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Five hours of bike work for 30 minutes of racing? Must be TT time.

SOLVANG, California (VN) ─ Former Lance Armstrong teammate Frankie Andreu spoke out in support of Tyler Hamilton and George Hincapie Friday afternoon, following news reports that both have testified to federal authorities about their former teammate’s use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Stage 5

• 1. David Zabriskie (USA/Garmin) in 30min 36secs
• 2. Levi Leipheimer (USA) at 14
• 3. Tejay Van Garderen (USA) 40
• 4. Peter Velits (SVK) 48
• 5. Maarten Tjallingii (NED) 49

Overall

• 1. Christopher Horner (USA/RadioShack) in 17hr 17:01
• 2. Levi Leipheimer (USA) at 38
• 3. Rory Sutherland (AUS) 01:38
• 4. Christian Vandevelde (USA) 01:39
• 5. Thomas Danielson (USA) 01:44

George Hincapie, one of Lance Armstrong’s closest friends during their time together at the U.S. Postal Service and Discovery Channel teams and the only member of all seven of Armstrong’s Tour de France-winning squads, testified before a federal grand jury that he and Armstrong had supplied one another with EPO and testosterone, CBS News reported Friday afternoon.

George Hincapie has added his name to the list of ex-Lance Armstrong teammates who say they saw the embattled American cycling hero use performance-enhancing drugs, CBS News reported Friday.

Dave Zabriskie (Garmin-Cervélo) won stage 6 of the Amgen Tour of California. Levi Leipheimer (Radioshack) and Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) rounded out the podium, with Chris Horner putting in a fast enough time to hold onto the race lead.

Svein Tuft's prototype time trial bike

SOLVANG, Calif. (VN) — Peanut Butter & Co.'s Kristin Armstrong put the 'I' in individual time trial Friday, dominating the Tour of California women's invitational, ahead of three HTC-Highroad riders: Amber Neben (second), Charlotte Becker (third) and Evelyn Stevens (fourth).

HEILIGENBLUT, Austria (VN) - Monte Crostis, the brutal climb and harrowing descent that had everyone in the peloton on edge, is out of the Giro d'Italia.

HEILIGENBLUT, Austria (VN) - With the Giro d'Italia heading into a tough run in the mountains, Eddy Merckx observed that the only hope the GC rivals had to knock Alberto Contador off-balance was to attack from afar and try something truly daring.

HEILIGENBLUT, Austria (VN) - José Rujano (Androni) seems back at his best in this year's Giro d'Italia after a five-year drought that saw him struggle with form, personal problems and results.

A sneak peek at Levi Leipheimer's Giro TT helmet

For stage 6 of the 2011 Tour of California, Christian Vande Velde chose a 2010 bike.

Quick Results

• 1. José Rujano Guillen (VEN), Androni Giocattoli, in 4:45:54
• 2. Alberto Contador Velasco (ESP), SaxoBank-Sungard, at 0
• 3. John Gadret (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:27
• 4. Hubert Dupont (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:29
• 5. Igor Anton Hernandez (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:29

GC

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spain), SaxoBank-Sungard, 49:40:58
• 2. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy), Liquigas-Doimo, at 3:09
• 3. Michele Scarponi (Italy), Lampre-ISD, at 3:16
• 4. David Arroyo Duran (Spain), Movistar, at 3:25
• 5. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic), Astana, at 3:29

José Rujano (Androni Giocattoli) won the 13th stage of the Giro d’Italia Friday, finishing just ahead of overall race leader Alberto Contador atop a tough, rain-soaked climb to the finish on Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner.

Frank Overton analyzes Rory Sutherland's power data from stage 5 of the Amgen Tour of California.

Alberto Contador's fate will be considered just days after he's set to conclude racing in the Giro d'Italia.

