Written By: Jonathan Tessler

Today was a picture perfect day in Solvang, CA to have a bike race. The sun was out, the crowds were huge and excited, and the riders were ready to attack the 15 mile individual time trial. For most of the riders the individual time trial is just a recovery day, do good enough to make the time cut off to race again tomorrow. But then there is also the riders that are trying to take away Levi Leipheimer’s Yellow Leaders Jersey.

For David Zabriskie (Team Garmin), Michael Rogers (Team Columbia High Road), this was nothing close to a recovery day. They were gunning full force to de-thrown the reinging Tour of California king. In the mix was also Jens Voight (Team Saxo Bank), Gustav Larson (Team Saxo Bank), and Thomas Lovkvist (Team Columbia High Road).

All of the contenders had great rides today, but Leipheimer was determined not let them get the best of him, and he delivered in dominating fashion. He won the time trial by eight seconds, thus pretty much guaranteeing his third consecutive overall win at the Tour of California.

When Leipheimer crossed the finish line he knew that he had won, and he held up three fingers up in the air signifying the 3-peat he is pretty much now destined to win.

David Zabriskie was his normal self at the press conference and when asked what he can now do to catch Leipheimer and Team Astana he stated “It would take a lot of screwing up on their (Astana’s) part. With the experience that they have and the depth of the team, they know what they’re doing. Like I said, it would take a huge screw up.” Michael Rogers was in full agreement with David Zabriskie. David Zabriskie is always good for a good laugh when interviewed, and today he did not let us down. When asked about his DZ Nutz (a chamois cream bearing his intials) he stated “that all was good with DZ Nutz, everything is hanging good down there.”

With Levi Leipheimer still at the top of the leaders board, we can expect some serious fireworks tomorrow on Millcreek Summitt. You have Fransico Mancebo (Rock Racing)in the Green KOM jersey and his team will do just about everything to make sure he does not lose it. You can be almost guaranteed that the breaks will go off fast and furious right from the start. But likely with the long downhill run in to the finish from 3k to go it will likely end with a bunch sprint.

Team Columbia High Road rider Mark Cavendish has already won two stages and will be looking to pick up his 3-peat also. We might just get lucky enough to see another heads up sprint between Thor Hushovd and Mark Cavendish.

When Michael Rogers was asked about whether he could win the race still, he answered “I think the race is not over until Sunday. You’ve got some tough mountains coming up. I’m sure it’s going to be tough. I think maybe the general classification is starting to open up a little bit more, but anything can happen.”

Heading into stage 7 Levi Leipheimer has a 36 second lead over David Zabriskie. Tomorrow’s stage takes the riders on a 143.0km (88.9 mile) from Santa Clarita, CA. to Pasadena, CA. We will see two intermediate sprints and one KOM. Race starts at 12:00pm and should end around 3:30pm.

RESULTS STAGE 6:
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Astana) 30min 39sec (avg 47.152 km/h), 2. David Zabriskie (USA) at 8sec, 3. Gustav Larsson (SWE) 17, 4. Michael Rogers (AUS) 22, 5. Jens Voigt (GER) 30, 6. George Hincapie (USA) 36, 7. Tom Zirbel (USA) 39, 8. Jason McCartney (USA) 41, 9. Stef Clement (NED) 43, 10. Thomas Lovkvist(SWE) 51
Selected: 14. Lance Armstrong (USA) 01:16, 26. Christophe Riblon (FRA) 01:42

OVERALL STAGE 6
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Astana) 24hr 12min 00sec, 2. David Zabriskie (USA) 36, 3. Michael Rogers (AUS) 46, 4. Jens Voigt (GER) 01:10, 5. Thomas Lovkvist (SWE) 01:29, 6. Lance Arsmstrong (USA) 01:46, 7. Robert Gesink (NED) 01:54, 8. Janez Brajkovic (SLO) 01:59, 9. Christopher Horner (USA) 02:13, 10. Francisco Mancebo (ESP) 02:15
Selected: 21. George Hincapie (USA) 06:35, 36. Floyd Landis (USA) 10:26, 99. Carlos Sastre (ESP) 37:09

STAGE 7 TOMORROW PREVIEW:

Saturday, Feb. 21 – Pasadena (88.9 mi/143 km)
Start Time: Noon PT
Estimated Finish Time: 3:15-3:50 p.m. PT
Satellite Feed Time: 4:30-4:45 p.m. PT (7:30-7:45 p.m. ET)

The race from Santa Clarita to Pasadena proved to be a difficult one during the final stage of the 2008 Amgen Tour of California, and this year will be no different. The first 25 miles of Stage 7, sponsored by Herbalife, includes a gradual climb from Santa Clarita, through Acton, to the intersection of Angeles Forest Road. The route continues uphill, showcasing the beauty of the San Gabriel Mountains, to the second highest elevation ever reached by the Amgen Tour of California on the towering Millcreek Summit (4,906 ft.). Descending with a 15-mile run to Angeles Crest Highway, the route begins a fast plunge to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. After more than 65 miles from Santa Clarita to Pasadena, with the mountains and the Rose Bowl serving as the backdrop, the peloton will complete the stage with five, five-mile laps on a very demanding circuit through the area surrounding the Rose Bowl. This course will provide a challenging, action-packed day leading up to the finale on Sunday.