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The hottest bike at AToC?
Giant Bicycles had something special at the Amgen Tour of California: Two teams riding a time trial bike it’s developing. This isn’t out of the ordinary, except for the fact that one of the teams has a different bike sponsor. You’ll notice that Rabobank and Columbia are on quite similarly designed bikes, but one says “Giant” on its downtube, while the other sports a “Highroad techdev” label.
Gustav Larsson’s third place power data from the Solvang time trial
Gustav Larsson placed third in Friday's stage 6 time trial in Solvang. This is one place better than his fourth place finish last year and was a full 47 seconds faster. He averaged 486 watts for just over 30 minutes. This new SRM data file also made us aware that we need to update his functional threshold power (FTP) value from the original setting of 415w. Gustav’s FTP is now set at 470 watts which is about 5 percent lower than his 30-minute power value he set Friday.
Myogenesis Podium energy drink
Price: $36 Sizes: About 28 servings, 125 calories per scoop Web site: www.myogenesis.net
Sunline XC 1 Stem
Price: $100 Sizes: 90, 100 and 110mm Weight: 119 to 125 grams Colors: Dark gray or black Web site: www.sixsixone.com Sunline, a producer of high-end downhill components, will have a new crosscountry stem on the market beginning in April. The Sunline XC 1 stem is aesthetically similar to stems by Rotor and Thomson, which can be attributed to their machining process.
The Mandible Cage by Arundel Bicycle Company
Price: $65 Colors: Carbon finish Weight: 28 grams Web site: www.arundelbike.com
Leipheimer wins the Solvang time trial
Levi Leipheimer is an undemonstrative guy. So when the Astana team leader thrust up his arms and raised three fingers 10 meters before he crossed the finish line on Friday’s stage 6 of the Amgen Tour of California, that was big. The three fingers signaled his third consecutive victory in the 15-mile Solvang time trial, and it may well signal his third overall victory come Sunday night in Escondido.
AToC Stage 5 Live Update Archive
- 10:41 AM: Good day!
And welcome to VeloNews.com's live coverage of the fifth stage of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California.
This is the longest day of this year's edition of America's largest stage race, and will take us 134.3 miles from Visalia to Paso Robles — that's 216km for those of you living in modernized countries.
Algarve S3: Colom nips Contador
Katusha’s early season haul continued Friday as Toni Colom out-kicked triple-crown winner Alberto Contador (Astana) in the final meters of a summit finish to win the stage and take the overall leader’s jersey in stage three at the Volta ao Algarve. Colom – fresh off winning the Mallorca Challenge earlier this month – had a stronger kick at the end of the steep, second-category climb up the Alto do Malhao to relegate Contador to a rare second-place on a summit finish.
Valverde will race this weekend
Alejandro Valverde vows to race this weekend in France despite facing a possible two-year racing ban and even jail time in Italy for his alleged links to the Operación Puerto blood doping scandal. Valverde appeared before Italian authorities on Thursday, but is scheduled to race with his Caisse d’Epargne teammates in this weekend’s two-day Tour du Haut Var in France starting Saturday.
Amgen Tour of California, Stage 6 – Solvang time trial start list
1. Francesco Chicchi Liquigas 12:00 p.m.
2. Andy Guptill Colavita/sutter Home P/b Cooking Light 12:01 p.m.
3. Jacopo Guarnieri Liquigas 12:02 p.m.
4. Freddy Rodriguez Rock Racing 12:03 p.m.
5. Alessandro Vanotti Liquigas 12:04 p.m.
6. Karl Menzies Ouch Presented By Maxxis 12:05 p.m.
7. Daniel Oss Liquigas 12:06 p.m.
8. Adam Hansen Team Columbia-High Road 12:07 p.m.
9. Carlos Sastre Candil Cervelo Test Team 12:08 p.m.
10. Jeffry Louder Bmc Racing Team 12:09 p.m.
11. Curtis Gunn Fly V Australia P/b Successful Living Foundation 12:10 p.m.
12.
On Tap at AToC: Stage 6 – Showdown in Solvang
No time trial is a shoo-in. Just ask Cadel Evans, who was the overwhelming favorite to depose Carlos Sastre at the Tour de France last July in the final TT at St. Amand-Montrond. The Aussie could never get his momentum going and Sastre, a modest time trialist, comfortably held on to the overall lead. Astana’s Levi Leipheimer, who’s now a superb time trialist, so he should have no problems defending his yellow jersey in Friday’s 15-mile time trial at the Amgen Tour of California. But nothing is guaranteed.