February 22, 2008 (Solvang, Calif.) — The serene hamlet of pastries and Scandanavian-style wooden houses, reclaimed the backdrop to the dramatic battle for gaining time on Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana through a fairly easy 24km/15 mile Individual Time Trial on Stage 5.

What many consider the stage that will decide this year’s Amgen Tour of California final leader’s jersey was filled with drama. After yesterday’s 216km epic race through wind and rain, where Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota-United pulled off a major win as he single-handedly demolished the field with iron Canadian-cold will, today’s time trial tested those who would be king. But Leipheimer’s grip on the jersey was much firmer by the end of the day.

Last year, on a very similar course he barely clipped Jens Voigt (CSC) for the prize and continued on to defend the leader’s jersey as AToC’s 2007 overall winner.

This year Voigt had to save his energy to protect Fabian Cancellara (Sui) CSC in case he did well enough to usurp Leipheimer in the next few days. So Voigt, one of the fiercest competitors with the best sense of humor, cruised in with a time of 34:25.270 finishing 55th, a few spots above Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step who undoubtably is saving his energy for the remaining days.

The ones to watch who could take time out of Leipheimer were the last to go. Cancellara, David Zabriskie (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30, and his team mate David Millar were ready to show how hard they could hammer out better times and keep the pressure on the AtoC leader. But it didn’t turn out so simple.

It looked like the weather might again be another huge factor today as suddenly a dark cloud hovered and it began to rain at 11.30 am – a half hour before show time. But somehow, the weather shifted and the clouds parted as everyone hoped. Those looking for a rainbow were greeted by an angel – the Specialized angel – a beauty from Spain, all in white filling up the sidelines with 8-foot real-feather extensions.

Nothing really happened in the race until the US Bissell Team, (controversially invited this year) which except for yesterday showed little prowess, woke up the crowd with solid times from Tom Zirbel (32:10.6720) and Ben Jacques-Maynes (32:11.990).

Then Gustav Larsson (Swe) CSC broke thru with a blazing 31:44 089 time that no one could touch until the big names in the roster began to shift the stage their way. And yet, World TT champ Cancellara, the rider who was supposed to be the one to beat, couldn’t surpass the Swedish national champion.

But perhaps this outcome wasn’t such a surprise if you saw the Hell on Mt. Hamilton that Cancellara endured and was likely still hurting from attempting to keep up in that “˜pain-as-you-gain’ HC elevation climb. As Cancellara came close enough to put the hurt on the leader’s jersey plans today Leipheimer admitted his concern. “Fabian is a force to be reckoned with, and I’ve just got to do my best – we’ll see what damage I can do.”

But Cancellara later admitted the pain was too great and he had little left in the tank. “I think today was a statement about my actual fitness. I paid the price for the San Jose stage (Stage 3 from Modesto). It’s evident Levi is a better rider today – we will have to see what is possible in the next two stages.” Cancellara settled for 5th place losing a full minute and five seconds on Leipheimer at 31:54 with 16:58 split compared to the winner’s 30:46 time with a 16:20 split.

But it was also John Vaughter’s day to shine as his Slipstream Chipotle team showed its triple-threat strength with two former CSC riders – both Americans — in Christian Vandevelde and his roommate and cowboy-clown, David Zabriskie, the only American to win stages in all three big Tours. Along with David Millar, Britain’s national time trialist and road champion, they rounded out the team which took three of the top ten spots.

Millar, all smiles, blazed past the marker with a 31:15.45 time sending the crowd into a frenzy as he took the lead until the last 5-minute duel between Leipheimer and Cancellara. Everyone knew that Cancellara wasn’t feeling well before he shot off the line and his split underlined that, so it was up to Leipheimer to top the top Brit.

When he hit the split 12 seconds ahead of Millar, the crowd began their chant “Let Levi Ride!” Then as he approached with 300 meters to go, the crowd roared with delight as he shaved an unbelievable 30 seconds off Millar’s time.

