MOUNT DIABLO, Calif. (VN) — While BMC Racing ground the rapidly tearing peloton to dust high on Mount Diablo, Tejay van Garderen could have sailed away and tried for a stage win, an exclamation point on his Californian coronation as the United States’ premier stage racer.

He did not.

He stayed put, stayed close enough to the threats without a moment of panic. In short, he showed restraint and balance where, in the past, he may have tried to do too much. He was metronomic.

“There was really no reason to panic. I knew I had an incredibly strong team, and I knew I had a solid buffer of time. All we had to do was just ride smart. I think that’s come with a bit of maturity. To learn to just relax a little bit,” said a happy van Garderen atop Mount Diablo. “There was no reason to try to attack the race, or blow everyone’s heads off. I just gotta keep cool and do my thing.”

His “thing,” in California at least, is winning. Van Garderen smashed Friday’s individual time trial, taking the stage and icing his nearest rival, Aussie Michael Rogers (Saxo-Tinkoff). After gaining a bit more time on the above-category Diablo, van Garderen now sits 1:47 ahead of Rogers, and 3:26 up on climbing ace Janier Acevedo (Jamis-Hagens Berman).

Barring absolute disaster on Sunday in a stage from San Francisco to Santa Rosa that touts no major obstacles, van Garderen, 24, has earned his first major stage race win as a professional, though his talent has long been known, evidenced by his fifth-place finish at last year’s Tour de France.

“I knew I was going to have to rely really heavily on my team, and luckily we brought a strong one here. I saw them just take control from kilometer zero to 200ks … all I had to do was follow,” he said. “It was stress free — really easy. I’m really proud of my guys. Even if we were getting some GC guys moving, I just knew that I could stay relaxed, because I had strong climbers pulling me all the way to the finish line. It was just an incredible day.”

He appears a slightly different rider this year — he says perhaps becoming a dad has changed his makeup a bit — and his confidence is only growing now, heading into the final Tour de France tuneups. He’s also keeping the pressure on his team at a minimum by seizing control of the race whenever he can, be that a climb, or in the crosswinds.

“He’s still young, but he has a good team. … He proved in the past he’s a typical stage racer. In one-week stage races, he’s complete. Good in the mountains, good in the time trial. Good in the echelons. And he’s perfect for going in those races. I think he has a big future,” BMC sport director John Lelangue said. “He has already proven he’s there… each race that he’s doing, he’s always regular, making a top five, a top 10.”

As a captain, team managers say he’s growing as well. Van Garderen was tough in the heat to Palm Springs, only losing a handful of seconds to Acevedo, and gaining time on other GC men. He was dominant in the time trial, and crafty in the crosswinds toward the coast, which saw the stealing of the yellow jersey from Acevedo.

“The goal, obviously, wasn’t to win the stage, it was to protect the GC. And follow the race. Lead at our speed, you know, without putting any stress on Tejay,” said BMC president Jim Ochowicz. Van Garderen, he said, wasn’t told to not chase certain moves but was trusted to ride his own race.

Jens Voigt (RadioShack-Leopard) said the win here in California must be comforting to a rider on the cusp.

“I suppose it’s pretty comforting,” he said. “It’s not that far to go to the Tour. Having an overall win in the pocket with some tough circuits. Winning the TT in a convincing manner. Being strong and solid today. I guess he’s ready mentally and physically. It’s an important step for him on his way to a potential Tour de France podium this year.”

The Tour is a discussion for another day, with both van Garderen and Cadel Evans poised for sterling spring results. For now, van Garderen is happy in this moment. After all, it’s been years and near misses (Colorado last year, most recently) in the making.

“It’s incredible. I mean, barring any incident tomorrow, I think we’ve made it through all the obstacles, and we’re cruising into BMC’s hometown of Santa Rosa. It’s where the team got started, and I’m glad I can do the team proud with the jersey in their home state race,” he said. “There’s a big difference between being up there, and really winning. I think I finally showed that I have the full package.”

• 1. Leopold KONIG, NetApp-Endura, in 3:54:17
• 2. Javier Alexis ACEVEDO COLLE, Jamis-Hagens Berman, at :07
• 3. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at :12
• 4. Michael ROGERS, Saxo-Tinkoff, at :12
• 5. Mathias FRANK, BMC Racing, at :23
• 6. Matthew BUSCHE, RadioShack-Leopard, at :29
• 7. Lawson CRADDOCK, Bontrager, at :32
• 8. Francisco MANCEBO PEREZ, 5HR, at :38
• 9. José Joao PIMENTA COSTA MENDES, NetApp-Endura, at :44
• 10. Marc DE MAAR, UnitedHealthcare, at :44
• 11. Rohan DENNIS, Garmin-Sharp, at :44
• 12. Cameron MEYER, Orica-GreenEdge, at :48
• 13. Philip DEIGNAN, UnitedHealthcare, at :53
• 14. Amaël MOINARD, BMC Racing, at :56
• 15. Gianni MEERSMAN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 1:02
• 16. Chad HAGA, Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 1:02
• 17. Paul VOSS, NetApp-Endura, at 1:06
• 18. Bob JUNGELS, RadioShack-Leopard, at 1:09
• 19. Haimar ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, RadioShack-Leopard, at 1:09
• 20. Brian VANDBORG, Cannondale, at 1:17
• 21. Thomas DE GENDT, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 1:22
• 22. Gavin MANNION, Bontrager, at 1:27
• 23. Christopher BALDWIN, Bissell, at 1:31
• 24. David DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO, NetApp-Endura, at 1:38
• 25. Juan Antonio FLECHA GIANNONI, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 2:00
• 26. Oliver ZAUGG, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 2:08
• 27. Chad BEYER, Champion System, at 2:17
• 28. Chris BUTLER, Champion System, at 2:17
• 29. Marco PINOTTI, BMC Racing, at 2:17
• 30. Bartosz HUZARSKI, NetApp-Endura, at 2:22
• 31. Gregor GAZVODA, Champion System, at 2:33
• 32. Laurent DIDIER, RadioShack-Leopard, at 2:41
• 33. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Leopard, at 2:44
• 34. James STEMPER, 5HR, at 3:03
• 35. Guillaume VAN KEIRSBULCK, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 3:26
• 36. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 3:26
• 37. Brent BOOKWALTER, BMC Racing, at 3:37
• 38. Nathaniel ENGLISH, 5HR, at 4:13
• 39. Lieuwe WESTRA, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 4:39
• 40. Caleb FAIRLY, Garmin-Sharp, at 4:39
• 41. Lucas EUSER, UnitedHealthcare, at 4:39
• 42. Christopher JONES, UnitedHealthcare, at 5:09
• 43. Jasper STUYVEN, Bontrager, at 5:34
• 44. Kevin DE WEERT, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 6:11
• 45. Carlos VERONA QUINTANILLA, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 6:11
• 46. Wesley SULZBERGER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 6:11
• 47. Lachlan David MORTON, Garmin-Sharp, at 6:14
• 48. Andy SCHLECK, RadioShack-Leopard, at 6:19
• 49. Matteo TOSATTO, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 6:19
• 50. Jay MCCARTHY, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 6:40
• 51. Jason MCCARTNEY, Bissell, at 6:45
• 52. Max JENKINS, 5HR, at 6:54
• 53. Antoine DUCHESNE, Bontrager, at 6:54
• 54. Michael SCHÄR, BMC Racing, at 7:16
• 55. Jacob RATHE, Garmin-Sharp, at 8:10
• 56. Edward KING, Cannondale, at 9:13
• 57. Markel IRIZAR ARANBURU, RadioShack-Leopard, at 9:13
• 58. Scott ZWIZANSKI, Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 9:17
• 59. Carter JONES, Bissell, at 9:17
• 60. Kristijan KOREN, Cannondale, at 10:48
• 61. Baden COOKE, Orica-GreenEdge, at 11:02
• 62. Tanner PUTT, Bontrager, at 11:02
• 63. Robert SWEETING, 5HR, at 11:33
• 64. Alex HOWES, Garmin-Sharp, at 11:33
• 65. Jonathan Patrick MC CARTY, Bissell, at 11:33
• 66. Michael MORKOV, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 11:33
• 67. Jonas Aaen JÖRGENSEN, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 11:33
• 68. Timothy DUGGAN, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 11:33
• 69. Nathan BROWN, Bontrager, at 11:39
• 70. Ben JACQUES-MAYNES, Jamis-Hagens Berman, at 14:54
• 71. Tyler WREN, Jamis-Hagens Berman, at 14:54
• 72. James DRISCOLL, Jamis-Hagens Berman, at 14:56
• 73. Bobbie TRAKSEL, Champion System, at 14:56
• 74. Luis ROMERO AMARAN, Jamis-Hagens Berman, at 14:56
• 75. Daniel SCHORN, NetApp-Endura, at 14:56
• 76. Kin San WU, Champion System, at 14:56
• 77. Shawn MILNE, 5HR, at 14:56
• 78. Travis MEYER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 14:56
• 79. Mitchell DOCKER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 14:56
• 80. Thor HUSHOVD, BMC Racing, at 14:56
• 81. Zakkari DEMPSTER, NetApp-Endura, at 14:56
• 82. Peter SAGAN, Cannondale, at 14:56
• 83. Maciej BODNAR, Cannondale, at 14:56
• 84. David WILLIAMS, 5HR, at 14:56
• 85. Guillaume BOIVIN, Cannondale, at 14:56
• 86. Cesare BENEDETTI, NetApp-Endura, at 14:56
• 87. Lucas Sebastian HAEDO, Cannondale, at 14:56
• 88. Bertjan LINDEMAN, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 14:56
• 89. Wesley KREDER, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 14:56
• 90. Michael MATTHEWS, Orica-GreenEdge, at 14:56
• 91. Boy VAN POPPEL, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 14:56
• 92. Frank Kevin PIPP, Bissell, at 14:56
• 93. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 14:56
• 94. Johan VAN SUMMEREN, Garmin-Sharp, at 14:56
• 95. Jesse ANTHONY, Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 14:56
• 96. Michael TORCKLER, Bissell, at 14:56
• 97. Matt BRAMMEIER, Champion System, at 14:56
• 98. Jeremy VENNELL, Bissell, at 14:56
• 99. James ORAM, Bontrager, at 14:56
• 100. Ryan EASTMAN, Bontrager, at 14:56
• 101. Thomas SOLADAY, Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 14:56
• 102. Alexander CANDELARIO, Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 14:56
• 103. Jeffry LOUDER, UnitedHealthcare, at 14:56
• 104. Kris BOECKMANS, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 14:56
• 105. Ryan ROTH, Champion System, at 14:56
• 106. Marsh COOPER, Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 17:03
• 107. Ken HANSON, Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 17:03
• 108. Aldo Ino ILESIC, UnitedHealthcare, at 19:25
• 109. Jacobe KEOUGH, UnitedHealthcare, at 19:25
• 110. John MURPHY, UnitedHealthcare, at 19:25
• 111. Carson MILLER, Jamis-Hagens Berman, at 24:42

