2009 ATOC stage 8, Live Coverage archive

By Charles Pelkey

Published: Feb. 22, 2009

11:52 AM: Good day and welcome

to VeloNews.com's Live Coverage of the eighth and final stage of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, a challenging 96.8-mile race from Ranch Bernardo to Escondido, punctuated by the hors- categorie climb up Palomar Mountain.

Many riders are saying that the most decisive climb, however, may come on the Category 4 Cole Grade.

Looking over at the GC and one can only conclude that this race is far from decided.

Temperatures today are in the 60s and there is no wind to speak of at this point. That may change, of course on the 5123-foot summit of the big climb.
11:53 AM: Questions? Comments? Complaints?

If you have a comment, a question or complaint, hit the "contact our editors" button below the live update window.

If you need a quick response, go ahead and drop a direct line to the Live Update Guy at Charles@Pelkey.com.

We may have a good chance to read and answer those before the peloton rolls out of Santa Clarita in 28 minutes, so send 'em on in, folks.
11:57 AM: Today's start

will come in about five minutes. There is a 3.6-mile neutral zone, so it will be around 10 minutes or so before the official start kicks off festivities.
11:58 AM: Lining up

and top riders are being introduced to the large crowd at the start.
12:00 PM: And they're rolling

the peloton is in the neutral zone and heading toward the official start in 3.6 miles.
12:05 PM: Hamilton

We were speculating during yesterday's Live coverage that Tyler Hamilton (Rock Racing) had dropped out. He made it to the finish, albeit 16 minutes down, but he remains a contender for the KOM jersey, an honor that appeared to be in the hands of his teammate Francisco Mancebo. The KOM contest, right now, is led by Saxo Bank's Jason McCartney with 29 points and Hamilton with 22 and Serge Pauwels (Cervelo) with 17.

There are plenty of points on the line today, including the 10 points to be taken by the first rider atop Palomar.
12:08 PM: Reader Question

Will the racers be doing a circuit in around town before finishing in Escondido, as they did in the Rose Bowl?
Thanks
Erik

No circuit today. The finish is on Grand Avenue in Escondido and it follows a 16-mile route from the top of Cole Grade Road.
12:11 PM: Reader Question

LUG,
Sorry if you've covered this before, but what exactly happens in the neutral zone? Also, is the start of the neutral zone 0 km/mi, or is actual start the 0 km/mi mark?
Thanks,
Paul in Indianapolis, sitting in the IU Law Library
Hello Paul,

The neutral zone generally serves two purposes. One, it allows the host community to have a parade of sorts through town and second, it gives racers a chance to get a rolling start ... rather than those quick starts you see in a criterium, for example.

The race officially begins at the end of the neutral zone, which is KM 0.
12:14 PM: And they're off

The race commissaire waves the green paddle and the race has officially started. We are now at kilometer zero and there are 155.8 remaining.
12:15 PM: No one

is nutty enough to charge off the line today. The peloton is spread out over the road.

There's a sharp little climb (seven percent for a mile) coming up at Highland Valley Road in three miles.
12:17 PM: Charge

Steve Cozza and Jason McCartney have charged off the line.

Tyler Hamilton is chasing.
12:19 PM: Hamilton

is about to join Cozza and McCartney, but he may have blown his wad trying to bridge.

POP! he falls back.
12:19 PM: Hamilton

came so, so, so close, but he was spent by the time he nearly made contact.
12:21 PM: McCartney

is working up the climb, but he's now getting a hand from Andy Schleck.
12:22 PM: McCartney

scores top points on the climb.
12:23 PM: Up front

Schleck, Cozza and other rider are trying to stay off the front.
12:24 PM: Hamilton

really did pour it on when he tried to catch on. He's now trailing off the back of the peloton.

Up front, a big group of nine riders is forming up.
12:27 PM: It looks like

an eight rider break. We see Andy Schleck and Jason McCartney from Saxo Bank and a Garmin's Thomas Peterson and Bissell's Ben Jacques-Maynes and Bauke Mollema (Rabobank). We'll ID the rest, but the gap is now 30 seconds.
12:29 PM: Liquigas

setting tempo at the front of the peloton.
12:30 PM: No Boonen today

Tom Boonen did not start today. He flew out last night.
12:31 PM: Wowie

The peloton just rode by a herd of elephants. I'll leave it to you locals to tell me what the hell they're doing here.
12:34 PM: Who is up there?