Clara Hughes wins the Chrono Gatineau in Quebec and dedicates the win to Daron Richardson, a young girl from Ottawa who tragically died last year.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (VN) - George Hincapie and Jim Ochowicz of BMC Racing were two of embattled Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong’s closest companions for much of his career. Ochowicz Thursday night called former U.S. Postal Service rider Tyler Hamilton’s accusations that he witnessed Armstrong use EPO “outrageous,” while Hincapie reserved comment.

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Video highlights from stage five of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California.

Stage 5

• 1. Peter Sagan (SVK), Liquigas-Doimo, at 5:16:03
• 2. Leigh Howard (AUS), HTC-Highroad, at 00
• 3. Ben Swift (GBR), Team Sky, at 00
• 4. Paul Martens (GER), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 00
• 5. Alex Candelario (USA), Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 00

GC

• 1. Christopher Horner (USA), Team RadioShack, at 16:45:35
• 2. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Team RadioShack, at 01:15
• 3. Tom Danielson (USA), Garmin-Cervélo, at 01:22
• 4. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Cervélo, at 01:29
• 5. Rory Sutherland (AUS), UnitedHealthcare, at 01:30

an email Tyler Hamilton sent to friends and family explaining his "long overdue" confession to doping

Rabobank's Oscar Freire, a sprinter, found himself in a rare solo break in stage five of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California. And he nearly took it all the way to the line.

Retired cyclist Tyler Hamilton has told the CBS program "60 Minutes" that he saw his then-U.S. Postal teammate Lance Armstrong inject EPO and use other doping methods.

Peter Kraiker caught the action at the Chrono Gatineau.

PASO ROBLES, California (VN) — World champion Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) and race aggressor Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell) were among the riders who left the Amgen Tour of California Thursday.

Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) won stage five of the Amgen Tour of California on Thursday, extending his lead in the sprint classification in the process.

SRAM is out with redesigns of the company's Avid brakes — XX and XX World Cup to be exact.

Stage 4

• 1. Christopher Horner (USA), Team RadioShack, at 3:27:51
• 2. Andy Schleck (LUX), Leopard-Trek, at 01:15
• 3. Rory Sutherland (AUS), UnitedHealthcare, at 01:15
• 4. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Team RadioShack, at 01:15
• 5. Tom Danielson (USA), Garmin-Cervélo, at 01:22

GC

• 1. Christopher Horner (USA), Team RadioShack, at 11:29:32
• 2. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Team RadioShack, at 01:15
• 3. Tom Danielson (USA), Garmin-Cervélo, at 01:22
• 4. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Garmin-Cervélo, at 01:29
• 5. Rory Sutherland (AUS), UnitedHealthcare, at 01:30

RAVENNA, Italy (VN) – The Giro d’Italia peloton will be smaller at the start line Friday as sprinters are expected to leave the corsa rosa in droves.

RAVENNA, Italy (VN) – Alberto Contador (SaxoBank-Sungard) is getting comfortable after four days in the pink jersey. The Spaniard finished safely in the main bunch Thursday to carry a 59-second lead into three decisive stages looming in the Dolomites.

VIDEO: Muesli vs oatmeal: the culture shock of racing in the U.S. and Europe

When push came to shove on the steeps of Sierra Road, Garmin-Cervélo had no less than five riders near the front of the race, while HTC-Highroad had Tejay Van Garderen. One of the many outcomes of the splintering day was Garmin's Andrew Talansky riding into the white jersey by finishing 15 seconds ahead of his fellow young American Van Garderen.

Quick Results

• 1. Mark Cavendish (GBR), HTC-Highroad , 4:17:25
• 2. Davide Appollonio (ITA), Team Sky, s.t.
• 3. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA), Lampre-ISD, s.t.
• 4. Roberto Ferrari (ITA), Androni Giocattoli, s.t.
• 5. Gerald Ciolek (GER), Quick Step, s.t.