Leopold Konig (NetApp-Endura) won stage 7 of the Amgen Tour of California on Saturday, as Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) kept his GC lead and sealed the overall victory with one day left.

The 146.5-kilometer course featured three categorized climbs, the big one being the brutal Mount Diablo at the finish. The 18.3km ascent averaged 5.8 percent, with the final 150 meters pitching up to 16 percent.

Crossing the line second was Janier Acevedo (Jamis-Hagens Berman), while van Garderen placed third.

Van Garderen holds a 1:47 lead over Michael Rogers (Saxo-Tinkoff) and a 3:26 advantage over Acevedo in the GC standings. Neither rider will attack van Garderen’s cushion on Sunday so all he needs to do is finish the stage to officially earn the first big victory of his career.

“I knew I was going to have to rely really heavily on my team, and luckily we brought a strong one here,” van Garderen said. “I saw them just take control from kilometer zero … all I had to do was follow. It was stress free — really easy.”

‘Incredible day’

BMC put on a climbing (and teamwork) clinic on Diablo, keeping the pace steady at the front of the peloton. Van Garderen was tucked safely behind his teammates for most of the way, out of trouble and in their slipstreams.

As riders attacked left and right, BMC never panicked.

In the final few hundred meters when the gradient kicked up, van Garderen kept up his cadence and rode strongly across the finish line.

“I’m really proud of my guys,” van Garderen said. “Even if we were getting some GC guys moving, I just knew that I could stay relaxed, because I had strong climbers pulling me all the way to the finish line. It was just an incredible day.”

Konig was impressed with how BMC performed.

“We just followed the BMC guys, because they rode a really, really perfect tempo,” he said.”

Fireworks on Diablo

A 10-rider break rode at the front of the race for much of the day, a group that included Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Leopard). At the base of the Diablo climb, however, the gap between the peloton and the race leaders was falling rapidly and the breakaway started to fracture.

A number of riders attacked from the break and the peloton during the climb.

David De la Cruz Melgarejo (NetApp-Endura) and Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) eventually found themselves at the front of the race with 10km left, holding a lead of 1:05 ahead of the main field.

At this point, there was a small chase group that included Schleck behind the leaders, a few solo riders behind them trying to bridge the gap, and the peloton. Some riders were already falling off the back as the road got steeper.

Westra, who started the day more than 10 minutes behind van Garderen in the GC, eventually dropped off the front, as did Schleck.

And then the attacks came in rapid succession.

Jens Voigt (RadioShack) surged ahead of the main pack, and he was joined shortly after by Francisco Mancebo (5-Hour Energy). Voigt’s effort didn’t last long but Mancebo continued up the road and reached the front of the race.

“I was trying to relaunch the race,” Voigt said. “I just tried to make the race harder, get them to chase. I was just out there as a bite.”

Voigt said the Diablo climb was difficult, but it did not live up to the expectations placed upon it leading up to the stage.

“[It was] less steep than we thought,” Voigt said. “We heard terrible things about it, and we thought it would be a bit steeper. But it was hard enough to kill us. Pretty tough, but steady.”

With 3km left, Acevedo broke free from the peloton and quickly joined Mancebo in the lead. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, Konig surged up the road and beat everyone to the line.

“In the last 3k, I was just waiting for the right moment to attack,” Konig said. “Then I saw Acevedo, and I just followed him. Then I went after him. We worked together, and I heard the final was pretty hard, pretty steep, so I just waited until the last moment.”

Sunday’s stage 8 is a 131.9km route from San Francisco to Santa Rosa.

BARDONECCHIA, Italy (VN) — Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia) achieved his biggest career win Saturday in the Giro d’Italia’s cold run to Jafferau. The Italian from the Lake Como area, better known for his domestique work, attacked with overall leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) to conquer the 14th leg of the three-week race.

“I still hasn’t sunk [in],” the chubby-faced Santambrogio said in a television interview. “But to get up on the podium with the fans cheering was great.”