We have

Andy Schleck and Jason McCartney (Saxo Bank), Thomas Peterson (Garmin-Slipstream), Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), Christophe Riblon (Ag2r), Serge Pauwels (Cervelo), Alexandre Moos (BMC) and Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell).

At 10.5 miles, the gap is up to 40 seconds.
12:37 PM: Mollema

is the best man on GC at 5:44.
12:38 PM: Elephants

That would be the San Diego Wild Animal Park.
Barry Carlton
Thank you Barry. We knew San Diego was a GOP stronghold, but we were wondering.
12:39 PM: Liquigas

Is still pouring it on. Astana is just sitting in the catbird seat and getting a free ride.

The effort has trimmed the leaders' advantage to 25 seconds.
12:48 PM: Why Liquigas?

It may be that the Italian team is intent upon making some mark on this tour and to protect Vincenzo Nibali's hold on tenth on GC.

Whatever their motivation, they are beginning to suck wind and are losing momentum... they need mo' mentum, I guess.

By the way, we failed to mention that Steve Cozza is up there, too. The gap is now back up to 50 seconds.
12:51 PM: Time check

the latest time check gives the nine men in the break 55 seconds.
12:52 PM: No the OUCH team

is coming up to help with the chase as the boys from Liquigas begin to fade.
12:56 PM: On the Lake Wolford climb

Ouch has sent Landis, with Rory Sutherland off the front of the field.
12:58 PM: Landis is

trying to bridge up to the leaders. Interesting move.
01:00 PM: Landis

has reached a group of riders who had drifted off the back of the lead group. He's really powering up this climb. Up front, Jason McCartney is grabbing KOM points again.
01:02 PM: McCartney

gets top points. Landis crests not all that far back. He's on a mission, it seems.
01:02 PM: Schleck

Andy Schleck is up in the lead group. Neal Rogers spoke with Andy Schleck at the start and asked if he would try to do something today:

"It's been pretty hard for me this week. After the first few days I was thinking of going home. I was very sick at our camp, and I've also had an Achilles injury. I will try for sure today. I am feeling better and better every day. I'll test myself on Palomar, to see how I am. I hope to make it in the breakaway, but I've been trying to make it all week. I've attacked a lot, but it just hasn't worked out."
01:04 PM: JJ Cale

John T writes
This stage already has a readymade soundtrack by Eric Clapton and JJ Cale: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_to_Escondido

In fact, they're going through Valley Center, where JJ Cale lives.
01:10 PM: Ouch

Not the team but the break. It's gotta hurt, but the chase work fell to Astana and they just gobbled up the gap. The peloton is pulling back riders from the break. Three remain up front - Schleck, McCartney and one other.
01:11 PM: Landis

was among those swept up.

It's a big day for OUCH-Maxxis. Their title sponsor is located nearby, in Temecula, which is where Landis also lived. Landis regularly uses Palomar as his training grounds. Rory Sutherland also lives nearby, in Carlsbad.

Sutherland: "It's going to be mayhem up on Palomar. I think there's going to be some separation on Lake Wohlford and Cole Grade as well. There are a lot of guys in this race with nothing to lose. There's no reason not to light it up."

Sutherland was in breakaways on the last two stages at last year's Tour of California, finishing second in Pasadena, but has not figured in breakaways this year, saying, "Last year I ran into to some luck.

It takes a lot of luck to get into the breakaways. I've tried, but nothing has stuck. The start yesterday was insane. For the first hour and 45 minutes my heart rate was above 170 beats per minute. It was the hardest stage of the whole tour.

Sutherland added that OUCH was of course motivated by its local ties.

"Floyd has spent the last 10 years training on Palomar. It's his mountain. There are a lot of people here that want to see us do well. We'll try, but we can't try any harder than we have been the last few days."
01:12 PM: Landis at the start

told us "Four our team, today is a big opportunity. I don't know if I'll be making the selection or not, but I will try."
01:13 PM: Another local

Astana's Chris Horner grew up in San Diego, and said he's been riding Palomar since he was 14 years old. "I've been waiting for this day, to put on a show on Palomar, for a long, long time," he said, adding that he had no illusions of personal ambition. "The team is 100 percent for Levi."

