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Photo ©: Sirotti

Tour of California - 2.HC

USA, February 14-22, 2009

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Stage 6 - February 20: Solvang (ITT), 24 km/15 mi

Levi proven unbeatable in the Solvang Time Trial

Zabriskie gave him a run for his money

By Kirsten Robbins in Solvang, California

Levi Leipheimer again proved the strongest
Photo ©: Jon Devich
(Click for larger image)

Astana's Levi Leipheimer has delivered on expectations in Solvang, outclassing a quality field in the 24km time trial to cement his place on the podium in Escondido on Sunday. The defending champion took the Tour of California's major race against the clock for the third consecutive year besting his previous course record by seven seconds.

Leipheimer's winning time of 30:39 was fast enough to secure victory over US National Time Trial Champion, David Zabriskie (Garmin-Slipstream) by eight seconds. Gustav Larsson (Saxo Bank) proved his pedigree by finishing 17 seconds behind Leipheimer with a time of 30:57 for third place.

"It gets more special every time," said Leipheimer about his triple time trial treat. "This is more special, because to win by only eight seconds... that's nothing. I consider Dave [Zabriskie] one of the best time trialists in the world and in the history of American cycling. "Not to blow hot air against him, but I really respect him because he has been a three-time national champion and one of the best. For him to show up here and be in great shape and be so tight to me makes this a special victory. Also Michael [Rogers] is a three-time world champion. It has been a big honour for me to win this with riders like that here. It really was a great race."

The notorious Solvang time trial served to beef up Leipheimer's golden lead by 10 seconds, and as predicted, it effectively reshuffled the standings of overall contenders under Leipheimer. He now leads by 36 seconds ahead of Zabriskie and 46 seconds ahead of third placed Michael Rogers (Columbia-Highroad).

"There are still two tough stages and anything can happen after today," said Leipheimer. "People have less and less to lose so they are more willing to throw caution to the wind and come at us with everything they have. The competition is super high, and you won't find a better peloton right now. We have to take it kilometre-by-kilometre and hope for the best."

There was a flurry of emotion at the finish line when Zabriskie clocked the fastest time of the day, with only one rider left on course – Levi. Zabriskie is the only American rider to have won a stage in all three Grand Tours, and has proven to be back on form after another life-threatening accident – in last year's Giro d'Italia. He recovered from a broken vertebrae to win the US national time trial title followed by a bronze medal in the world time trial championships.

Dave Zabriskie (Garmin-Slipstream)
Photo ©: Mark Johnson
(Click for larger image)

"Last year I felt like crap after that long rainy day; today was good pain, where you really enjoy it," said Zabriskie, who elaborated on what needs to happen for him to make up his 36-second deficit in the overall. "It would take a lot of screwing up on their [Astana's] part. With the strength that they have, the depth of their team and Johan – they know what they're doing. It would have to be a huge screw-up."

The time trial was once again held on the well-known out-and-back course through the Santa Ynez Valley. Though short by many standards, the steep climb up Ballard Canyon, combined with a technical descent, separated the times. The quaint Danish town Solvang hosts some of the ProTour teams annually for training camps, so riders vying for the overall have previewed the course multiple times and analysed every kilometre.

"I think we all know the course; we know the facts, the lefts and rights, ups and downs... but that's not really about knowing it," said Leipheimer, who gave tips on how to prepare for a time trial. "It's more about the sensations and dealing with high expectations. It's about having the confidence and the history of having won it twice before. It's about having dealt with the pressure and using it to continue the streak – that was my big advantage."

Lance Armstrong (Astana)
Photo ©: Mitch Clinton
(Click for larger image)

If there was one rider who Levi had to worry about it was his own teammate Lance Armstrong. There is only one way that Armstrong knows how to race and that is all-out. However, his 14th place was indicative of the time he has spent on the front of the peloton, working for Leipheimer during the previous five stages.

"He's a great teammate, and I think he is focused on working to help me win the race," said Leipheimer. "[if he is called to work for Lance] I would be proud to help him win an eighth Tour de France or a first Giro d'Italia. You have to appreciate how hard a team has to work. For example, two years ago in this race my team really had to work hard, and they suffered a lot. If I am able to help a teammate win a race, I share in the victory and I am happy to."