‘Un accordo’

Unlike when Eddy Merckx tracked down and passed José Manuel Fuente in 1972, the only other time the race visited Jafferau, Santambrogio’s move bore fruit. Though he snapped up the 20-second bonus for the stage win, he helped Nibali gain time and a 12-second bonus on his GC rivals.

The Italian duo seemed to have struck un accordo, Italian for “an agreement.”

Vini Fantini, who had the director of its Fast Web sponsor in the team car following the pair, won its first Giro stage. Santambrogio captured his biggest win since Tre Valli Varesine in 2009. And Nibali, with his gesture, gained an important ally.

“It would’ve been hard to follow him had he attacked me because he’s going well,” Santambrogio said. “I think he did well, he gained time and I won a stage.”

Santambrogio also gained time on his rivals and jumped up from sixth to fourth in the GC. He now sits 2:47 behind Nibali and only one second behind Rigoberto Urán (Sky), who is third.

Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) is second, 1:26 behind Nibali.

“To be fourth in [the] GC is good, but I’m not really here for the GC,” Santambrogio said. “I came to win a stage, which I have now.”

After years with Lampre and helping Evans at BMC, Santambrogio switched to Luca Scinto’s second division team for this season. He has raced hard since February to help the squad earn its Giro d’Italia and other wild card spots. His goal was a stage win — which he now has.

Santambrogio and Vini Fantini have seemingly made a deal with Nibali, who is down a teammate after losing Alessandro Vanotti to a crash in stage 14. Paolo Tiralongo and Fabio Aru are recovering from earlier crashes in the race, which puts Nibali at the mercy of other teams’ attacks.

Nibali’s squad is now running on Fantini wine. Not only can Nibali rely on Santambrogio, but also Danilo Di Luca and the entire neon-yellow team.

This is how cycling works, although it should not detract from Santambrogio’s win.

Out of the shadows

Santambrogio responded when Urán and Androni Giocattoli teammates Diego Rosa and Franco Pellizotti attacked. He followed Nibali on the toughest section from 2km out. And he made the final selection, dropping Evans with 900 meters left.

He led from 700 meters before the finish line, never once challenged by Nibali. He shook off his troubled past, which includes being named in the Mantova doping investigation, and could now ride into the top 3 in the GC.

“I was lost because I was in strong teams like Lampre and BMC. Having big champions and captains like Evans meant that I was always working for others and couldn’t show my real value,” the 28-year-old said. “Now that I have my own chances I can show what I was capable of.

“This [win] is thanks to [the team], which showed such belief in me. I’ve found myself again.”

BARDONECCHIA, Italy (VN) — Cold might be the most dangerous rival for Vincenzo Nibali (Astana).

Nibali prefers warmer climates, but the Shark has erased any doubt about who is charge of this year’s Giro d’Italia.

In a weather-shortened stage 14, Nibali had such command of the race he could afford to play kingmaker at the same time as taking small, but important gains on his most direct GC rivals.

“It’s too early to say the race is over. The Giro is long,” Nibali said. “Today was a very hard stage, very cold, but I felt good and I took some time.”

Nibali punched the accelerator with just under 2 kilometers to go in the 7km final climb up the Jafferau summit to drop a grenade in the already highly stressed GC group.

Only the puffy-cheeked Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia) could follow. Santambrogio countered with 800m to go to drop Carlos Betancur (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and his former BMC Racing teammate Cadel Evans to tow Nibali to the line. His payback was his first career grand tour stage victory.

With Evans and podium rival Rigoberto Urán (Sky) struggling in their wake, Nibali was content to let Santambrogio coast across the line unchallenged.

“Santambrogio was strong and helped me make the differences,” Nibali continued. “I don’t like being called the master of this Giro. Anything could happen. I need to take more time before I can breath easy.”

Snowy conditions forced organizers to reroute the stage around the Cat. 2 Sestriere summit, but Nibali only needed 7km of the final climb to Jafferau to turn the screws.

In fact, he only needed 1,800 meters. He jumped, Santambrogio followed, and the pair drove it to the line to help Nibali take a tighter grip on pink.

Despite ceding the stage and the 20-second winner’s bonus to Santambrogio, the damage was done. With the 12-second, second-place finish-line bonus, Nibali tightened his grip on the maglia rosa on a day when he feared the cold.

Evans dropped from 41 seconds to 1:26 back, while Urán also ceded ground to stay third at 2:46 back. Santambrogio bolstered his podium hopes to climb into fourth at 2:47.

Despite his fear of freezing, Nibali is in the hot seat of the Giro. Saturday only reconfirmed that he’s well positioned to win his first pink jersey with still more than a week of racing to go.

A half dozen riders lined up in the rain in Cervere within two minutes of the pink jersey. Nearly five hours later, that rain turned to snow as temperatures plummeted across the Italian Alps.

The GC hopes of two main threats dipped with the temperatures, with 2011 winner Michele Scarponi (Lampre-Merida) and Robert Gesink (Blanco) losing 1:28 and 4:16, respectively, to sink out of contention.

Sky tried to turn the screws to put pressure on Nibali, putting Dario Cataldo at the front to ramp up the speed on the final 7km climb up the Jafferau climb above the ski village at Bardonecchia.

With an average grade of above 9 percent and ramps as steep as 14 percent, the switchbacked climb seemed ideal for Urán, who started the stage third and was ready to take advantage of the full support of Sky the early departure of team leader Bradley Wiggins with a chest cold.

Urán surged clear with about 5km to go, but there was no dropping Nibali, who continues to race with a cool hand throughout the Giro.

“Sky showed their intentions today. They set the tempo of the stage and Urán tried a few times to attack us,” Nibali said. “They will continue to be dangerous. Evans is also dangerous. We haven’t seen the last of him yet.”

Although Wiggins and Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) started as the top favorites for the pink jersey, Nibali has demonstrated he’s a step ahead of the pack with consistent, steady racing throughout the first half of the Giro.

He hasn’t made a mistake yet, and his legs have responded when they needed to.

Nibali said he fears forecasts for continued cold weather almost more than his rivals.

“The cold weather is always a worry. We try to prepare by bringing the proper clothing, but I am still cold after the stage,” he said. “Let’s hope the weather improves in the coming days.”

He might not get his wish. Forecasts are calling for such horrid conditions Sunday that organizers are all but sure to neutralize most of the mountainous stage into the French Alps.

Both the Cat. 1 Mont Cenis and most of the beyond-category Galibier were erased from Sunday’s course as snow was expected to fall overnight.

In March, Nibali pulled out of Milano-San Remo in equally horrendous conditions. Though he admitted he started the stage with trepidation, he ditched his rain jacket late in Saturday’s stage and attacked up the final climb without arm-warmers.

“I preferred to treat the final climb like a climbing time trial,” he said. “I took off my jacket and rode up without arm-warmers. I was fine. The only thing that was cold was my feet.”

Nibali clearly does not have cold feet when it comes to the decisive moments of the race. If he keeps his cool head, the GC hopes of his rivals will continue to melt. The race could be on for the podium.