Horner also predicted there would be "20 or 30 guys" finishing together in Escondido.
01:14 PM: Correction

our leading trio includes McCartney, not Schleck and Ben Jacques Maynes and Serge Pauwels.
01:17 PM: Ourt three leaders

are at 28 miles and coming up on the day's first sprint mark. They are being chased by a chase group of four, a group that includes Andy Schleck.

Of course, after that, the big, big climb comes after that.
01:20 PM: The break is now seven

riders strong and we'll ID those fellas here in second.
01:25 PM: The gap

back to the Astana-led peloton is now 25 seconds. Astana got a bit of a rest when Liquigas and OUCH were driving things for a bit there, but no the chase duties are now on the shoulders of the race leader's team.
01:27 PM: The men up front

Ben Jacques Maynes (Bissel)

Carlos Barredo (Quick Step)

Jason McCartney (Saxo)

Andy Schleck (Saxo)

Mathias Frank (BMC)

Stef Clement (Rabobank)

Serge Pauwels (Cervelo)
01:28 PM: Barredo

earned the sprint points and the leaders are approaching the lower slopes of the big climb of the day. It will be a long effort, one that may take nearly an hour, to get to the top.
01:29 PM: Palomar Mount

is 12.5 miles long, averaging 6.6 percent with portions as steep as 8.2 percent.
01:31 PM: The gap

is actually bigger than we thought. Our seven leaders have about 1:20 on the peloton.

Astana is concerned about Leipheimer's GC position and none of the men in the break pose a threat on that front. Jacques-Maynes is the best-placed at 6:56 back.
01:32 PM: The time moto

the fella with the chalkboard is showing the gap to be 1:50.

Plenty of goofy fans out there
01:32 PM: The time moto

the fella with the chalkboard is showing the gap to be 1:50.

Plenty of goofy fans out there
01:40 PM: Versus viewers

may be confused by the desert scenes while the peloton is climbing Palomar Mountain. Those are actually riders at the Tour of Qatar.

Hey, at least it's not hockey.
01:41 PM: At mile 35.5

the leaders are working their way up the day's - make that the tour's - big climb. The gap is 1:45.
01:42 PM: It's like Halloween

out there. There are a lot of fans wearing costumes on this long climb.

What is that? A giant pickle?

Anyway, the leaders are about 2:00 up the road.
01:44 PM: Questions? Comments? Complaints?

If you have a comment, a question or complaint, hit the "contact our editors" button below the live update window.

If you need a quick response, go ahead and drop a direct line to the Live Update Guy at Charles@Pelkey.com.

We may have a good chance to read and answer those before the peloton rolls out of Santa Clarita in 28 minutes, so send 'em on in, folks.
01:46 PM: Three riders

have dropped out. Kjell Carlström and one other Liquigas rider have dropped out. Also departing is Curtis Gunn (USA), Fly V Australia, leaving that team with just one rider now.
01:47 PM: Tim Johnson and Enrique Gutierrez

are trying to work their way out of the peloton and chase the leaders. Johnson is with OUCH and Gutierrez is a member of Rock Racing.
01:49 PM: Vande Velde

is now setting tempo at the front of the peloton. He's ramping up the tempo.
01:51 PM: Oh my

Didn't need to see the guy in the green bodysuit-thong thingie. Ick.
01:55 PM: The break is cracking a bit

Barredo and Pauwels are in some difficulty. And behind, Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing) pops out of the bunch.
01:56 PM: Sevilla . . .

. . . sits 14th overall at 3:37.
01:59 PM: The gap

to our leaders is coming down.

The Sevilla/Landis group is growing in size and the peloton - what's left of it - is coming up quickly.
02:05 PM: The lead group

has cut down to five riders. We see Andy Schleck, Jason McCartney, Stef Clement, Mathias Frank and one other we have yet to ID.
02:10 PM: The peloton

is completely fractured.

A small group, including Michael Rogers, David Zabriskie and Leipheimer is chasing down remnants of the break. They have caught and passed Barredo and Jacques Maynes.