Not even Leipheimer could believe how well he did. “I was scared of Fabian, he’s the best at this and today I basically got lucky – he wasn’t on his game as he showed us all in the peloton what heart he has climbing Mt. Hamilton with such agility. We all respect him for his efforts – it just worked out my way today.”

Still, at the end of the day, Astana was replaced by Slipstream as the best GC team falling 16 seconds behind Vaughters deeply talented squad.

Vaughters still had a lot to say to Millar after his ride telling him how he could have shaved off a few seconds as the British star listened intently, and then they discussed the finer points of rocking in the bike agreeing that it was more like “tacking on a boat” and didn’t really affect one’s time on a bike.

Canada’s Dominique Rollin (Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team) wasn’t worried about today’s performance as he just wanted to keep up his strength for the next two days to defend his sprinters jersey. “It’s not time for ice cream yet, I’m ready to do what I must to get the sprinters points and continue in green to Pasadena. I’m having a good time today, meeting people and enjoying the scenery. I like green and want to wake up Monday morning with it on.”

Rollin came in 69th at 34:55.124, ahead of Road World champ Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step who came in 72nd with a time of 34:58.779.

Results

1. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 30.47
2. David Millar (GBr) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 0.29
3. Christian Vandevelde (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 0.45
4. Gustav Larsson (Swe) CSC 0.57
5. Fabian Cancellara (Sui) CSC 1.05
6. David Zabriskie (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 1.15
7. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana 1.19
8. Tom Zirbel (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 1.24
9. Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 1.25
10. Kim Kirchen (Lux) High Road 1.28
11. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) High Road 1.29
12. Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Astana 1.35
13. Jurgen Vandewalle (Bel) Quick Step 1.38
14. Christopher Horner (USA) Astana 1.42
15. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval-Scott 1.43
16. Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Credit Agricole 1.44
17. Benjamin Day (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 1.56
18. Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team 1.57
19. Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Saunier Duval-Scott 1.59
20. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 2.03
21. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis 2.07
22. Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 2.08
23. George Hincapie (USA) High Road 2.13
24. Bobby Julich (USA) CSC 2.18
25. Darren Lill (RSA) BMC Racing Team 2.19
26. Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step 2.21
27. Steven Cozza (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 2.24
28. Andrey Mizurov (Kaz) Astana 2.24
29. Thomas Peterson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 2.25
30. Stuart O’Grady (Aus) CSC 2.25
31. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) High Road 2.25
32. Aaron Olson (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 2.25
33. Iker Camano Ortuzar (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott 2.28
34. David Canada Gracia (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott 2.32
35. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) High Road 2.36
36. Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank 2.37
37. Dimitri Champion (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2.41
38. Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Col) Rock Racing 2.45
39. Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 2.52
40. Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Rock Racing 2.54
41. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quick Step 2.56
42. Justin Spinelli (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 3.03
43. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 3.05
44. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Astana 3.06
45. Heath Blackgrove (NZl) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 3.15
46. Jeff Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team 3.15
47. Danny Pate (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 3.16
48. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Credit Agricole 3.22
49. Freddie Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing 3.23
50. Karsten Kroon (Ned) CSC 3.27
51. Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 3.29
52. John Murphy (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 3.29
53. Julien Simon (Fra) Credit Agricole 3.32
54. Jason Mccartney (USA) CSC 3.35
55. Jens Voigt (Ger) CSC 3.38
56. Mark Cavendish (GBr) High Road 3.4
57. Markus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 3.44
58. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 3.49
59. Garrett Peltonen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 3.5
60. Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step 3.5
61. Sergey Ivanov (Rus) Astana 3.51
62. Timothy Johnson (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 3.53
63. Pedro Horrillo Munoz (Spa) Rabobank 3.53
64. Jonathan Mumford (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 4.01
65. Vincent Jerome (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 4.03
66. Ermanno Capelli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Scott 4.05
67. Edward King (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 4.07
68. Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana 4.08
69. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 4.08
70. Angel Gomez Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott 4.11
71. Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 4.11
72. Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step 4.12
73. Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 4.16
74. Nicholas Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 4.17
75. Pipp K Frank (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 4.2
76. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) CSC 4.26
77. Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 4.27
78. Richard England (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling 4.3
79. Hendricus Vogels (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 4.34
80. Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank 4.35
81. Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Credit Agricole 4.37
82. Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 4.45
83. Michael Lange (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 4.45
84. Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank 4.53
85. Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team 4.55
86. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Rock Racing 5.01
87. Antonio Cruz (USA) BMC Racing Team 5.04
88. Taylor Tolleson (USA) BMC Racing Team 5.09
89. Alexander Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 5.11
90. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank 5.15
91. Aaron Barry Tuckerman (NZl) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 5.16
92. Dan Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 5.2
93. Andrea Tonti (Ita) Quick Step 5.21
94. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 5.28
95. Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 5.3
96. Nicholas Waite (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 5.47
97. Luciano André Pagliarini Mendonca (Bra) Saunier Duval-Scott 5.51
98. Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 5.59
99. Michael Creed (USA) Rock Racing 6.01
100. Bryce Mead (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 6.22
101. Scott Tietzel (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 6.31
102. Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 7.01
OTL Philip Zajicek (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 7.49
OTL Roman Kilun (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 8.27
DNS Andrew Bajadali (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast

GC after Stage 5

1. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 21.14.52
2. David Millar (GBr) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 0.49
3. Christian Vandevelde (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 1.08
4. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) CSC 1.18
5. Gustav Larsson (Swe) CSC 1.19
6. David Zabriskie (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 1.36
7. Christopher Horner (USA) Astana 2.07
8. Jurgen Vandewalle (Bel) Quick Step 2.11
9. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 2.18
10. Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team 2.27
11. Thomas Peterson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 2.58
12. Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Col) Rock Racing 3.17
13. Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 3.34
14. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quick Step 3.4
15. Iker Camano Ortuzar (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott 5.06
16. Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 5.48
17. Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step 6.49
18. George Hincapie (USA) High Road 7.3
19. Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank 7.48
20. Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 8.08
21. Kim Kirchen (Lux) High Road 8.34
22. Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Credit Agricole 8.5
23. Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 9.24
24. Darren Lill (RSA) BMC Racing Team 9.27
25. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana 9.58
26. David Canada Gracia (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott 10.08
27. Jeff Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team 10.46
28. Jens Voigt (Ger) CSC 11.11
29. Bobby Julich (USA) CSC 11.49
30. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval-Scott 12.02
31. Benjamin Day (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 14.05
32. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) High Road 14.29
33. Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Credit Agricole 15.01
34. Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Rock Racing 15.16
35. Karsten Kroon (Ned) CSC 15.41
36. Jason Mccartney (USA) CSC 15.47
37. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Credit Agricole 15.48
38. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Astana 17.38
39. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis 18.24
40. Aaron Olson (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 18.45
41. Michael Lange (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 19.22
42. Heath Blackgrove (NZl) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 19.33
43. Vincent Jerome (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 20.27
44. Angel Gomez Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott 20.46
45. Tom Zirbel (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 22.39
46. Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step 24.18
47. Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Astana 25
48. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 26.1
49. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) High Road 26.57
50. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank 27.03
51. Freddie Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing 27.56
52. Andrey Mizurov (Kaz) Astana 28.29
53. Pedro Horrillo Munoz (Spa) Rabobank 28.34
54. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) CSC 28.53
55. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) High Road 29.53
56. Dimitri Champion (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 31.21
57. Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 31.4
58. Justin Spinelli (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 31.48
59. Danny Pate (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 31.51
60. Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank 32.06
61. Stuart O’Grady (Aus) CSC 32.1
62. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 32.11
63. Markus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 32.36
64. Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana 32.44
65. Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step 32.52
66. Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank 33.03
67. Mark Cavendish (GBr) High Road 33.17
68. Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 33.28
69. Julien Simon (Fra) Credit Agricole 33.3
70. Timothy Johnson (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 33.47
71. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Rock Racing 34.45
72. Alexander Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 35.15
73. Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 35.23
74. Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Saunier Duval-Scott 35.53
75. Luciano André Pagliarini Mendonca (Bra) Saunier Duval-Scott 35.54
76. Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 36.04
77. Steven Cozza (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 36.09
78. Garrett Peltonen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 36.14
79. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 36.58
80. John Murphy (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 37.49
81. Edward King (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 37.51
82. Ermanno Capelli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Scott 38.06
83. Sergey Ivanov (Rus) Astana 38.17
84. Pipp K Frank (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 38.26
85. Nicholas Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 38.52
86. Antonio Cruz (USA) BMC Racing Team 39.01
87. Taylor Tolleson (USA) BMC Racing Team 39.11
88. Dan Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 39.22
89. Andrea Tonti (Ita) Quick Step 39.45
90. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 39.51
91. Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 39.59
92. Hendricus Vogels (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 40.19
93. Jonathan Mumford (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 42.27
94. Richard England (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling 43.39
95. Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team 44.08
96. Aaron Barry Tuckerman (NZl) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 44.25
97. Nicholas Waite (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 45.08
98. Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 45.54
99. Michael Creed (USA) Rock Racing 47.29
100. Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 47.3
101. Bryce Mead (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 51.57
102. Scott Tietzel (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 51.58

