StageSeven

Santa Clarita - Pasadena

93 miles

The Tour of California's 2.HC ranking, the highest available to a non-Pro-Tour race, was largely due to the addition of a challenging final stage. Rather than a customary parade stage to end the race, this year's Stage 7 crested the 4900 ft. Mill Creek Summit, before launching the peloton onto six 5-mile circuits around the famous Pasadena Rose Bowl.

The Mill Creek climb offered the Slipstream/Chipotle team one more chance to put Levi Leipheimer in difficulty, but lacked the climbers needed to put the powerful Astana train on the defensive. Levi comfortably rode in with the bunch to deliver his, and the "new" Astana team's first win of the season. A nine-rider breakaway attacked from the gun today, and managed to hold off the cautious peloton. As the break splintered over the course of the final circuits, big George Hincapie (High Road) took a much deserved win in a three-up sprint. Hincapie's win offered redemption for the High Road team as sprinter Mark Cavendish crossed the line first during Stage 6, but was relegated for improper assistance from his team mechanics during the closing circuits.

The theme of this year's ToC was the "diverse" weather of California in February. Riders were once again met with driving rain that only intensified as the stage unfolded. The day's festivities began as Rock Racing rider Doug Ollerenshaw attacked from the gun, while Doug did not make the ensuing breakaway, teammate Michael Creed did. The group managed to stay off the front going into the race's final circuits, but quickly dissolved as each of the nine riders began looking for the win. American based powerhouse Tom Zirbel (Bissell) made the most convincing attack, staying away solo for 4 laps before Hincapie and Jason McCartney (CSC) got serious and shut down his move.

It appeared that the sprinters' teams of Rabobank and Quickstep would once again turn the final circuits into a bunch sprint, but the slick roads tempered their enthusiasm. By the final lap, it was Leipheimer's Astana team on the front, keeping their leader out of trouble, but leaving the breakaways to sort out the stage win.

The skies partially cleared for the podium presentations. The surprise of the afternoon the announcement that the "Most Aggressive Rider" competition was awarded to the entire BMC team. BMC factored in almost every breakaway throughout the race, and Scott Nydam managed to also secure the "King of the Mountains" jersey. Nydam's father was recently diagnosed with cancer and Scott dedicated each stunning ride off the front to him. Spending one day off the front of a Pro Tour quality field is hard enough, doing it day after day is superhuman. Scott impressed teams and spectators alike with his superb efforts.

Nothing goes as planned when David Millar (Slipstream) reaches the podium. As the overall podium was presented, with Leipheimer first, Millar second and Slipstream teammate Christian Vandevelde third, a good natured champagne fight derailed the official awards ceremony. The winners quickly turned their oversized bottles of bubbly on each other sending presenters and podium girls running for cover.

The BikeTiresDirect crew quickly packed up after the race and headed for the airport for a late arrival back to our Portland, Oregon home base. It was exhausting, but a week well spent spreading the BTD word and chasing down some of the world's fastest cyclists.

Despite difficult conditions, the Tour of California should go down as a huge success, as the race attracted an amazing field of competitors and huge crowds lined the routes each day. An event like this proves the viability of top level racing in America which will hopefully carry over into greater opportunities at all levels of the sport.

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.