The Leipheimer is the only Astana rider there. He's got a lot of company from Saxo Bank, though: Frank Schleck, Jens Voigt ...
02:14 PM: The Leipheimer group

has joined the lead group.

So there are four Saxo Bank riders - Schleck, Schleck, Voigt and McCartney - and just Leipheimer representing Astana.

Back in the field, Armstrong is driving the chase in hopes of lending a hand to the team leader up there.
02:15 PM: Oh lordy

Some people just shouldn't strip down to shorts and run alongside the peloton. Not a pretty sight. Watch it jiggle. Watch it wiggle.
02:17 PM: McCartney has popped

he's been dropped, but his lead in the KOM contest appears to be secure, given that his closest rival, Tyler Hamilton is no where near the front.

Elk antler dude is there, though.
02:19 PM: Who is up front?

Levi Leipheimer (Astana)

Daid Zabriskie (Garmin)

Michael Rogers (Columbia)

Jens Voigt (Saxo)

Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas)

Tm Danielson (Garmin)

Frank Schleck (Saxo)

Andy Schleck (Saxo)

Stef Clement (Rabobank)

And they are over the top.
02:20 PM: Barredo is driving at the front

of the chase group ... Armstrong is there, too. It looks like the gap is about 1:00
02:22 PM: On the descent

riders are passing patches of snow on the way down. It's chilly enough, though, that the stuff isn't melting, slickifying the surface.
02:23 PM: And just as we said that

... the leaders are passing through a big patch of wet tarmac.
02:24 PM: Cattle guards

on the descent. That's familiar to those of us from Wyoming, but not something the Euros are used to.

Frank Schleck has moved ahead in the hunt for a stage win. The rest of the lead group doesn't seem to be pushing too hard on the way down.
02:25 PM: Nibali

is taking a dig, and chasing Frank Schleck.
02:28 PM: Reader comment, observation and suggestion

I have noticed that a lot of the fans that run next to the riders at the AToC are not giving the riders very much room. That dork with the huge antlers and #7 skinsuit a few days ago was running and had riders on his left and he appeared to have riders coming up on his right. Is there anyway to stungun that guy or could there be a designated Red-Ass to give him a forearm shiver the next time he gets that close. It seems to me that the Euro fans do not try to get in the middle of the peloton when they are racing up a hill.
Chris from Sacramento
A taser ... mmmm. Now there's an idea.
02:29 PM: Oh the crowds

There are huge, huge, huge crowds at the finish.

We have to admit folks, we didn't think this race was going to grow into the remarkable event it has when we first heard of a week-long stage race in California in February. Kudos to the organizers. Nice, nice work.
02:30 PM: Nibali

is coming up to Scheck ... we now have two men at the front.

The other men in the break are losing time to these guys and the peloton, with Armstrong and Popovych is about to catch those.
02:32 PM: Yup

The Astana crew has regrouped around Leipheimer. He's no longer isolated.

Rock Racing's Glen Chadwick (Rock Racing) is now chasing our two leaders. He's joined by Rabobank's Mollema.
02:33 PM: At the 52 mile mark

the two leaders are being chased by Chadwick and Mollema.

The peloton is about 40 seconds back.
02:35 PM: Our two leaders

Frank Schleck and Vincenzo Nibali are at the 54-mile mark. Chadwick and Mollema are chasing and are at 30 seconds. The peloton is at 45 seconds.
02:40 PM: Four leaders

Mollema, and Chadwick caught on. Nibali and Schleck waited for them.
02:42 PM: Our four leaders

are powering down the road. It's about 50 seconds back to the Astana-led peloton. We are at the 57-mile mark, with less than 40 to go.
02:45 PM: 55 seconds

the four leaders are at the 59.5-mile mark and lead the peloton by 55 seconds.
02:46 PM: The peloton

ain't that big. It's made up of the big GC riders, and includes no more than 20 or 25 riders.
02:47 PM: Our leaders

are on that little bump before the descent to Cole Grade.
02:50 PM: Leipheimer

is tucked in comfortably in the peloton. His teammates are working to protect him.

