On In Solvang - 2009 Amgen Tour of California Stage 6

Solvang, CA - February, 20, 2009 - With current race leader Levi Leipheimer (Astana) already taking note of the two riders immediately behind him in the General Classification, the two-time defending Amgen Tour of California Champion should be hard to beat on the 24 km course with which he is all too familiar.

"It’s going to be a big showdown tomorrow,” said Leipheimer during yesterday's podium presentation. “You have the three-time World Champion Michael Rogers and Dave Zabriskie, the National Champion, so it will be special."

But if you're looking for a darkhorse to claim the stage, three immediately come to mind and each sits within a minute of Leipheimer's lead.

It's strange to refer to a seven-time Tour de France Champion as a darkhorse, but that is exactly what Lance Armstrong (Astana) will be today. During the first part of his cycling career, Armstrong would have been an easy favorite over such a fast and relatively flat course. And although he is riding in support of Leipheimer, anything goes in these races against the clock.

A bit further down the list sit Ivan Basso (Liquigas) and Garmin-Slipstream's Tom Danielson. Both have had an extremely quite Tour of California, but each is fully capable of performing well in a time trial. Now whether you believe either is 42 seconds better than Leipheimer is a different story.

General Classification After Stage 5
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
2. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad 0.24
3. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Slipstream 0.28
4. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 0.30
5. Christopher Horner (USA) Astana 0.34
6. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana 0.38
7. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia - Highroad
8. José Luis Rubiera (Spa) Astana
9. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
10. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0.39
11. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Rock Racing
12. Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank 0.40
13. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 0.42
14. Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
15. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quick Step 0.51
16. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Rock Racing 0.53

At this time in the race, the start list is usually the reverse of the General Classification, but rather than having Astana teammates, in Horner and Armstrong, go back-to-back, Zabriskie and Armstrong have been flip-flopped in the order. Armstrong is now the second to last rider to go.

The temperatures are slated to reach 70 degrees and the weather is sunny and dry. The action kicks off at 12PM (PST).