All along Stage 6 of the Tour of California was seen as a crucial one for GC and it didn’t disappoint with some thrilling racing over a 15 mile course in Solvang.  Yellow jersey holder Levi Leipheimer knew that he would have to pull out all of the stops to hold of Michael Rogers and Dave Zabriskie if he was to keep the jersey.  Last from the start house, the American did not disappoint with a masterclass in timetrialing which saw him to his second stage win and solidified his lead over his rivals.

Lance Armstrong had a tough day but was correct in his pre-ride ascertain that he would lose a minute to Leipheimer.  Armstrong’s timetrial bike was stolen after the prologue timetrial but was recovered on Thursday in time for the race.  Trek pulled out all the stops to get another bike made up for the 7 time Tour de France Champion who rides a custom painted Livestrong liveried bike.  In a twist on a famous quote form Armstrong to Floyd Landis in a crucial Tour stage the bike included the moniker “Ride this one like YOU stole it”.  Armstrong’s ride showed just how hard he has been working for Leipheimer as he came in 14th on the stage 1 minute 16 seconds behind his team mate in his first full time trial since his return.

Zabriskie turned in a grat ride to finish second, 8 seconds adrift of Leipheimer and leapfrogs Rogers (who finished 4th) into second.  The American Timetrial national champion put in a near flawless run and was only 8 seconds of Leipheimers time over the course.

Stages 3 & 4 of the Tour of California were both won by a jubilant Mark Cavendish who twice outsprinted Belgian Tom Boonen to the line to take the honours.  The first was a close run thing as Cavendish nearly celebrated a fraction of a second too early but just hung on for the win.  Cavendish is now in the Green points jersey, inherited from Francisco Mancebo of Rock Racing who still holds the King of the Mountains jersey.

It was relatively steady for the main GC riders ahead of the crucial time trial.  Leipheimer of Team Astana has remained comfortable in yellow over the two stages as breakaways were allowed to go up the road for most of the day only to be reeled in at the last minute by the sprint teams of Cavendish (Columbia-Highroad) and Boonen (Quickstep).  The most notable rider in the breakaways was Tyler Hamilton who was in a group of 3 that almost stayed clear on Thursday.  Italian Ivan Basso retired from the race on Thursday with knee problems and is in Santa Monica as I type having an MRI to access the damage.

With two days remaining, Saturdays stage features a gradual climb to a Category three summit at 4903ft (the second hightest on the Tour) before a screaming descent to the finish which includes 4 laps in Pasedena.  The finish favours the sprinters but watch for Mancebo o defend his KOM jersey and for Astana to be challenged in the penultimate day of the Tour.  The final day will be a show down in the mountains as the course includes a number of climbs most notably a hors categorie climb.  Palomar mountain is one of 4 King of the Mountain rated climbs that winds its way over 11.7 miles and up 21 switch backs at an average of 7%.  Sounds a little like L’Alpe D’Huez.  Could it be that Armstrong was saving himself for what will surely be Leipheimers toughest moment in the whole Tour?  Doubtless Astana will be shield their leader over this punishin stage, no cruise to the finish line in this Tour.  Expect possible high drama as some riders could use this stage to make a point, even if they havn’t a hope of the overall.  Tyler Hamilton has already had one go, saying he wanted to win the stage for his sick mother.  Could the rider famous for grinding his teeth down to their nerves have a go here?

Others to watch out for include Floyd Landis who has been quite quiet on this Tour but lets not forget the riders in 2nd, 3rd and4th on GC- Zabriskie, Rogers and Voight.  All three will have teams which are guaranteed to be a bit fresher than Astana who have had to work hard to protect their leader.  While it is unlikely that Garmin-Slipstream could haul Zabriskie to the line (although VandeVelde can surely climb), Voight in particlular has the strong Saxo Bank team behind him which includes many Tour favourites including the Schleck brothers.  They have too been strangely quiet and a gap of one minute ten seconds might not be too hard to close.  Either way it is sure to be a thriller.

Results stage 6 Timetrial

1 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana                                             30.41   (47.15km/h)
2 David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Slipstream                                 0.08
3 Gustav Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank                                       0.17
4 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad                             0.22
5 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank                                           0.30
6 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - Highroad                            0.36
7 Tom Zirbel (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling                                      0.39
8 Jason Mccartney (USA) Team Saxo Bank                                      0.41
9 Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank                                               0.43
10 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia - Highroad                           0.51
11 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling                             0.55
12 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream                          1.09
13 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank                                             1.15
14 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana                                             1.16
15 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
16 Luis Romero Amaran (Cub) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light        1.17
17 Jeremy Vennell (NZl) Bissell Pro Cycling                                 1.20
18 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana                                             1.21
19 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Rock Racing                                      1.22
20 Svein Tuft (Can) Garmin - Slipstream                                     1.23

General classification after stage 6
 
1 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana                                          24.12.00
2 David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Slipstream                                 0.36
3 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad                             0.46
4 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank                                           1.10
5 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia - Highroad                            1.29
6 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana                                              1.46
7 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank                                              1.54
8 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana                                              1.59
9 Christopher Horner (USA) Astana                                           2.13
10 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Rock Racing                                      2.15
11 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas                                           2.21
12 Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin - Slipstream                               2.24
13 José Luis Rubiera (Spa) Astana                                           2.48
14 Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quick Step                                      2.57
15 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Rock Racing                                          3.37
16 Jurgen van de Walle (Bel) Quick Step                                     4.15
17 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank                                             5.44
18 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                                          6.08
19 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank                                       6.22
20 Gustav Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank                                      6.25
21 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - Highroad                           6.35
22 Iñigo Cuesta (Spa) Cervélo TestTeam                                      6.56
23 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
24 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream                          7.13
25 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Quick Step                                          7.18
26 Luis Romero Amaran (Cub) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light        7.25
27 Tom Zirbel (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling                                     7.32
28 Enrique Gutierrez (Spa) Rock Racing                                      7.55
29 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Astana                                           8.16
30 Ian McKissick (USA) BMC Racing Team                                      8.32
31 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cervélo TestTeam                                   8.45
32 Thomas Peterson (USA) Garmin - Slipstream                                8.52
33 Thomas Frei (Swi) BMC Racing Team                                        9.55
34 Weert Kevin De (Bel) Quick Step                                          9.56
35 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                           10.18
36 Floyd Landis (USA) OUCH Presented By Maxxis                             10.26
37 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                                    10.47
38 Dominique Rollin (Can) Cervélo TestTeam                                 11.14
39 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale                                   11.32
40 Frank Pipp (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling                                    12.05