to VeloNews.com's Live Coverage of the first stage of the 2008 Amgen Tour of California.

represents a big change from the last two editions of the AToC prologue, in which riders rode to the top of San Francisco's Telegraph Hill. Today, riders are taking on a relatively flat 3.5km course at the Stanford University campus.

Who that might favor is anyone's guess. Levi Leipheimer was tops in the prologue last year, but this is a course designed to favor a pursuit specialist, so we won't know until the last rider — Leipheimer — has finished the course at the end of the day.

Right now it's sunny and 56 degrees (F) in Palo Alto, with humidity at 71% and a 4mph wind out of the east — that will mean a slight headwind for most of the course. You can take a close look at the course by clicking the map button to your right.

John Murphy has the best time so far, with a 4:04:479. That's a figure we'll see change throughout the day.

Have completed the route, with Murphy's 4:04 still at the top. Rock Racing's Doug Ollerenshaw has the slowest time, with a 4:20.

1. John Murphy (Health Net), 4:04.47
2. Dominique Rollin (Toyota), 4:05
3. Edward King (Bissell), 4:07

is in the starting house. He's sporting some unique facial hair and the stars-and-stripes skinsuit. He'll be one to watch folks.

He's really powering through the course. We should see him close to the finish in a couple of minutes. You really ought to see the Snidley Whiplash mustache he's sporting today.

Zabriskie comes in at 3:59.5 ... and now has the fastest time of the day.

is on route. Man, we thought he would be quitting the sport after the crash he had at the Tour last year. He must have taken the advice of his wristband to heart, eh?

1. David Zabriskie (Slipstream), 3:59.58
2. John Murphy (Health Net), 4:04.479
3. Adam Hansen (High Road), 4:05.03

of team High Road his powering into the finish with a 4:02.3. You can look over to the right and check out his Giant time trial bike, if you get a chance.

from seeing the official return to racing of none other than Mario Cipollini. That should be interesting. Right now Ben Jacques Maynes is on the road. He may be one of the dark horse favorites today. He finished third in last year's prologue on the streets of San Francisco.

is heading into the finish... and he turns in a strong time, with a 4:00.172. ... OH SO CLOSE!

1 David Zabriskie (Slipstream), 3:59.58
2. Ben Jacques--Maynes (Bissell), 4:00.172
3. Thomas Lovkvist (High Road), 4:02.33
4. Stuart O'Grady (CSC), 4:04.25
5. John Murphy (Health Net), 4:04.479

The Swedish national TT champion is on the road. We'll watch the CSC rider to see how he does.

(Rock Racing) is on the road. He's one of five riders from that team here.

Larsson turned in a 3:53.199, so he has edged Zabriskie and is only the second rider to break four minutes so far today.

is smiling and ready to start, soon.

comes in at 4:09, about 19th best so far. He's wearing the new black-and-green Rock kit. I dunno why, but I keep thinking Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when I see it, but it is unique.

has broken the four-minute mark. He's in third behind Larssen and Zabriskie. Horner, finishes with a 4:03, good enough for seventh best so far.

is on the road. We'll see how he does. This may not be the sort of route that favors his talents, but we'll soon see.

1. Gustav Larsson (CSC), 3:59.19
2. David Zabriskie (Slipstream), 3:59.58
3. Mark Cavendish (High Road), 3:59.65
4. Steven Cozza (Slipstream), 4:00.12
5. Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell) , 4:00.17

... well, he's on the road now.

from the finish. He won't top the podium ... but he's certainly the most popular here.

... not bad. Cipollini turns in a 4:08. He's in 20th. Wow. Not bad. He's 40 years old folks.
How cool is that?

is on route ... and folks, we've known Henk for years, but were surprised today when we saw his license, which lists him as "Hendricus Vogels." You learn something new every day.

we didn't mention Tom Danielson's finishing time. He turned in a 4:11... meaning that a 40-year-old retiree spanked him. Not a good ride today for TD.

Slipstream's Tyler Farrar is out there. He's another rider who suffered a serious crash last year, but he's on good form here today.

Farrar has turned in a 3:56.4 and he's the new leader.

