Stage 6 Report
By: Jeffj
1- Dory Holty aka ‘Antler Dude’ changed up his headwear for Stage 6, opting for an eagle head and wings to top his familiar yellow helmet.
2- The breakaway group turns onto Balcom Canyon Road with a 5+ minute gap on the peleton.
3- What does this breakaway group have in common besides none of them being in on the same team or in contention for the GC? Answer: They all have white bar tape.
4- An AToC support vehicle takes no prisoners as they head out behind the Stage 6 breakaway heading into Balcom Canyon.
5- Levi Leipheimer is lead into Balcom Canyon by his Astana teammates.
6- The weight of Daid Zabriskie’s mustache appears to be wearing him down as he heads into the KOM climb in Balcom Canyon.
7- Team Quick Step’s Kevin Hulsmans sits in the pack on the way into Balcom Canyon.
8- Tyler Hamilton, Oscar Sevilla and Kayle Leogrande of Rock Racing are not officially racing in the ToC, but they are riding the route ahead of the peleton here on Highway 126 east of Piru heading toward Santa Clarita.
9- Their lead now down to just over 1 minute, the six breakaway riders appear to be resigned to the inevitable eventuality of being absorbed back into the peleton.
10- The peleton makes it’s first of three circuits in Santa Clarita chasing down the six riders in the break.
11- Race leader Levi Leipheimer is sitting in a good spot in the peleton (11th rider back) as they make their way on the Santa Clarita circuit.
12- Team High Road’s Bradley Wiggins, George Hincapie and Mark Cavendish (and a fourth THR rider obscured in this photo) maintain their position at the front as the peleton reels in the break.
13- Levi Leipheimer sits in near the front of the peleton as the likes of Bettini, Cipollini and Boonen stay close by.
14- Paolo Bettini and Super Mario Cipollini sport their World Champion stripes at the ToC.
15- Now THIS is my idea of a ‘fully equipped’ automobile.
16- George Hincapie pulls the peleton as they are only a few seconds from absorbing the break on the second circuit in Santa Clarita.
17- Dominique Rollin of Canada and Toyota United sporting the green sprinter’s jersey.
18- Mark Cavendish looks to be licking his wounds after being involved in a crash at the end of Lap 1 in Santa Clarita.
19- One of the Rock Racing riders (Doug Ollerenshaw) that was involved in the late Lap 1 crash struggles to get back into the peleton on Lap 2 of the Santa Clarita Circuit.
20- Among others, Boonen, Bettini and Cipollini position themselves to be led into the final sprint on Lap 3 of Stage 6 at the ToC.