Team Saxo Bank proved to be back in the game after its opening stage winner Fabian Cancellara pulled out of stage one with a fever. They placed three riders in the top 10, beginning with Larsson's third, then Jens Voigt's fifth and Jason McCartney's eighth place. "I'm very happy with my time trial," said Larsson who noted that the Tour of California is preparation for his Tour de France campaign this year.

"I was very motivated to do good today – even though I'm a little further down on the GC," the Swede added. "I rode well here last year and I knew the course pretty well, so I just wanted to give everything today. My form is coming on very well and with our training and this race under my belt, I should be on the right track for some more good results in the coming races."

Tom Zirbel held the fastest time of the day towards the end of a long list of time trial specialists. He placed seventh in the day's event, proving that he has clearly arrived in professional racing amongst the world's fastest. "The conservative goal was to have me and Ben [Jacques-Maynes] in the top 10," said Zirbel. "If I were to get on a podium that would be by far my greatest achievement on the bike.

He noted that, "The wind was different compared to the past two years. I had a tailwind out and headwind back. Usually the back section is so fast, so it changed it a little bit. I had to dole out the effort a little more evenly this year because I was going to have to pedal so much on the second half."

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

Images by Jonathan Devich/

Images by Emory Ball/www.emoryball.com

Images by Marcel LeBlanc/www.clintonphoto.com

Images by Mark Johnson/www.ironstring.com

Images by Wil Matthews

Images by John Pierce/Photosport International

Results

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
21 Ian McKissick (USA) BMC Racing Team                                      1.26
22 Rory Sutherland (Aus) OUCH Presented By Maxxis                               
23 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank                                          1.36
24 Christopher Horner (USA) Astana                                          1.39
25 Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin - Slipstream                               1.42
26 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                                     
27 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank                                           
28 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas                                           1.43
29 Enrique Gutierrez (Spa) Rock Racing                                      1.47
30 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cervélo TestTeam                                   1.49
31 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Quick Step                                          1.53
32 Frank Pipp (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling                                     1.58
33 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale                                 2.02
34 Timothy Johnson (USA) OUCH Presented By Maxxis                           2.03
35 Jurgen van de Walle (Bel) Quick Step                                         
36 Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team                                     2.05
37 Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quick Step                                      2.06
38 Dominique Rollin (Can) Cervélo TestTeam                                  2.07
39 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Astana                                               
40 José Luis Rubiera (Spa) Astana                                           2.10
41 Ińigo Cuesta (Spa) Cervélo TestTeam                                      2.11
42 Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Team Type 1                                     2.13
43 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale                                    2.23
44 Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team                         2.26
45 Michael Barry (Can) Team Columbia - Highroad                             2.27
46 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - Highroad                            2.28
47 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank                                            
48 Karl Menzies (Aus) OUCH Presented By Maxxis                              2.29
49 Brian Vandborg (Den) Liquigas                                            2.35
50 Adam Hansen (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad                               2.36
51 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank                                             2.41
52 Thomas Frei (Swi) BMC Racing Team                                        2.42
53 Peter Latham (NZl) Bissell Pro Cycling                                   2.43
54 Floyd Landis (USA) OUCH Presented By Maxxis                                  
55 Markus Zberg (Swi) BMC Racing Team                                       2.47
56 Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing Team                                          
57 Matthew Crane (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team                             2.50
58 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Cervélo TestTeam                                       
59 Bradley White (USA) OUCH Presented By Maxxis                             2.51
60 Nick Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team                              2.52
61 Weert Kevin De (Bel) Quick Step                                          2.55
62 Glen Chadwick (NZl) Rock Racing                                              
63 Thomas Peterson (USA) Garmin - Slipstream                                2.56
64 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Cervélo TestTeam                                         
65 Marco Velo (Ita) Quick Step                                              2.57
66 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Rock Racing                                          2.58
67 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank                                                
68 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Rabobank                                               
69 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step                                          3.01
70 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Slipstream                                   3.03
71 Will Routley (Can) Jelly Belly Cycling Team                              3.06
72 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step                                              3.09
73 Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light                3.13
74 Cameron Evans (Can) OUCH Presented By Maxxis                                 
75 Grégory Rast (Swi) Astana                                                3.16
76 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                            3.17
77 Christopher Jones (USA) Team Type 1                                          
78 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step                                             3.19
79 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank                                     3.25
80 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                                     3.26
81 Matthew Wilson (Aus) Team Type 1                                         3.27
82 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervélo TestTeam                                     3.30
83 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervélo TestTeam                                          
84 Chris Baldwin (USA) Rock Racing                                          3.31
85 Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas                                                3.36
86 Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA) OUCH Presented By Maxxis                  3.38
87 Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light     3.39
88 Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light           3.47
89 Jeffry Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team                                      3.50
90 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad                              3.51
91 Trent Lowe (Aus) Garmin - Slipstream                                     3.55
92 Steven Cozza (USA) Garmin - Slipstream                                   3.56
93 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Rock Racing                                         4.01
94 Robert Gunn (USA) Fly V Australia                                        4.03
95 Kiel Reijnen (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team                              4.09
96 Steve Morabito (Swi) Astana                                              4.16
97 Phillip Gaimon (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team                            4.28
98 Andy Guptill (USA) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light              4.29
99 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas                                           4.46
100 Aaron Olson (USA) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light              4.58
101 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas                                       5.07
102 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                                 5.19
103 Ben Day (Aus) Fly V Australia                                           5.24
104 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas                                        5.29
105 Freddy Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing                                      5.33
106 Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Liquigas                                         5.49
DNF Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas                                                   
DNF Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Fly V Australia                                    
 