1. Tyler Farrar (Slipstream), 3:56.46
2. Gustav Larsson (CSC), 3:59.19
3. David Zabriskie (Slipstream), 3:59.58
4. Mark Cavendish (High Road), 3:59.65
5. Steven Cozza (Slipstream), 4:00.12

Has finished with a 4:16.269... the three-time world champion has turned in the 63rd best of the day.

High Road's Edvald Hagen has finished with a 3:58.891. That was good enough for second, but Farrar continues to lead.

is powering through the course, using his favorite eliptical chainrings. He's using a 56-tooth ring up front.

Julich turns in a 4:06.367. That's good enough for 20th, so far.

The winner of the 2007 Tour of Georgia just finished with a 4:12.

Tim Johnson (Health Net) has finished with a 4:13.192

1. Tyler Farrar (Slipstream), 3:56.46
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (High Road), 3:58.89
3. Gustav Larsson (CSC), 3:59.19
4. David Zabriskie (Slipstream), 3:59.58
5. Mark Cavendish (High Road), 3:59.65
6. Steven Cozza (Slipstream), 4:00.12
7. Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell), 4:00.17
8. Thomas Lovkvist (High Road), 4:02.33
9. Stuart O'Grady (CSC), 4:04.25
10. John Murphy (Health Net), 4:04.48

Slipstream's Christian Vande Velde has finished with a 4:01.234. Nice ride!

1. Tyler Farrar (Slipstream), 3:56.46
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (High Road), 3:58.89
3. Gustav Larsson (CSC), 3:59.19
4. David Zabriskie (Slipstream), 3:59.58
5. Mark Cavendish (High Road), 3:59.65
6. Steven Cozza (Slipstream), 4:00.12
7. Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell), 4:00.17
8. Christian Vande Velde (Slipstream), 4:01.234
9. Thomas Lovkvist (High Road), 4:02.33
10. Stuart O'Grady (CSC), 4:04.25

that this course suits pursuiters. Bradley Wiggins has turned in a 3:55.980

1. Bradley Wiggins, (High Road), 3:55.980
2. Tyler Farrar (Slipstream), 3:56.46
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (High Road), 3:58.89
4. Gustav Larsson (CSC), 3:59.19
5. David Zabriskie (Slipstream), 3:59.58
6. Mark Cavendish (High Road), 3:59.65
7. Steven Cozza (Slipstream), 4:00.12
8. Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell), 4:00.17
9. Christian Vande Velde (Slipstream), 4:01.234
10. Thomas Lovkvist (High Road), 4:02.33

He's in the start house. We have to follow this one. He's the British time trial champion.

We could see another top finish here today. Stand by.

comes in with a time of 3:59.789, which is good enough for 7th place. Wiggins still leads. One rider to watch soon is Fabian Cancellara, the world TT champ.

is riding. The current world and Olympic champion is on course. We're not expecting him to be in the top 10, but we do expect he'll be aiming for a stage win down the road.

takes a 4:14 ... well down the finishing list, but this is not his specialty.

is heading to the finish ... and George Hincapie is in the start house.

BLOWS them all away! He finishes with a 3:51.211, that's 4.7 seconds better than Wiggins' time. WOW!

1. Fabian Cancellara (CSC), 3:51.211
2. Bradley Wiggins, (High Road), 3:55.980
3. Tyler Farrar (Slipstream), 3:56.46
4. Edvald Boasson Hagen (High Road), 3:58.89
5. Gustav Larsson (CSC), 3:59.19

That's what we're looking at now. Hincapie finishes with a 4:01.9. Leipheimer is the only rider out there.

is the last rider on the course and he's dreaming of wearing the yellow jersey to his hometown tomorrow.

It will be Fabian Cancellara (CSC) wearing the leader's yellow jersey when the Tour of California hits Santa Rosa tomorrow. The world time trial champion POWERED to a 3:51.211, which was almost five seconds better than the world pursuit champion Bradley Wiggins of Team High Road.

Here ya go, folks. This is how the day shook out.

1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) CSC, 3:51.211
2. Bradley Wiggins, (GB), High Road, 3:55.980
3. Tyler Farrar (USA), Slipstream, 3:56.46
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Astana, 3:57.525
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (N), High Road, 3:58.981

Thank you very much for tuning in today. We'll be back for complete Live Coverage of every stage of the 2008 Amgen Tour of California. See ya tomorrow!