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2007 Overall Standings

Amgen Race Leader's Jersey Levi Leipheimer (DSC)	Union Bank Best Young Rider Jersey Robert Gesink(RAB)	California Travel and Tourism KOM Leader’s Jersey Christophe Laurent (CA)
Herbalife Sprint Leader’s Jersey Juan Jose Haedo (CSC)	Adobe Most Aggressive Rider’s Jersey Stuart O'Grady (CSC)

02.23.07
2007 Overall Standings

02.21.07
2007 Stage 5 Results

02.21.07
2007 Stage 4 Results

02.21.07
2007 Stage 3 Results

02.20.07
2007 Stage 6 Results

02.20.07
2007 Stage 2 Results

02.19.07
2007 Stage 1 Results

02.18.07
2007 Prologue Results

JJ HAEDO WINS; LEVI HOLDS OVERALL LEAD
Latest News | Maps | Cities | Tour Merch. | Amgentourofcalifornia.com | Watch Live

One shocking note to add, is Team Discovery Rider George Hincappie and Anthony Cruz also of Discovery have a freak crash, upon which George break wrist. Returns to pelotin and pulls back leader, after hard fought 70 mile chase. The biggest Amgen Tour of California crowd to date witnessed Team CSC's Juan Jose "J.J." Haedo (ARG) win a sprint to the finish line in Santa Clarita to take his second stage, with overall race leader, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's Levi Leipheimer (USA) close behind, maintaining possession of the Amgen Leader Jersey going into Sunday's final stage in Long Beach, Calif.

Today's Stage 6 of the Amgen Tour of California saw the toughest racing, the warmest weather and the biggest crowds of the seven racing days so far, as the peloton of world-class cyclists competed along a hilly route from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita.

Haedo's (ARG) sprint effort at the finish overtook T-Mobile Team's Greg Henderson (NZL), Paolo Bettini (ITA), the world champion rider for Quick Step-Innergetic, Credit Agricole's Thor Hushovd (NOR) and Predictor-Lotto's Freddie Rodriguez (USA).

"I had to go really deep the whole day. I think it was the hardest day in the Amgen Tour of California for sure," said Haedo. "It was a hard day for the sprinters to go over the climb; there was a lot of attacking. I made my way back to the big group before the third KOM [King of the Mountains], and then I tried to stay in the front with my team."

Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's Levi Leipheimer (USA), the general classification leader since the Prologue in San Francisco seven days ago, retained the Amgen Leader Jersey after a 65-mile (105 km) breakaway spearheaded by Team CSC's Stuart O'Grady (AUS), which earned him today's Adobe Most Aggressive Rider Jersey.

"I don't have the words to describe what my team went through today. They threw everything they had at us. I'll be honest, it was stressful," said Leipheimer.

According to CHP estimates, the crowd was the biggest of any in the 15 stages of the Amgen Tour of California since the race debuted last year.

"It's exciting, and people were curious how we would do in our sophomore year. The CHP told us today that point to point it was the biggest stage we've had in our two years," said Shawn Hunter, president of AEG Sports. "We've had some great racing out there. We're very proud and more committed than ever. We love this sport."

Pat McQuaid, president of Union Cycliste International (UCI), the international governing body of cycling, also was on hand for today's stage.

"This race is bigger than it was last year. There are more people on the sidelines," said McQuaid at a post-race press conference. "The organization has gotten bigger. I'm very happy with their [the organizers'] continued commitment to this event."

In an example of the aggressive riding today, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's George Hincapie (USA) and Tony Cruz (USA) touched wheels during an attack and crashed after only three miles (5 km) of racing. Hincapie, who won two stages in last year's Amgen Tour of California and fourth place overall, finished the stage, but the team released a statement that he has been diagnosed with a broken left radius and will not participate in tomorrow's final stage in Long Beach. Cruz came away with bruises and road rash, but no serious injuries.

Following the crash, the race continued to be marked by a succession of attacks from several teams to challenge Leipheimer, as well as other jersey holders. Credit Agricole's Christophe Laurent (FRA) and Quick Step-Innergetic's Jurgen Van de Walle (BEL) joined two other riders in an early breakaway to contest the California Tourism and Travel King of the Mountains (KOM) jersey in the final day of climbing. Van de Walle was slightly stronger today, but Laurent picked up enough points to retain the jersey.