• 1. Mauro SANTAMBROGIO, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, in 4:42:55
• 2. Vincenzo NIBALI, Astana, at :00
• 3. Carlos Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZ, Ag2r La Mondiale, at :09
• 4. Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at :26
• 5. Rigoberto URAN URAN, Sky, at :30
• 6. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at :33
• 7. Domenico POZZOVIVO, Ag2r La Mondiale, at :33
• 8. Robert KISERLOVSKI, RadioShack-Leopard, at :33
• 9. Sonny COLBRELLI, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at :55
• 10. Damiano CARUSO, Cannondale, at :58
• 11. Rafal MAJKA, Saxo-Tinkoff, at :59
• 12. Yury TROFIMOV, Katusha, at :59
• 13. Franco PELLIZOTTI, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 1:04
• 14. Diego ROSA, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 1:08
• 15. Przemyslaw NIEMIEC, Lampre-Merida, at 1:08
• 16. Fabio Andres DUARTE AREVALO, Colombia, at 1:15
• 17. Benat INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA, Movistar, at 1:24
• 18. Michele SCARPONI, Lampre-Merida, at 1:28
• 19. Luca PAOLINI, Katusha, at 1:41
• 20. Sergio Luis HENAO MONTOYA, Sky, at 1:48
• 21. Tanel KANGERT, Astana, at 2:16
• 22. Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Sharp, at 2:32
• 23. Danilo DI LUCA, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 2:40
• 24. Daniele PIETROPOLLI, Lampre-Merida, at 2:53
• 25. Evgeny PETROV, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 3:21
• 26. Darwin ATAPUMA HURTADO, Colombia, at 3:21
• 27. Eros CAPECCHI, Movistar, at 3:21
• 28. Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 3:25
• 29. Fabio FELLINE, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 3:39
• 30. Egoi MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 4:01
• 31. Jose Rodolfo SERPA PEREZ, Lampre-Merida, at 4:05
• 32. Juan Manuel GARATE, Blanco, at 4:16
• 33. Wilco KELDERMAN, Blanco, at 4:16
• 34. Steven KRUIJSWIJK, Blanco, at 4:16
• 35. Robert GESINK, Blanco, at 4:16
• 36. Francis MOUREY, FDJ, at 4:16
• 37. Peter STETINA, Garmin-Sharp, at 4:16
• 38. Thomas DAMUSEAU, Argos-Shimano, at 4:16
• 39. Tiago MACHADO, RadioShack-Leopard, at 4:16
• 40. José HERRADA LOPEZ, Movistar, at 4:16
• 41. Francis DE GREEF, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:30
• 42. Valerio AGNOLI, Astana, at 4:58
• 43. Fabio ARU, Astana, at 4:58
• 44. Jarlinson PANTANO, Colombia, at 5:18
• 45. Rob RUIJGH, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 5:43
• 46. Rafael VALLS FERRI, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 5:43
• 47. Dario CATALDO, Sky, at 5:50
• 48. Jorge AZANZA SOTO, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 5:50
• 49. Emanuele SELLA, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 6:18
• 50. Ben GASTAUER, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 6:24
• 51. Johan LE BON, FDJ, at 6:24
• 52. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm KESSIAKOFF, Astana, at 6:56
• 53. Matteo RABOTTINI, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 6:56
• 54. Giampaolo CARUSO, Katusha, at 6:56
• 55. Stef CLEMENT, Blanco, at 7:06
• 56. Steve MORABITO, BMC Racing, at 7:06
• 57. Vladimir GUSEV, Katusha, at 7:42
• 58. Kanstantsin SIUTSOU, Sky, at 7:54
• 59. Petr IGNATENKO, Katusha, at 7:54
• 60. Pieter WEENING, Orica-GreenEdge, at 7:57
• 61. Giovanni VISCONTI, Movistar, at 9:11
• 62. Fabio SABATINI, Cannondale, at 10:08
• 63. Dominique ROLLIN, FDJ, at 10:08
• 64. Adam HANSEN, Lotto-Belisol, at 10:08
• 65. Lars Ytting BAK, Lotto-Belisol, at 10:08
• 66. Frederik WILLEMS, Lotto-Belisol, at 10:08
• 67. Kristijan DURASEK, Lampre-Merida, at 10:08
• 68. Dmitry KOZONTCHUK, Katusha, at 10:08
• 69. Stephen CUMMINGS, BMC Racing, at 10:08
• 70. Patrick GRETSCH, Argos-Shimano, at 10:08
• 71. Danilo WYSS, BMC Racing, at 10:08
• 72. Koen DE KORT, Argos-Shimano, at 10:08
• 73. Matteo TRENTIN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 10:17
• 74. Manuele BOARO, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 11:14
• 75. Christian KNEES, Sky, at 11:23
• 76. Ivan SANTAROMITA, BMC Racing, at 11:27
• 77. Alessandro PRONI, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 12:05
• 78. Francisco José VENTOSO ALBERDI, Movistar, at 12:17
• 79. Hayden ROULSTON, RadioShack-Leopard, at 12:28
• 80. Robert VRECER, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 12:59
• 81. Simone STORTONI, Lampre-Merida, at 13:02
• 82. Jesse SERGENT, RadioShack-Leopard, at 13:31
• 83. Ricardo MESTRE, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 13:31
• 84. Nelson Filipe SANTOS SIMOES OLIVEIRA, RadioShack-Leopard, at 13:31
• 85. Robinson Eduardo CHALAPUD GOMEZ, Colombia, at 13:35
• 86. Daniel OSS, BMC Racing, at 14:22
• 87. Manuel BELLETTI, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 14:22
• 88. Tiziano DALL’ANTONIA, Cannondale, at 14:22
• 89. Salvatore PUCCIO, Sky, at 14:22
• 90. Danny PATE, Sky, at 14:22
• 91. Alan MARANGONI, Cannondale, at 14:28
• 92. Maxim BELKOV, Katusha, at 14:50
• 93. Dmitriy GRUZDEV, Astana, at 14:53
• 94. Jackson RODRIGUEZ, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 15:00
• 95. Cayetano José SARMIENTO TUNARROSA, Cannondale, at 15:03
• 96. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Sharp, at 15:09
• 97. Oscar GATTO, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 16:05
• 98. Rory SUTHERLAND, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 16:57
• 99. Bruno PIRES, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 16:57
• 100. Cristiano SALERNO, Cannondale, at 17:48
• 101. Marco MARCATO, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 18:17
• 102. Laurent PICHON, FDJ, at 20:32
• 103. Maarten TJALLINGII, Blanco, at 20:32
• 104. Filippo POZZATO, Lampre-Merida, at 20:32
• 105. Elia VIVIANI, Cannondale, at 20:32
• 106. Gert DOCKX, Lotto-Belisol, at 20:32
• 107. Thomas DEKKER, Garmin-Sharp, at 20:32
• 108. Jens KEUKELEIRE, Orica-GreenEdge, at 20:32
• 109. Vicente REYNES MIMO, Lotto-Belisol, at 20:32
• 110. Juan Jose COBO ACEBO, Movistar, at 20:32
• 111. Robert HUNTER, Garmin-Sharp, at 20:32
• 112. Paul MARTENS, Blanco, at 20:32
• 113. Grega BOLE, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 20:32
• 114. Martijn KEIZER, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 20:32
• 115. Pablo LASTRAS GARCIA, Movistar, at 20:32
• 116. Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 20:32
• 117. Albert TIMMER, Argos-Shimano, at 20:32
• 118. Brett LANCASTER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 20:32
• 119. Guillaume BONNAFOND, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 20:32
• 120. Dirk BELLEMAKERS, Lotto-Belisol, at 20:32
• 121. Christian MEIER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 20:32
• 122. Matthew Harley GOSS, Orica-GreenEdge, at 20:32
• 123. Mads CHRISTENSEN, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 20:32
• 124. Luke DURBRIDGE, Orica-GreenEdge, at 20:32
• 125. Svein TUFT, Orica-GreenEdge, at 20:32
• 126. Tobias LUDVIGSSON, Argos-Shimano, at 20:32
• 127. Xabier ZANDIO ECHAIDE, Sky, at 20:32
• 128. Alex DOWSETT, Movistar, at 20:32
• 129. Maarten WYNANTS, Blanco, at 20:32
• 130. Vladimir KARPETS, Movistar, at 20:32
• 131. Miguel Angel RUBIANO CHAVEZ, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 20:32
• 132. Pavel BRUTT, Katusha, at 20:32
• 133. Brian BULGAC, Lotto-Belisol, at 20:32
• 134. Miguel MINGUEZ AYALA, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 20:32
• 135. Cameron WURF, Cannondale, at 20:32
• 136. Frederik VEUCHELEN, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 20:32
• 137. Ioannis TAMOURIDIS, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 20:32
• 138. Giacomo NIZZOLO, RadioShack-Leopard, at 20:32
• 139. Taylor PHINNEY, BMC Racing, at 20:32
• 140. Paolo LONGO BORGHINI, Cannondale, at 20:32
• 141. Stefano GARZELLI, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 20:32
• 142. Rafael ANDRIATO, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 20:32
• 143. Stefano LOCATELLI, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 20:32
• 144. Leonardo Fabio DUQUE, Colombia, at 20:32
• 145. Danilo HONDO, RadioShack-Leopard, at 20:32
• 146. Luka MEZGEC, Argos-Shimano, at 20:32
• 147. Bert DE BACKER, Argos-Shimano, at 20:32
• 148. Willem WAUTERS, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 20:32
• 149. George BENNETT, RadioShack-Leopard, at 20:32
• 150. Anthony ROUX, FDJ, at 20:32
• 151. Jens MOURIS, Orica-GreenEdge, at 20:32
• 152. Murilo Antonio FISCHER, FDJ, at 20:32
• 153. Francesco Manuel BONGIORNO, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 21:18
• 154. Sacha MODOLO, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 21:28
• 155. Stefano PIRAZZI, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 21:31
• 156. Edoardo ZARDINI, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 21:33
• 157. Kenny DE HAES, Lotto-Belisol, at 21:35
• 158. Paolo TIRALONGO, Astana, at 22:26
• 159. Serge PAUWELS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 22:26
• 160. Adam BLYTHE, BMC Racing, at 22:26
• 161. Jérôme PINEAU, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 22:31
• 162. Julien VERMOTE, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 22:31
• 163. Mark CAVENDISH, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 22:31
• 164. Gianluca BRAMBILLA, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 22:31
• 165. Michal GOLAS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 22:31
• 166. Iljo KEISSE, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 22:31
• 167. Roberto FERRARI, Lampre-Merida, at 22:31
• 168. Davide APPOLLONIO, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 22:36
• 169. Yaroslav POPOVYCH, RadioShack-Leopard, at 22:58
• 170. Nicola BOEM, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 23:32
• 171. Ramunas NAVARDAUSKAS, Garmin-Sharp, at 23:45
• 172. Giairo ERMETI, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 24:13
• 173. Edwin Alcibiades AVILA VANEGAS, Colombia, at 24:45
• 174. Wilson Alexander MARENTES TORRES, Colombia, at 24:45
• 175. Marco CANOLA, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 24:45
• 176. Andrey ZEITS, Astana, at 25:03
• 177. Pim LIGTHART, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 25:05
• 178. Maurits LAMMERTINK, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 25:05
• 179. Mattia GAVAZZI, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 25:17
• 180. Nathan HAAS, Garmin-Sharp, at 25:24
• DNF David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp
• DNF Alessandro VANOTTI, Astana
• DNF Enrico BATTAGLIN, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox
• DNS Jack BOBRIDGE, Blanco
• DNS Gert STEEGMANS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step
• DNS Daniele BENNATI, Saxo-Tinkoff
• DNS Karsten KROON, Saxo-Tinkoff

Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia) won stage 14 of the Giro d’Italia on Saturday, while Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) padded his overall lead in the three-week grand tour.

Santambrogio matched Nibali’s attack with about 2 kilometers left on the final climb of Jafferau, and the pair rode together to the finish after picking off the three stage leaders. Carlos Betancur (Ag2r-La Mondiale) was third.

Nibali extended his GC lead over Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) to 1:26, while Rigoberto Uran (Sky) is now 2:46 behind in third.

Santambrogio is now fourth in the GC, 2:47 behind Nibali.

“I still haven’t realized what this means for me. It was a hard day, cold and rain. Then with the snow in the end,” Santambrogio said. “Nibali attacked with about 2km [left]. I felt good and followed him. We worked together to catch the breakaway. They stayed with us a bit, but we dropped them. It’s good for him, too, with a 12-second bonus.”

Nibali appeared to soft pedal close to the finish line, allowing his fellow Italian to earn the victory.

“It was a long, hard day. Very cold, especially at the end in the snow,” Nibali said. “This is a long Giro, not over yet. It was a good test at the end. [Santambrogio] won, but I was able to make a good gap on my rivals.”

An early break developed about 19km into the 168km stage, and the riders stayed together until the Jafferau climb. The group began to fracture, with Matteo Trentin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) initially dropping back. Eventually, Santambrogio and Nibali dropped the other three riders — Luca Paolini (Katusha), Daniele Pietropolli (Lampre-Merida), and Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox.

‘Not my best day’

Evans lost contact with Nibali after the Italian made his late move.

“It was not my best day,” Evans said in a BMC press release. “Conceding time to the other GC contenders is certainly not what I wanted. I just couldn’t react when the attack from Nibali came. I think that has something to do with the last couple of days. I hope this is my worst day in the mountains; otherwise to fight for the win will be difficult.”

BMC assistant director Fabio Baldato said Evans’ Giro is far from over, with more days in the mountains still on the schedule.

“Cadel is still there,” Baldato said. “For me, he did a great job to stay close to Nibali and Santambrogio. Today, they were stronger. He only lost a few seconds to Uran. So for the moment, we are happy and we are confident.”

Weather alters course

Earlier Saturday, race organizers announced the climb of Sestriere was removed from the stage 14 course because of bad weather that featured snow at the summit. The concern was not the ascent but rather the descent, which would have required the peloton to carefully navigate the fast and technical snowy roads.

The decision was also made to change the route for Sunday’s stage 15. Gone is the climb of Mont Centis early in the stage, and the finish on the summit of the famed Col du Galibier was moved 4.2km below the top. The original re-routing plan was to have the stage finish 15km before the summit.

The weather also forced the grounding of helicopters and airplanes above Saturday’s course, so there were no live television images of the race until the finish.

The weekend of climbing was expected to sort out the GC picture, but the altered route changed that. The race for the pink will be now be sorted out in the final week of racing, which ends with next Sunday’s 197km stage 21 from Riese Pio X to Brescia.

Four riders did not start Saturday’s stage: Jack Bobridge (Blanco), Gert Steegmans (Omega Pharma), Daniele Bennati (Saxo-Tinkoff), and Karsten Kroon (Saxo). Three others abandoned during the stage: David Millar (Garmin-Sharp), Alessandro Vanotti (Astana), and Enrico Battaglin (Bardiani Valvole).

SAN JOSE, Calif. (VN) — For the podium contenders, or those daring to fly the coup solo today, there is but one true mountain remaining in the 2013 Amgen Tour of California.

And it’s a big one. Saturday’s stage, from Livermore to Mount Diablo, ends on the hors categorie climb and represents the last real chance to knock Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) from what would be his first major stage-race win. The South Gate Road ascent of Diablo covers 16.4 kilometers at an average of 5.7 percent.

