StageSix

Santa Barbara - Santa Clarita

109 miles

Another year another controversy. A controversial ruling by the Tour of California commissaires decided today's stage, rather than the riders themselves. Apparent stage winner Mark Cavendish (High Road) incurred a 20-second penalty late in the race which relegated him out of the winners circle after he beat the super-sprinters at their own game. Saunier-Duval's young Brazilian sprinter Luca Pagliarini, who placed second in the bunch gallop, was officially awarded the win.

Cavendish's controversy revives an argument from last year's race that will not die. In the 2007 race, Levi Leipheimer was the beneficiary of an on-the-fly rule change that allowed him to retain the race leader's jersey in his hometown of Santa Rosa. In his case, a crash had completely blocked the road as a small group escaped to contest the stage win, putting over a minute into the stranded peloton. The officials quickly decided to record times upon the riders entering the finishing circuits, rather than at the 1k to go mark as previously determined. The call was seen by many as a PR move by race officials to keep their poster boy at the front of the race, and denying American-based rider Ben Jacques-Maynes of a career defining ride as the race leader.

This year, the wreck happened inside the time "neutralized" finishing circuits. Cavendish tangled with Rock Racing's Mario Cipollini and Fred Rodriguez. Cavendish received mechanical assistance from his team car before rejoining the race and crossing the line first. Officials determined that Cavendish received excessive assistance, while Cipollini received similar assistance, rejoined the peloton and was not punished.

Saturday's stage six had the peloton saying goodbye to an inhospitable California coastline as the race traveled from Santa Barbara into the city of Santa Clarita. Levi Leipheimer's Astana team tightly controlled the early going, discouraging early breakaways. After the second KOM sprint, an Astana approved group managed to distance the peloton, gaining six minutes at its largest advantage. Upon the approach to Santa Rosa, the group of six still held a two-minute advantage, and the possibility arose that the group may have caught the sprinters' teams sleeping. With just under one lap to go on the circuits, the breakaway was caught and 2nd placed overall David Millar (Slipstream) made an opportunistic grab at a few seconds by launching a surprise attack with Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) in tow. The duo was caught in the final km and Cavendish launched his mad dash. Ultimately, it was Pagliarini proudly flying the Brazilian colors on the podium along with CSC's JJ Haedo and World Champ Paolo Bettini (Quickstep).

Upon arrival in Santa Clarita, home of the Magic Mountain amusement park, the BikeTiresDirect crew was certain to have finally arrived in Southern California. The 10-lane highways and sprawling housing developments reminded us that our trip through wine country is over. The morning ride through the hills just north of town revealed a great 45-mile loop with scenery evocative of the less glamorous scenes in "Chinatown". Immense aqueducts snake through the hills, while tiny dilapidated communities hide in the craggy shadows. The "Spunky Canyon" loop featured a 25-mile climb out of Santa Rosa before looping back into town with a 20 mile roller coaster ride. Yes Oregon, I may yet come home with some fitness.

Sunday concludes the 2008 Tour of California with a hard day through the Angeles National Forest. The race will encounter its highest peak at the 4,900 ft. Millcreek Summit. Expect the Slipstream team to throw everything they can at old Levi to knock him off the top spot, though his Astana team looks up to the task of defending the lead. This will be no last day parade, whoever stands as the winner tomorrow will have earned it.

If you are a Tour of California race fan and want in on our ToC special, enter code TOCE on checkout to get free shipping on orders of $25 or more. (Offer ends midnight February 29.) There are some restrictions for heavy or large items. Check back tomorrow for our next Tour update.

Words and photos by Joe King.

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