The chalkboard guy is holding up a sign that says "1:20."
02:52 PM: As a reminder

The current top-10 on GC are:

1. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Astana in 27.39:02

2. David Zabriskie (USA), Garmin-Slipstream,

3. Michael Rogers (AUS), Team Columbia-High Road, at 45

4. Jens Voigt (GER), Team Saxo Bank, at 1:10

5. Thomas Lovkvist (SWE), Team Columbia-High Road, at 1:29

6. Lance Armstrong (USA), Astana, at 1:46

7. Robert Gesink (NED), Rabobank, at 1:54

8. Janez Brajkovic (SLO), Astana, at 1:59

9. Christopher Horner (USA), Astana, at 2:13

10. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA), Liquigas, at 2:21

Nibali is up in the break and the rest of them are in the peloton.
02:53 PM: Lunch

the peloton makes it through the feed zone. Armstrong is doing heavy duty as a domestique. Alberto Contador might be happy to see that if he's watching on TV.
02:55 PM: The gap

is 1:15. The four leaders are at the 63-mile mark and dropping down to the base of Cole Grade.
02:57 PM: Chadwick

takes a dig and is trying to go it on his own.

Word from the feed zone is that Ben Jacques-Maynes has dropped out of the race.
02:58 PM: 10 seconds

Chadwick is 10 seconds ahead of Nibali, Schleck and Mollema. The peloton has cut the gap to 40 seconds.
03:02 PM: Chadwick

has 20 seconds on the other three men who were in the break. The peloton is another 30 seconds back.
03:04 PM: New time check

Chadwick has 12 seconds on Nibali, Schleck and Mollema and 1:05 on the peloton.
03:06 PM: New time check

Chadwick is now 10 seconds ahead of the three chasers.

The peloton is now at 45 seconds.
03:08 PM: At the 72-mile mark

The New Zealander is 10 seconds ahead of the chasers, but they do not seem to be able to make that bridge.
03:09 PM: Just as we said that

the three men are about to connect.

Of the three, Schleck is probably the best climber, a big factor with Cole Grade coming up in 3.5 miles.

It's a 2-mile climb, but a steep eight percent.
03:10 PM: Time check

With the four leaders back together, the peloton is coming up at 1:10.
03:11 PM: Bobble

Wow. Schleck had a little bobble as he was riding along side his team car.
03:12 PM: Crowds

the organizers are claiming that this stage is now the most well-attended cycling event in U.S. history. We have no reason to dispute that. The crowds are freakin' huge.
03:14 PM: The last chance

Cole Grade represents the last chance for anyone to take time from Leipheimer. We have to expect him to hold on ... but let's see.

Up front, the leaders are starting to work up the climb... the peloton is just reaching the base.

Nibali is driving hard and only Schleck can stay with him.
03:15 PM: The huge crowds

the road is lined with fans.

Chadwick and Mollema are fading back. Schleck and Nibali are powering off on their own.
03:17 PM: Armstrong

driving the tempo on the climb back in the peloton.
03:18 PM: Lots of fans on the climb

the vast majority of whom are simply enthusiastic and happy. There is a significant representation of the stupid population, though.
03:19 PM: The time gap

the two leaders are 1:05 ahead of the Leipheimer group.

Armstrong is driving hard at the front and no one is attacking out of that group.

Advice to the dumbest of the fans: Don't wear your readily identifiable team kit when you behave like that.
03:20 PM: Oh it's steep

Schleck is riding away from Nibali.

Oh please, sir, put on a shirt.
03:22 PM: Armstrong

is putting down a big effort. It may mean that no one is going to attack out of this little group.

Mollema and Chadwick are caught.

Schleck and Nibali are together, due in part to Schleck's realization that he still has 20 miles to go once he reaches the top.
03:23 PM: Over the top

Schleck and Nibali are over the top.

We'll get a time check for ya.
03:25 PM: The gap is

1:05 seconds ... and the Astana team brings Leipheimer over the top with no one having attacked the race leader on the final climb of this tour.
03:27 PM: At 79 miles

the two men in the lead - Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank) and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) - are 1:00 ahead of the field.
03:29 PM: Leipheimer

having crested Cole Grade unchallenged, seems to be on his way to his third overall victory in the Amgen Tour of California.
03:31 PM: At 81 miles

the peloton is 1:10 behind Nibali and Schleck. Astana is getting some help from Quick Step.
03:35 PM: Quick Step

is adding some help in the chase. There is no obvious reason why the Belgian team is doing that unless they hope to put a rider into contention for a stage win. A one-minute gap is quite do-able over the remaining distance. The team still has plenty of sprint power, even with the absence of Tom Boonen.
03:37 PM: At 83 miles

the two leaders are holding on to a 1:00 lead. Quick Step has assumed chasing duties a decision which makes the Astana crew happy, no doubt.
03:39 PM: Armstrong

is now setting tempo at the front.