According to Strava, the rider with the best ascent time via South Gate is none other than 5-Hour Energy’s Nate English — so who better to ask about the climb that will make or break the Amgen Tour for van Garderen than the King of the Mountain holder. English has ridden the mountain in 45:28 at an average clip of 23 kilometers per hour.

“It’s a relatively long climb, 40-45 minutes. It’s not a climb for pure climbers necessarily. There’s even some flat parts in it. Definitely helps to know it because there are some parts where you can attack and get out of sight pretty quickly,” English told VeloNews. “The wind can definitely make a couple minutes difference. It’ll probably be hot this year. It’s a good day for someone like Tejay who’s not a pure climber but is super strong and is able to hold it if he attacks early. A lot of people want to win that stage.”

Well, KOM, would you like to win it?

“I would love to win it, but it’s a super tall order for someone like me,” he said. “[There’s] definitely people who can climb better than me. It’s one of my favorite climbs and I’d like to be in a position to go for it.”

The climb, English said, flattens out a bit in the middle, kicks up again, and serves up a harsh final 200 meters. The move, English and van Garderen said, will come in the final third of the climb.

Van Garderen said he knows the climb, and thought much of the same.

“I expect it to come on the upper third of the climb. That’s where it gets a little bit steeper. And that’s where guys are going to start to suffer a little bit. But I think we’re going to have a strong team,” he said. “I think the usual suspects are still the dangerous guys. Like [Michael] Rogers and [Janier] Acevedo and [Philip] Deignan.”

As it stands now, van Garderen has more than a minute on his rivals. Rogers is in second, but seems to know that unless he pulls off something brilliant, the writing is on the wall.

“It’s uphill, I know that,” Rogers said of the climb. “I only know what’s on the course profile. It’s not so steep, I’m not expecting it to be like the finish into Palm Springs. At the end of the day it’s the riders who make the race. I’m sure a lot of the guys who are just out of the top 10 will be trying to make an attack from a long way out. Obviously BMC have a very strong team, and all the reason in the world to defend the jersey, and I’m sure they will.”

What about Rogers’ GC chances?

“Every kilometer that passes and every second more makes it that much more difficult to close. I’ve been around long enough to know that anything can happen,” he said. “As I said it gets harder, and Tejay has a strong team. It will be hard to bring back, but it’s certainly not over until you cross the line.”

As for that KOM, English thought it may stand.

“If people are just looking around at each other I could see Acevedo going in the last half mile and holding it,” he said. “If it’s all together going into the climb there’s no reason to go hard from the bottom. I see it more likely playing out that people won’t go hard until at least halfway.”

CHERASCO, Italy (VN) — The pink jersey hangs in the balance this weekend for a pair of decisive climbing stages on both sides of the Alps that could go a long way toward deciding who will win the 2013 Giro d’Italia.

Winter-like conditions could prove the spoiler, however. Because of snow on the upper reaches of the Col du Galibier, the historic climb in the French Alps that’s featured in Sunday’s 15th stage, the ascent has been removed due to unsafe racing conditions.

As for Saturday, organizers removed the climb and the descent of Sestriere because of snow.

The re-routed courses still feature some exciting climbs, but the weekend could be a bust in terms of sorting out the GC.

Despite the departure of pre-race favorites Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) and Bradley Wiggins (Sky), there are still a half dozen riders within striking distance of pink.

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) will be looking to consolidate his grip on the race lead. The Italian looks rock solid and takes the pole position into the Alps.

Though Wiggins and Hesjedal are gone, he still has to worry about Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), lurking at just 41 seconds back, and another half dozen riders all within three minutes of pink.

Nibali will want to take important gains both days in order to carry a larger lead into Monday’s rest day.

Stage 14, Cervere to Bardonecchia (Jafferau), 168km

Riders woke up Saturday not really knowing what to expect, but ultimately organizers took out the Cat. 2 climb of Sestriere because of snow at the summit and concerns for the riders’ safety on the descent. Instead, the course, which was reduced from 180km to 168km, will take the riders through the Susa Valley before the final climb up Jafferau.

Jafferau has been overlooked in a Giro packed with legends such as the Galibier, Stelvio and Gavia. The climb becomes steeper as it progresses, with an average grade of 9 percent and ramps as steep as 14 percent. The final section of the climb is over unpaved roads, which could turn in a sloppy muck if it’s raining and/or snowing.

Who it favors: Of the favorites, this type of steep finale is tipped toward Rigoberto Urán. Now that he’s thinking big-picture podium as the new outright leader of Sky, Urán might be looking to defend his position going into the final week of the Giro. Puncheurs such as Carlos Betancur (Ag2r-La Mondiale), still hunting for a stage win after two second places, or impressive Polish climber Rafal Majka (Saxo-Tinkoff) could thrive in this terrain.

Weather alterative: Officials were also worried about the upper reaches of the climb at 1,908 meters. If conditions are deemed unworthy, the finish line will be moved to the Bardonecchi ski village at 1,281 meters. That would dramatically alter the dynamics of the GC battle, with a likely break winning the stage, and the GC riders having little terrain to try to make a move.

Stage 15, Cesana Torinese to Verneys

On paper, this was one of the most dynamic and explosive stages in the Giro. The short stage was to start out with the long, grinding climb of Mont Centis but organizers removed it from the course on Saturday because of inclement weather.

The stage was scheduled to finish on the Col du Galibier, a punishing Cat. 1 climb that favors the strongest climbers in the peloton. However, snow at the summit forced organizers to re-route the course and take out the famed climb. Instead, the stage will finish 15km below the Galibier, and 3km above the Valloire ski station.

The new route has not yet been released, but it appears the only major climb on Sunday would be the Col du Télégraphe.

Who it favors: On the weather-shortened course, it will most likely be an uphill sprint right from the gun. Anyone who is slow out of the gates could be doomed.

Stripped Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and Garmin-Sharp team manager Jonathan Vaughters, former teammates who have spent the past decade at odds over the issue of doping in pro cycling, have renewed their long-strained relationship.

After years of racing alongside each other, beginning as juniors, Armstrong and Vaughters rode as teammates at the U.S. Postal Service team in 1998 and 1999.

Since then, the two men have spent most of the past 14 years on different sides of the doping issue, with Armstrong, and his inner circle, perfecting the science of performance-enhancing drug use — and profiting the most from it — while Vaughters launched a development team, which morphed into the Garmin squad, centered around the ethos of clean sport.

Like Frankie Andreu before him, Vaughters came clean about his drug use at U.S. Postal Service prior to Armstrong’s televised confession to Oprah Winfrey in January. Andreu admitted to doping in a September 2006 New York Times article. Vaughters, who confessed anonymously in that 2006 Times story, finally acknowledged his own drug use in an editorial, which ran in the Times in August 2012.

Along with three active Garmin riders who told the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency they had doped while members of Armstrong’s teams, Vaughters provided sworn testimony to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that he had doped as a member of the Postal Service squad. That testimony, combined with others’, resulted in a lifetime ban for Armstrong, and ultimately to his televised confession.

So it came as a surprise to Twitter users to see the two using the social media platform to have a very friendly, and very public, conversation last weekend.

After Vaughters posted a joke about sneaking the sedative Rufinol into his own drink, Armstrong, who has 3 million Twitter followers, replied, “Let us know how that goes.”

When asked about Armstrong’s comment by another Twitter user, Vaughters replied, “Nothing to see here, just two fallen angels discussing what lies beneath,” quickly followed by, “Honestly, we probably get along better now than we have in 20 years. Weird, I know.”