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 Ińigo 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
41 Jeremy Vennell (NZl) Bissell Pro Cycling                                12.22
42 Steven Cozza (USA) Garmin - Slipstream                                  13.04
43 Will Routley (Can) Jelly Belly Cycling Team                             13.25
44 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank                                     15.55
45 Jason Mccartney (USA) Team Saxo Bank                                    16.17
46 Svein Tuft (Can) Garmin - Slipstream                                    16.36
47 Glen Chadwick (NZl) Rock Racing                                         18.44
48 Cameron Evans (Can) OUCH Presented By Maxxis                            19.04
49 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank                                       19.12
50 Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA) OUCH Presented By Maxxis                 19.22
51 Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light          19.27
52 Rory Sutherland (Aus) OUCH Presented By Maxxis                          20.11
53 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                                 20.18
54 Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team                                    20.31
55 Matthew Crane (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team                            20.52
56 Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Team Type 1                                    23.46
57 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step                                             24.14
58 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale                                24.21
59 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervélo TestTeam                                     24.37
60 Grégory Rast (Swi) Astana                                               24.56
61 Markus Zberg (Swi) BMC Racing Team                                      25.08
62 Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light               25.37
63 Timothy Johnson (USA) OUCH Presented By Maxxis                          26.05
64 Steve Morabito (Swi) Astana                                             27.27
65 Mauricio Ardila (Col) Rabobank                                          27.53
66 Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light    27.54
67 Matthew Wilson (Aus) Team Type 1                                        28.20
68 Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing Team                                     28.54
69 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step                                            29.02
70 Christopher Jones (USA) Team Type 1                                     29.03
71 Bradley White (USA) OUCH Presented By Maxxis                            29.17
72 Brian Vandborg (Den) Liquigas                                           29.32
73 Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank                                             30.41
74 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Cervélo TestTeam                                    31.24
75 Trent Lowe (Aus) Garmin - Slipstream                                    31.51
76 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - Highroad                           31.58
77 Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team                        32.17
78 Michael Barry (Can) Team Columbia - Highroad                            32.29
79 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Cervélo TestTeam                                  32.46
80 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank                                           32.53
81 Nick Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team                             33.01
82 Aaron Olson (USA) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light              33.05
83 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank                                    33.17
84 Marco Velo (Ita) Quick Step                                                  
85 Peter Latham (NZl) Bissell Pro Cycling                                  33.30
86 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad                             33.36
87 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                                33.44
88 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Slipstream                                  33.48
89 Chris Baldwin (USA) Rock Racing                                         34.26
90 Phillip Gaimon (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team                           34.35
91 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step                                         34.50
92 Kiel Reijnen (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team                             35.01
93 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas                                          35.13
94 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Rock Racing                                        35.38
95 Ben Day (Aus) Fly V Australia                                           36.16
96 Robert Gunn (USA) Fly V Australia                                       36.28
97 Adam Hansen (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad                                   
98 Jeffry Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team                                     36.42
99 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervélo TestTeam                                    37.09
100 Karl Menzies (Aus) OUCH Presented By Maxxis                            37.28
101 Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas                                              39.09
102 Andy Guptill (USA) Colavita / Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light            41.28
103 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas                                      41.58
104 Freddy Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing                                     42.12
105 Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Liquigas                                        42.44
106 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas                                       43.51

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