George Hincapie is back at his team car chatting with the boss. With 13 miles remaining, the gap is not insurmountable, folks.
03:42 PM: 12 miles to go

The gap is holding at 1:00.
03:44 PM: We're not sure

but race radio listed Mark Cavendish as being in the peloton. Mmmmmm... that doesn't make sense. We sure haven't seen him.
03:45 PM: 11 miles to go

and the gap is still at 1:00.
03:45 PM: Landis

is among those in that Astana-led peloton.

We're quite sure the Cavendish reference was in error.
03:50 PM: Schleck and Nibali

are now less than 9 miles from home and their latest time check puts them 1:20 ahead of the field.
03:51 PM: The two leaders

are on the final descent. They are flying down the road, though Nibali is clearly the better descender.
03:52 PM: Nibali

is gapping Schleck on the descent. Schleck, as you recall, crashed horribly in last year's Tour de Suisse.

Schleck may be a little more cautious ... descending like a married guy, we like to say.

Now out on the flats, those two are together.
03:54 PM: Lots of cooperation

in the peloton, now. With 10km to go, the peloton is chasing hard to trim that gap.
03:55 PM: Still

the gap is at 1:15. If they want to catch, it's going to take some serious work.
03:56 PM: Schleck

and Nibali are 4.5miles from the finish. The gap is 1:05.
03:58 PM: Leipheimer is in the

comfortable position of crising to the finish, tucked in behind Lance Armstrong's wheel.
03:58 PM: One Astana we don't see

in the mix there is Horner.
03:59 PM: With 3.5 miles to go

the gap is 55 seconds.
04:00 PM: Astana

is not helping in the chase and you really can't blame the team at this point. Leipheimer pretty much has a lock on the race at this point.
04:01 PM: With 2.3

miles to go, the gap is 50 seconds.
04:02 PM: The gap

may be low enough for a feisty rider to try and charge out of the peloton for an attempted bridge... skip that. Schleck and Nibali are flying toward the 1km to go banner.

Bets? We say Nibali.
04:02 PM: In the final kilometer

Nibali is drilling at the front. Schleck is on his wheel.
04:03 PM: Final turn

and Nibali attacks with 300 meters and Schleck goees for it. He gets it!
04:04 PM: Frank Schleck wins

the final stage of the Amgen Tour.

Here comes the peloton. George Hincapie takes the field sprint... and, of course, the big winner here is Levi Leipheimer, who wins his third consecutive Amgen Tour of California.
04:07 PM: Leipheimer

is working his way to the podium. He was relaxed throughout the day and played it nicely, not panicking at any point and keeping tabs on the riders who posed a threat. Astana was clearly the strongest team here, but Leipheimer, of course, won the individual time trial again.
04:08 PM: AToc Organizers

Are saying the total crowd turnout for the past week exceeds 2 million. The crowd here at the finish adds to those numbers and there are plenty of them here.
04:11 PM: Well

it's been a good week folks. Thanks for checking in and thanks for sticking with us even during those times we had troubles keeping track of things when the weather turned so bad.

We appreciate your notes and emails. We have tried to answer as many as we can, but even if you haven't heard from us, we promise we've been reading them all.

Thanks again for tuning in and we remind you to check back soon for results, photos and a complete race report from John Wilcockson.

All the best to you and yours and we will be back with Live Updates throughout the season.

Take care and have a good week folks.

Last 5 DaysMOST VIEWED »

2009 ATOC stage 8, Live Coverage archive

Most Recent Articles

Sections »

Features »

VeloNews Authors »

VeloNews »

Affiliates »

Last 5 DaysMOST VIEWED »

THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING »

2009 ATOC stage 8, Live Coverage archive

Most Recent Articles

Sections »

Features »

VeloNews Authors »

VeloNews »

Affiliates »