"The climbing in this race was quite challenging, so it is very satisfying to win the King of the Mountains jersey," said Laurent in a press conference today. "I am very happy to take the (KOM) jersey in such an important race."

O'Grady's breakaway group of nine contained two former time trial world champions, T-Mobile Team's Michael Rogers (AUS) and Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle's Danny Pate (USA). The gap grew as wide as three minutes, but relentless chasing by Discovery Channel Pro brought it to 1:15 as the riders entered the three 3.5-mile (5.6 km) finishing circuits in Santa Clarita.

As the peloton worked to overtake the breakaway during the three circuits, Health Net presented by Maxxis riders came to the front and helped the Discovery Channel Pro team close the gap. The breakaway was caught with less than two miles to go, ensuring Leipheimer will ride into Long Beach tomorrow wearing the leader jersey for the final day of racing.

The Union Bank of California Best Young Rider Jersey was awarded to Rabobank's Robert Gesink (NED). Haedo retained the Herbalife Sprint Jersey after today's race.

Title sponsor Amgen will celebrate awareness raised during the Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative this week.

"The Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative allows people to connect with others who are fighting this illness or those who have recovered from it. Hope, inspiration and a sense of well-being come from sharing experiences with one another," said seven-time cancer survivor Heather Warrick of Santa Clarita.

Warrick was featured today in the 'Breakaway Mile' that took place at the finish line of the Amgen Tour of California, prior to the exciting conclusion of today's professional race. The one-mile ride was led by Warrick who rode on a tandem bike paired with Amgen scientist Dr. Joe Miletick who plays a crucial role in developing innovative medicines. Following Warrick and Miletick was a peloton comprised of caregivers, family members and health care professionals who supported her during her win against cancer.

For the latest information on the Breakaway from Cancer initiative and ways to support those living with the illness, visit www.breakawayfromcancer.com.

STAGE 7 PRESENTED BY AMGEN TODAY:
Sunday, Feb. 25 - Long Beach (77.5 mi/124.7 km)
Live Race Coverage
Estimated Start Time: 1 p.m. PST
Estimated Finish Time: 3:45-4:15 p.m. PST

The 2007 Amgen Tour of California champion will be crowned in Long Beach tomorrow. Stage 7 is flat, fast and will be a favorite with spectators, who can watch the best cyclists in the world battle each other throughout 10 laps on the circuitous course. Views of San Pedro Bay and the Pacific Ocean will be visible for the entire stage, which is part of the famous Long Beach Grand Prix CART racecar course, meaning the roads are wide and fast. Like the Grand Tours of Europe, winning the final stage of the 2007 Amgen Tour of California is a coveted prize.

For full results, archived footage, GPS data, team and course information, race play-by-play and more, please visit the official race Web site at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

LEVI WINS TIME TRIAL & WIDENS OVERALL LEAD
Latest News | Maps | Cities | Tour Merch. | Amgentourofcalifornia.com | Watch Live

Under sunny skies in Solvang, Calif., Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's Levi Leipheimer, of Santa Rosa, Calif., further built on his overall lead in today's critical time trial, besting Team CSC's Jens Voigt (GER) by 18 seconds after an eagerly awaited showdown between the two cyclists.

"I've been looking forward to this race for a year now, and for me it's a dream come true to be leading the Amgen Tour of California," said Leipheimer. "I think I sprinted harder today because I didn't know if I had won. I had nothing left. The moral on Discovery is sky high."

State officials estimate that 1 million fans have attended the 2007 Amgen Tour of California since the San Francisco Prologue on Sunday, putting the race on pace to break its own record as the largest sporting event in California.

"Combining the best collection of cyclists ever to compete in the United States with an incredibly challenging and scenic course, the eyes of the cycling world are clearly focused on the last two days of the Amgen Tour of California," said Shawn Hunter, president of AEG Sports, presenters of the race. "With the title still on the line and two more days of exciting racing to come, we could not have hoped for better finishing stages than we are about to see in Santa Barbara, Santa Clarita and Long Beach."

The 14.5-mile (23.4 km) time trial loop was located in and around the picturesque Danish-themed town of Solvang. Leipheimer covered the course in a time of 29:40.44, with an average speed of 29.4 mph (47.3 kph).