Armstrong quickly replied, “Dude, shhh, don’t tell anybody that!” His reply was a very public acknowledgment that, after years of defiance, which included disparaging those who spoke out against doping in cycling (including Vaughters), the disgraced Tour champ is now openly engaging with those he formerly viewed as enemies.

Both men spoke with VeloNews about their improbable reunion of sorts.

The culture of doping as common ground

Armstrong said he had initially reached out to Vaughters after reading an opinion piece he had written, posted on Cyclingnews.com, which stated that it was wrong to blame Armstrong for the culture of doping in cycling. “The fact of the matter is that it is our entire fault. We, the people who make up the world of professional cycling, are to blame,” Vaughters wrote.

“I reached out to him and thanked him for his op-ed he wrote on Cyclingnews,” Armstrong said. “I felt it was a thorough, thoughtful, and accurate account of our generation.”

Over time, the two became conversational, with the focus centered around what contribution Armstrong might be able to offer in the push to salvage pro cycling, which has seemingly bottomed out in the wake of the USADA report on the sport’s biggest star and the doping practices that brought him seven straight Tour victories, from 1999 through 2005.

“We talk here and there,” Vaughters said. “At the end of the day, I think Lance has got a lot of things to say, which could clarify a whole lot. In terms of the full download on what went on in that era of cycling, he could be big part of the solution, if he chooses to be.

“We keep in contact, and I encourage that,” he added. “I don’t think he minds, partly because I don’t throw the blame on him. I’m a little bit older than a lot of the guys who were caught up in [doping], and I think Lance and I both realize — when he and I went to race in Europe in 1994, a few years earlier for Lance, the culture of doping was well in place. He probably needs a few people in his life that realize that he wasn’t the guy who started doping, he’s a guy who got caught up in it, in a big way, but the system was very much in place by the time he got there. He could now help change things.”

Armstrong, who in February turned down a USADA offer to reveal what he knew about doping in order to reduce his lifetime ban, said that it was time for the sport of cycling to confront the reality of its troubled past, head on.

“It’s maybe not accurate to say that me and JV are having a dialogue on how to clean up the sport, per se, as we agree that cycling today is cleaner than it has been in decades, but we are trying to have, for all of us, a rational and civilized conversation, to close the chapter and help the sport move forward” Armstrong said. “Right now, a lot of what is being written, and thrown around, is not rational. I think JV shares the idea of a truth and reconciliation, which is the only way forward — although, unfortunately, I don’t believe it is going to happen.”

Both Vaughters and Armstrong said they felt that those who were in positions of authority during Armstrong’s reign have tried to lay the blame for the sport’s ills during the Wild West doping heyday of the 1990s and 2000s on Armstrong’s shoulders.

“When you read [former Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc] making nasty statements against Lance, or Pat McQuaid saying Lance has no place in cycling … I was a witness in the USADA reasoned decision, but I didn’t say anything negative about Lance, specifically, I told them about my experiences during my career in pro cycling,” Vaughters said.

“I think it’s inappropriate for anyone who was involved to take swings at Lance. The information inside the sport was available and ready for anyone to listen to, so it’s a little bit ridiculous to shield yourself and your own image and lay it on Lance. The leadership of the sport needs to take responsibility and say, ‘Yes, behind closed doors, we knew what was up, and we failed to prevent it.’ There needs to be clear and drastic changes to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Instead you get rhetoric that just blames one person. It’s unfair, the perception that Lance is the one that started the [doping] arms race. He may have perfected it, and he went way too far in defending his position, and he hurt a lot of people in process, but the culture was in place before he ever raced in Europe.”

Armstrong echoed Vaughters sentiments, saying that the nonstop barrage of partial confessionals, such as this week’s opaque admission from Frenchman Laurent Jalabert, combined with the inconsistent zero-tolerance policies in place at teams like Sky and Orica-GreenEdge, are only damaging the sport by fostering omertà and creating an untenable environment.

“I think me and JV both share a desire to make a truth and reconciliation commission a reality, though it’s something that many do not want to happen,” Armstrong said. “My contribution, as is his I think, is total transparency and honesty. Let’s learn from our mistakes and help the sport move forward. As it stands today, one man has been lynched, a dozen others, like Vaughters, have been seriously vilified, and hundred, maybe thousands, have been let off scot-free. Despite some, who might be reveling in this, it will not help our sport move forward.”

Forgiving an adversary

At the peak of Armstrong’s power, Vaughters said he had to be careful when it came to the Texan, as Armstrong had the unique authority to influence those who might be inclined to back the team. At one point, Vaughters said Armstrong sent e-mails to Slipstream Sports financial backer Doug Ellis, recommending that Ellis change the management of the team — namely, Vaughters.

Yet Vaughters said that he was able to forgive his former adversary in the name of finding common ground for creating solutions for the sport.

“The future of the sport for me is far more important than any pride issue I have over any scrap I got into with Lance five years ago,” Vaughters said. “That overshadows it by 1000 percent. To me, it’s never as black and white as a person is all good, or all bad. Anyone is forgivable. Lance did some nasty things to me over the years, without a doubt, but if he wants to talk about how to create solutions in cycling, I’m not going to turn that away.

“There aren’t many people that have all the information of what went down, of how it went down, and in order for those things to be corrected … if [Armstrong] is ostracized, there is no incentive, or reason, for him to provide information on how to fix the things he took advantage of,” Vaughters added. “If he’s pushed to the outside, he’s never going to do that. If I can help facilitate him clarifying all of this stuff, stuff that’s just dangling out there, on what really did go on with … a whole host of things, really … I’m going to try to do that.

“If Lance chooses to, he can have a very positive contribution,” Vaughters said. “He can be part of the solution, but people need to start understanding this needs to be tackled from a cultural level, not the finger-pointing level. He’s sort of struggling with that choice. I’m trying to be objective, and encouraging.”

SAN JOSE, Calif. (VN) — Moments after climbing his way to victory in stage 6 of the Amgen Tour of California on Friday, Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) took his newborn daughter Rylan into his arms and onto the podium atop Metcalf Road, red lipstick kisses languishing on his cheeks, a wide smile upon his face.

It’s his bike race in California now, and he knows it. Van Garderen, after a sterling time trial performance here on a breezy afternoon, may be growing up right in front of the cycling world. All told, he won the 31.6-kilometer time trial — with a steep finishing climb of about 10 minutes — by 23 seconds over Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) and, more importantly, put 1:05 into Michael Rogers (Saxo-Tinkoff). It was exactly what van Garderen needed to do, and without reservation he took the Amgen Tour into his hands.

“It’s incredible,” he told reporters after the stage. “I really couldn’t have asked for a better day.”

Van Garderen now has 1:47 in hand over the second-placed Rogers, and 2:57 over Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge) in third. Should he hold on up the slopes of Mount Diablo on Saturday, van Garderen will win in California, earning his first-ever professional stage-race win to complement a fifth-place finish at last year’s Tour de France.

“It’s going to feel incredible. I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch, but I’m ready to win, and I think it’s about time,” van Garderen said. “I think now I’m finally mature enough to pull through to the end. I think I’m ready to do it.”

Most riders would kill for the results sheet of van Garderen. The young all-rounder has won the best young rider classification at the Tour de France. In 2011, he finished fifth in California, and won the best young rider classification here. In 2012, he finished fourth, faltering on the Mount Baldy stage. So far this year, he’s finished in the top three at the Tour de San Luís, Critérium International, and Paris-Nice.

It’s seemed, and has for some while, that it’s just a matter of time for the 24-year-old.