Sprint Classification

1. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 36 pts
2. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) CSC 26
3. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) High Road 25
4. Mark Cavendish (GBr) High Road 19
5. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 15
6. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 15
7. George Hincapie (USA) High Road 13
8. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 12
9. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Rock Racing 12
10. Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 11
11. Iker Camaño Ortuzar (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott 10
12. Jurgen Vandewalle (Bel) Quick Step 10
13. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quick Step 7
14. Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step 6
15. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Astana 6
16. Freddie Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing 6
17. Roman Kilun (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 6
18. Thomas Peterson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 5
19. Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank 5
20. Christopher Horner (USA) Astana 4
21. Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team 4
22. Alexander Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 3
23. Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank 3
24. Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 3
25. Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team 2
26. Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2
27. David Millar (GBr) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 1
28. Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Col) Rock Racing 1
29. Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 1
30. Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank 1

Mountains Classification

1. Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 24 pts
2. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 16
3. Jurgen Vandewalle (Bel) Quick Step 15
4. Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team 12
5. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 12
6. Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank 12
7. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Astana 12
8. Iker Camaño Ortuzar (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott 11
9. Christopher Horner (USA) Astana 11
10. Jens Voigt (Ger) CSC 9
11. Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank 8
12. David Zabriskie (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 7
13. Steven Cozza (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 6
14. Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team 6
15. Edward King (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 6
16. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quick Step 5
17. Gustav Larsson (Swe) CSC 4
18. George Hincapie (USA) High Road 2
19. Thomas Peterson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 2
20. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 1
21. David Millar (GBr) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 1

Young Rider

1. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 21.17.10
2. Thomas Peterson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 0.4
3. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quick Step 1.22
4. Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Credit Agricole 6.32
5. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) High Road 24.39
6. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank 24.45
7. Mark Cavendish (GBr) High Road 30.59
8. Julien Simon (Fra) Credit Agricole 31.12
9. Steven Cozza (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 33.51
10. Ermanno Capelli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Scott 35.48
11. Taylor Tolleson (USA) BMC Racing Team 36.53
12. Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team 41.5

Team Classification

1. Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 2 pts
2. Astana 2
3. Quick Step 2
4. CSC 2
5. Rabobank 2
6. BMC Racing Team 2
7. Saunier Duval-Scott 2
8. High Road 2
9. Crédit Agricole 2
10. Gerolsteiner 2
11. Bissell Pro Cycling 2
12. Rock Racing 2
13. Health Net P/b Maxxis 2
14. Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 2
15. Bouygues Telecom 2
16. Jelly Belly Cycling Team 2
17. Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 2