santa Cruz boardwalk. In the end, Zabriskie would win the drag race in a photo finish despite a superb bike throw by Rogers.

Flanked by the Pacific Ocean on one side and Redwood forests on the other, Stage 3 included three long, but moderate climbs on Tunitas Creek Rd., La Honda Rd. and Bonny Doon Rd. packed with local cycling fans, which was followed by lengthy and fast descents. The sprint to the finish followed W. Cliff Dr. along Monterey Bay to an exhilarating conclusion to Stage 3 at the world famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

As the morning fog burned off in San Francisco to reveal blue skies l day, the riders lined up at the start line on The Great Highway and got Stage 3 off to a great start. After a few failed breakaway attempts at the start of the stage, the peloton approached the first sprint in Pacifica, which was taken by Stage 1 winner Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia), putting him in the lead in the points competition. The first hour of the stage was marked by little attacks, mainly from QuickStep and HTC-Columbia, but the riders weren’t able to get anything to stick.

The next sprint in Half Moon bay was taken by Tasmania's Karl Menzies (UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis), followed by Alexander Kristoff (BMC Racing Team) and Cavendish. As the riders continued on from the sprint a five-man break formed, which included Andy Jacques-Maynes (BISSELL), Will Routley (CAN) of Jelly Belly Presented by Kenda, Eric Boily (CAN) of SpiderTech Powered by Planet Energy, Davide Frattini (ITA) of Team Type 1 and Ryan Anderson (CAN) of Kelly Benefit Strategies. With fans lining the street shoulder-to-shoulder on the lead up to the first King of the Mountains competition (KOM) on Tunitas Creek Road (Cat. 2 – 1,562 ft.), Frattini took the KOM win, followed by Anderson.

After going through the feed zone, the riders were quickly hit with another climb, Highway 84 (Cat. 3 – 1,427 ft.), which provided identical results to the first KOM – Frattini in first and Anderson is second. After a quick descent, the cyclists faced the third KOM of the day, Pescadero Rd. (Cat. 4 – 1,053 ft.), which, once again, saw Frattini take the KOM, followed by Anderson.

Team RadioShack, with assistance from the Cervélo TestTeam, drove the field for most of the day and eventually swallowed up the break en route to the final climb of the day. With the end of the race drawing near, several teams began to make their move and created a breakaway that consisted of three riders – Leipheimer, Rogers and Zabriskie.

With just under 20 miles to go on the route to Santa Cruz, the riders faced the largest climb of the day, Bonny Doon/Pine Flat Road (Cat. 2 – 2,135 ft.). After many unsuccessful attempts by several teams to pull the break back, Zabriskie took the stage win in an all out sprint to the finish before thousands of fans at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Results - Stage 3
1. David Zabriskie (GBr) HTC-Columbia
2. Michael Rogers (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
3. Levi Leipheimer (Nor) BMC Racing

With the victory in Santa Cruz, David Zabriskie pulled into the lead of the General Classification and received the most appropriate prize for his stage win on a beautiful, sunny California day. “I’ve been a runner up, but I’ve never won a stage here,” said Zabriskie. “I’ve never touched the Amgen Leader Jersey since the Amgen Tour of California started. Just to touch this jersey is quite an honor.”

General Classification - After Stage 3
1. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin-Transitions
2. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC-Columbia
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack
4. Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo
5. Marc De Maar (Ned) Unitedhealthcare Presented by Maxxis
6. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Transitions
7. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team Radioshack
8. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Unitedhealthcare Presented by Maxxis
9. Peter Stetina (USA) Garmin-Transitions
10. Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Transitions

Jersey Leaders - After Stage 4
Amgen Race Leader Jersey - David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin-Transitions
Herbalife Sprint Jersey - Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Columbia
California Travel and Tourism Commission King of the Mountains Jersey - Thomas Rabou (NED) Team Type 1
Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey - Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo
Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Jersey - Will Routley (CAN) of Jelly Belly Presented by Kenda

Next: Stage 4 - San Jose to Modesto (177.2 km)

Photo: Leonard Basobas/LB Photos

Both Mara Abbott (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12) and Levi Leipheimer(Team Mellow Johnny's) soloed to victory in Wednesday's opening stage of the 24th SRAM Tour of the Gila.

In Abbott's case, she made quick work of the women's peloton once the roads kicked up on the Mogollon. With approximately five kilometers to go from the summit, Abbott launched an attack that would see her build up more than a 2 minute lead over the next best placed rider, Cath Cheatley (Colavita/Baci presented by Cooking Light), at the finish. Webcor's Katheryn Mattis would round out the podium.

Results - Women
1. Mara Abbott (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12)
2. Catherine Cheatley (Colavita/Baci p/b Cooking)
3. Katheryn Mattis (Webcor Builders)

Other Notables
4. Alisha Welsh (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12)
5. Alison Powers (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
6. Robin Farina (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
7. Erinne Willock (Webcor Builders)
8. Meredith Miller (Team TIBCO)
9. Andrea Dvorak (Colavita/Baci p/b Cooking)
11. Carla Swart (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
13. Carmen Small (Colavita/Baci p/b Cooking)
15. Alexis Rhodes (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
17. Alison Starnes (Team TIBCO)
18. Katherine Carroll (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12)
19. Shelley Evans (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12)
20. Kristin Sanders (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
21. Jessica Phillips (Colavita/Baci p/b Cooking)
24. Rebecca Much (Team TIBCO)
26. Kristen Lasasso (Team TIBCO)
29. Janel Holcomb (Team TIBCO)
37. Joelle Numainville (Webcor Builders)
46. Amy Dombroski (Webcor Builders)
58. Alison Testroete (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
67. Lauren Tamayo (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12)

For Levi Leipheimer (Team Mellow Johnny's), the victory was a much needed one heading into what has essentially become "his" race, the Amgen Tour of California. After an admittedly unusual slow start to the season, the 36-year old Leipheimer outpaced Tom Danielson (DZ Nuts) and Cesar Garajales (Ouch-Bahati Foundation) and took the stage in solo fashion.

Results - Men
1. Levi Leipheimer (Team Mellow Johnny's)
2. Tom Danielson (DZ Nuts)
3. Cesar Grajales (Ouch-Bahati Foundation Pro)

Other Notables
4. Phillip Zajicek (Fly V Australia)
6. David Zabriskie (DZ Nuts)
7. Luis Amaran (Jamis Sutter Home presented by Colavita)
9. Chris Baldwin (Unitedhealthcare Professional)
19. Floyd Landis (Ouch-Bahati Foundation Pro)
22. Lance Armstrong (Team Mellow Johnny's)
23. Brad White (Unitedhealthcare Professional)
24. Darren Lill (Fly V Australia)
25. Tyler Wren (Jamis Sutter Home presented byColavita)
31. Rory Sutherland (Unitedhealthcare Professional)
35. Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling)
94. Nick Frey (Jamis Sutter Home presented by Colavita)
99. Taylor Phinney (Trek Livestrong)
137. Ben Day (Fly V Australia)
138. Jason McCartney (Team Mellow Johnny's)