As the overall race leader, Leipheimer was last to start and was reported as 4 seconds faster than Voigt at the halfway point. He picked up time on the climbs, including the twisting Ballard Canyon climb lined with cheering fans, to extend his lead by 14 seconds approaching the line and winning the stage by a comfortable 18 seconds.

Voigt rode to second place with a time of 29:58.51, followed by Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's Jason McCartney (USA) with a time of 30:05.14. Leipheimer is one step closer to the overall win, retaining his lead by 21 seconds with a total time of 18 hours, 21 minutes and 52 seconds over the past six days of racing. Discovery Channel Pro also holds the overall team lead.

With two stages remaining, Team CSC will meet tonight to consider their options.

"If we really want to turn the whole thing around that means you gotta basically unleash hell on everybody. It's going to be something like flat out from the start; it depends if we feel like we're ready for that," said Voigt after the finish.

Today's result answers the climax of the 2006 Tour of Germany, in which Voigt beat Leipheimer in the final time trial to win the race.

"We have a good natured rivalry... I said to Jens 'we're in California now, and today it's my turn,'" joked Leipheimer at a press conference today.

Fourth place in today's time trial was claimed by world champion Fabian Cancellara (SUI), who rides for Team CSC.

As this was a time trial, the lead of the California Travel and Tourism King of the Mountains (KOM) competition did not change with Credit Agricole's Christophe Laurent (FRA) remaining at the front with 26 points. The Herbalife Sprinter's competition also maintains yesterday's results, with Team CSC's Juan Jose 'J.J.' Haedo (ARG) keeping the lead with 28 points.

In the Union Bank Best Young Rider competition, Rabobank's Robert Gesink (NED) took a commanding lead of 41 seconds over Predictor-Lotto's Matthew Lloyd (AUS). Thomas Peterson (USA), riding for Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle, is in third. Title sponsor Amgen will hold another "Breakaway Mile" tomorrow on the final mile of the course before the peloton streaks into Santa Clarita.

"Amgen continues to seek out meaningful ways to communicate the progress we have made discovering and developing innovative and vital medicines that have helped millions of patients fight cancer, kidney disease and other serious illnesses," said Dr. Steve Elliott, scientific director, Amgen. "Through the Amgen Tour of California sponsorship, we will raise awareness of the medical advances possible through biotechnology while also helping support cancer patients and caregivers through the Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative."

STAGE 6 PRESENTED BY HEALTH NET TOMORROW:
Saturday, Feb. 24 - Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita (105.4 mi/169.6 km)
Live Race Coverage
Estimated Start Time: 11 a.m.
Estimated Finish Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m.

This could be the pivotal stage for the 2007 Amgen Tour of California. This is one of the longest stages at 105 miles, and it is heavy on climbs with four KOMs, two Sprints and a demanding finishing circuit in Santa Clarita. With the individual time trial late in the tour, there are several teams in contention for a top-3 general classification place in Long Beach, who may look to attack tomorrow to position themselves for the final day. After a start in view of the Santa Barbara shoreline, this stage, sponsored by Health Net, will be the last chance for teams to dislodge Leipheimer from the overall lead before the circuit race finale in Long Beach. Once the peloton hits Highway 150, the racers will face two KOMs before passing Lake Casitas and riding into the scenic town of Ojai for the first Sprint of the day. The third KOM will be just a few miles outside Ojai, and then the course will head downhill into Santa Paula for the second Sprint of the day among fragrant citrus groves. The ominous Balcom Canyon will be the final climb of the day, where in 2006, nearly 10,000 fans formed a narrow corridor for the riders. The cyclists will end the day with three circuits in Santa Clarita that finish at McBean Parkway at the Valencia Town Center.

For full results, archived footage, GPS data, team and course information, race play-by-play and more, please visit the official race Web site at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

2007 Overall Standings

Amgen Race Leader's Jersey Levi Leipheimer (DSC)	Union Bank Best Young Rider Jersey Mathew Lloyd (PRL)	California Travel and Tourism KOM Leader’s Jersey Jurgen Van de Walle (QSI)
Herbalife Sprint Leader’s Jersey Jens Voigt (CSC)	Adobe Most Aggressive Rider’s Jersey Jens Voigt (CSC)

02.21.07
2007 Stage 3 Results

02.20.07
2007 Stage 2 Results

02.19.07
2007 Overall Standings

02.19.07
2007 Stage 1 Results

02.18.07
2007 Prologue Results