At the KOM climb out of Ojai, 14 riders were led by Levi Leipheimer (USA) and his Gerolsteiner teammate Fabian Wegmann (GER). Wegmann took the California Travel and Tourism KOM points followed by Leipheimer, with race leader Landis just behind in fifth over the fan-lined climb. The 14 were reabsorbed by the main field on the descent just before the feed zone.Sebastian Lang (GER) continued Gerolsteiner’s aggressive race tactics by attacking just past the Clif Bar sprint in Santa Paula and building a two minute, 45 second lead over the Balcolm Canyon Road climb. With thousands camping out overnight and lining the climb in true European fashion, the fans also witnessed the increasingly competitive battle for KOM points between Bernhard Kohl (AUT) of T-Mobile and Leipheimer.With Lang 12 minutes, seven seconds down on Landis, Landis‚of the Phonak team allowed Lang a three minute advantage, but after an ill-timed rear wheel puncture at mile 70, Lang lost one minute of his lead. Lang struggled to regain his rhythm and the gap came down rapidly until he succumbed to the field just before entering the finishing circuits.A bevy of attacks followed, with Krauss gaining a seven-minute advantage and entering Thousand Oaks on his own.There’s no indication yet whether next year’s race will come through Santa Paula. Race organizers are meeting to review the event. It’s unsure when they’ll announce next year’s route.Amgen, the race’s title sponsor donated $1.1 million to the Wellness Community in support of cancer research. The money was raised through various means, plus a donation from Amgen.
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(Above left) Amgen Tour of California riders speed down 10th Street in front of the Santa Paula Depot. The 6th Stage of the Amgen Tour began in Santa Barbara and ended in Thousand Oaks (Photo by Craig Mailloux). (Above right) A timed sprint adding extra points for the rider that crosses the line first was set up between 11th and 12th Street along Main. Riders jockey for position as they approach the line (Photo by Don Johnson). (Lower left) Amgen Tour riders make the corner at 12th and Main Streets, heading over the 12th Street bridge to Balcom Canyon (Photo by Brian D. Wilson). (Lower right) Spectators lined the tour route through Santa Paula. The largest crowd gathered at 10th and Main Streets to cheer on their favorite rider (Photo by Craig Mailloux). |
Amgen Tour of California rides through Santa Paula
March 01, 2006
Hundreds line course as Amgen Tour of California races through Santa Paula
Santa Paula News
By Brian D. Wilson
Santa Paula TimesHundreds of Santa Paulans came out to watch as Stage Six of the Amgen Tour of California bicycle race careened through the city Saturday.Some 127-bicycle racers from throughout the world took part in the first annual event, which started in San Francisco and wrapped up in Redondo Beach Sunday.Saturday’s portion of the race started in Santa Barbara came into Ojai and down Highway 150 to Santa Paula. From here the riders went on to Thousand Oaks, a distance of 89.5 miles. People lined Ojai Road, 10th Street and Main Street as the racers whipped through town in a matter of minutes, heading across the 12th Street Bridge for Balcolm Canyon. An entourage of vehicles, led by several Highway Patrol cars, came speeding over the course in advance of the bicyclists. The sirens, brightly colored team vans and other official cars were almost as exciting to watch as they hurtled past as the riders themselves. When the racers came through there was a blur of color as they moved past in one, tightly packed group. City Council member Ray Luna said he thought he took a picture of the leading rider, but he went by so fast that there was no one in the picture when he looked later.City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz was pleased with how things went. “It turned out great, thanks to Sergeant Carlos Juarez and Chief Steve MacKinnon,” he said. Besides local officers and motorcycle officers from Oxnard, there were numerous volunteers that helped close off streets, alleys and driveways. Would he like to see the race come through Santa Paula next year? “Absolutely,” he said. “We now know how it goes and perhaps we can do other things to encourage people to watch next year.”California resident Floyd Landis of the Phonak Hearing Systems Team was crowned the overall winner of the first-annual event with a total time of 22 hours, 46 minutes, 46 seconds. Fellow Americans David Zabriskie and Bobby Julich, both of Team CSC, finished second and third, respectively.For the second day in a row, T-Mobile Team Olaf Pollack (GER) won the stage, which consisted of 10 laps at 7.56 miles each. Juan Jose Haedo (ARG) of Toyota-United Pro Cycling capped a successful race with second place in the final stage. Pollack‚and teammate Andre Greipel from Austria rounded out the podium placing third in Sunday.Including an appearance by Lance Armstrong riding in the Discovery Channel team car, thousands of spectators lined Saturday’s start in Santa Barbara and the finish line in Thousand Oaks, home of race title sponsor Amgen.An early breakaway of seven riders left the field on a small rise at two miles into Stage Six. The break gained just over two minutes on the up and down course through Santa Barbara. The Discovery-led peloton reeled in all but one of the escapees just before the Clif Bar Sprint Line in Ojai. A member of the original break of seven, Gerolsteiner rider Sven Krauss (GER) stayed off to win the sprint.