GC

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spain), SaxoBank-Sungard , 44:55:16
• 2. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Belarus), HTC-Highroad, at 59
• 3. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy), Liquigas-Doimo, at 1:21
• 4. Christophe Le Mevel (France), Garmin-Cervelo, at 1:28
• 5. Michele Scarponi (Italy), Lampre-ISD, at 1:28

RAVENNA, Italy (VN) - Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) grabbed his second stage win at the Giro d’Italia on Thursday, winning a drag race to the line against Sky’s Davide Appollonio and Lampre’s sprint star Allesandro Petacchi.

Brian Lopes to race UCI's new Sprint Eliminator; Jeremiah Bishop back racing XCO.

Let’s not beat around the bush: 478 watts normalized for 18 minutes and two seconds for a power to weight ratio of 6.3 watts per kilogram. That’s the bottom line of Rory Sutherland’s very impressive 3rd place in stage 4.

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SAN JOSE, Calif. (VN) — Although he ended up in seventh place, Canadian Ryder Hesjedal not only earned stage 4’s most aggressive rider award but he also dynamited the race with his preemptive attack coming off the hors-cat Mount Hamilton climb that enabled his Garmin-Cervélo team to pack five riders into the top 12 of this sixth Amgen Tour of California.

Rory Sutherland’s third place on the mountaintop stage-four finish may have surprised many fans, but flying form in California has been the plan for 2011 for the 29-year old since his seventh overall finish last year. His third place behind Chris Horner and Andy Schleck on the very selective stage also serves as a return to the top level of the sport for the pragmatic Australian.

Check out Brian Holcombe's author page.

VIDEO: Race highlights from stage 4 of the Amgen Tour of California

• 1. Mehdi SOHRABI, (IRI) Petrochemical Tabriz Cycling Team, in 11:02:28
• 2. Hossein ASKARI, (IRI) Petrochemical Tabriz Cycling Team, at 24
• 3. Ghader MIZBANI IRANAGH, (IRI) Petrochemical Tabriz Cycling Team, at 25
• 4. Stefan SCHUMACHER, (GER) Miche-Silver Cross-Selle Italia, at 40
• 5. Davide REBELLIN, (ITA) Miche-Silver Cross-Selle Italia, at 1:04

Taylor Phinney checks in with Brian Holcombe on the literal ups and down of the Amgen Tour of California.

Jesse Anthony’s Orbea Orca Silver

After questions on tire pressure and my favorite chain lube, the most popular question I’m asked is how to become a pro team mechanic.

CASTELFIDARDO, Italy (VN) — Several team managers met with Giro d’Italia officials before the start of Wednesday’s stage to express concern about the Monte Crostis descent set for stage 14.

CASTELFIDARDO, Italy (VN) – Two names are hovering in the top 5 going into the final decisive battleground of the 2011 Giro d’Italia. They would surpass expectations if they’re still there when the Giro ends in Milano, and each promises to go down fighting.

MODESTO, Calif. (VN) — Will Dugan will not start Wednesday's stage 4 in the Amgen Tour of California. Dugan (Team Type 1-Sanofi Aventis) suffered a head injury in a crash late in stage 3 and a team spokesperson told VeloNews that he would return home to Vermont to recover.

From stage 3 of the Tour of California, we have analyzed the power data from UnitedHealthcare’s GC leader, Rory Sutherland.

Quick Results

• 1. John Gadret (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale , 3:33:11
• 2. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (ESP), Team Katusha , s.t.
• 3. Giovanni Visconti (ITA), Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli, s.t.
• 4. Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (COL), Androni Giocattoli, s.t.
• 5. Alberto Contador Velasco (ESP), SaxoBank-Sungard, s.t.

GC

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spain), SaxoBank-Sungard , 40:37:51
• 2. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Belarus), HTC-Highroad, at 0:59
• 3. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy), Liquigas-Doimo, at 1:21
• 4. Christophe Le Mevel (France), Garmin-Cervelo, at 1:28
• 5. Michele Scarponi (Italy), Lampre-ISD, at 1:28