“I’ve known Tejay since he rode with HTC in 2010, and I saw his talent straight away. You knew he had a huge future; he is that kind of athlete. Certainly as a stage race rider, he’s made huge steps in the last few years, and especially in the Tour de France last year,” said Rogers.

It was van Garderen who gave up a wheel to then-teammate Rogers in the second stage of the 2010 Amgen Tour and kept the Aussie in contention for his eventual overall win.

BMC Racing director John Lelangue said the win was something van Garderen needed to continue his progression.

“He has come so close on big races. We knew he was getting better and better. But winning his first stage race — that’s a good sign in the natural progression and his future goals,” Lelangue told VeloNews. “He’s a real leader with team around him … it’s really a big step forward. But we first have to win this one first.”

Van Garderen will have to defend the yellow upon his back on Saturday, as the peloton will finish atop Mount Diablo, the hors-categorie finish climb, and the only thing in his way now.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (VN) — Evelyn Stevens (Specialized-lululemon) wants to sound anything but ungrateful. The one-day-a-year spotlight the women racers get at the Amgen Tour of California is wonderful. Just not wonderful enough. Not hardly.

“You know, this is the United States, and women are supposed to be equal, right?” she said after her victory in a difficult time trial that preceded the sixth stage of the men’s eight-day race on a cloudless Friday.

“Don’t get me wrong. I think it’s really great that they have this race and I know we’re all grateful,” she said. “But come on. We put on a good show. Give us another day. That would be great. Three days? Greater.

“Personally? I want all eight.”

There quite likely couldn’t be a better poster rider, or a poster stage, than the one that began at the site where IBM develops its top secrets and ended atop a windy, brown hillside. Stevens started 30 seconds ahead of the last of 15 riders, Alison Powers (NOW-Novartis for MS), and the two played cat-and-mouse for most of the first three-quarters of the 31-kilometer course.

Their exchange, re-exchange, and re-re-exchange of leads over the initial climbs and along the long, crosswind-whipped middle section was interesting but inconsequential, Stevens said. She was paying more attention to her internal clock, the one she, coach Neal Henderson, and Specialized engineer Chris Yu mapped during her several reconnaissance runs in the days leading up to the time trial.

“A lot of thought and process went into it,” she said. “I rode the climb once and other parts maybe three times. I rode the descent maybe eight times. Then we went over analysis of where to save and where to put out the power.”

The location of the latter left little doubt. Powers, already trailing, stopped for a bike change and Stevens bolted up the final 2.5km climb of Metcalf Road to post the fastest time by nearly a minute.

Sadly, video and text coverage on the online Tour Tracker application cut out after third-place finisher Kristin McGrath rolled across the line. There was no video of the climb and no coverage of Stevens’ and Powers’ finishes for those watching from afar. Instead, online coverage switched to the early men’s starters. Equal, right?

After the men’s race, Stevens won again. The top finisher in the men’s stage, overall leader and new father Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing), made it a point at a post-race news conference to back more women’s racing alongside the men. Van Garderen is married to former professional and organizer of the women’s challenge in Aspen, Jessica van Garderen (Phillips).

“It’s something I’ve always felt strongly about, but especially now that I have a daughter [newborn Rylan, on hand at the finish] who might want to be a bike racer, I think it’s something important that we have to do,” van Garderen said. “Not only is it great for women’s cycling but it’s also great for the spectators. The roads are already closed, so I don’t think it would be too much of an ask to put a women’s stage on probably every stage that we do.”

Stevens’ story is well known. She left a job in the financial industry for the pro peloton and she wants her former colleagues on Wall Street to pay attention.

“I want them to see this,” she said, and, she added, to open their portfolios.

“If I could tell them all something,” she said, “it would be, ‘hey guys, you should back this.’”

• 1. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, in 48:52
• 2. Lieuwe WESTRA, Vacansoleil-DCM, at :23
• 3. Rohan DENNIS, Garmin-Sharp, at :28
• 4. Michael ROGERS, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 1:05
• 5. Marco PINOTTI, BMC Racing, at 1:08
• 6. Cameron MEYER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 1:28
• 7. Bob JUNGELS, RadioShack-Leopard, at 1:29
• 8. Leopold KONIG, NetApp-Endura, at 1:43
• 9. Mathias FRANK, BMC Racing, at 1:46
• 10. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 1:48
• 11. Kristijan KOREN, Cannondale, at 2:06
• 12. David DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO, NetApp-Endura, at 2:09
• 13. Thomas DE GENDT, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 2:17
• 14. Juan Antonio FLECHA GIANNONI, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 2:23
• 15. Matthew BUSCHE, RadioShack-Leopard, at 2:29
• 16. Francisco MANCEBO PEREZ, 5-hour Energy-Kenda, at 2:33
• 17. Travis MEYER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:39
• 18. Javier Alexis ACEVEDO COLLE, Jamis-Hagens Berman, at 2:41
• 19. Lawson CRADDOCK, Bontrager, at 2:42
• 20. Chad HAGA, Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 2:59
• 21. Scott ZWIZANSKI, Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 3:08
• 22. Marc DE MAAR, UnitedHealthcare, at 3:10
• 23. Nathaniel ENGLISH, 5-hour Energy-Kenda, at 3:31
• 24. Philip DEIGNAN, UnitedHealthcare, at 3:35
• 25. Robert SWEETING, 5-hour Energy-Kenda, at 3:41
• 26. Nathan BROWN, Bontrager, at 3:41
• 27. Bartosz HUZARSKI, NetApp-Endura, at 3:42
• 28. Michael MATTHEWS, Orica-GreenEdge, at 3:44
• 29. Jeremy VENNELL, Bissell, at 3:47
• 30. Andy SCHLECK, RadioShack-Leopard, at 3:53
• 31. Guillaume VAN KEIRSBULCK, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 3:55
• 32. Haimar ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, RadioShack-Leopard, at 3:58
• 33. James ORAM, Bontrager, at 3:59
• 34. Markel IRIZAR ARANBURU, RadioShack-Leopard, at 4:00
• 35. Brian VANDBORG, Cannondale, at 4:11
• 36. Peter SAGAN, Cannondale, at 4:14
• 37. Michael SCHÄR, BMC Racing, at 4:16
• 38. Brent BOOKWALTER, BMC Racing, at 4:17
• 39. Jason MCCARTNEY, Bissell, at 4:19
• 40. Michael TORCKLER, Bissell, at 4:19
• 41. Laurent DIDIER, RadioShack-Leopard, at 4:19
• 42. Carlos VERONA QUINTANILLA, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 4:24
• 43. Matteo TOSATTO, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 4:30
• 44. Amaël MOINARD, BMC Racing, at 4:31
• 45. Michael MORKOV, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 4:42
• 46. José Joao PIMENTA COSTA MENDES, NetApp-Endura, at 4:47
• 47. Gianni MEERSMAN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 4:47
• 48. Kevin DE WEERT, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 4:49
• 49. Jacob RATHE, Garmin-Sharp, at 4:52
• 50. Lucas EUSER, UnitedHealthcare, at 4:57
• 51. Gregor GAZVODA, Champion System, at 5:06
• 52. Wesley SULZBERGER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 5:07
• 53. Antoine DUCHESNE, Bontrager, at 5:15
• 54. Carter JONES, Bissell, at 5:19
• 55. Luis ROMERO AMARAN, Jamis-Hagens Berman, at 5:25
• 56. Jesse ANTHONY, Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 5:26
• 57. Boy VAN POPPEL, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 5:31
• 58. Johan VAN SUMMEREN, Garmin-Sharp, at 5:31
• 59. Tanner PUTT, Bontrager, at 5:38
• 60. Ryan ROTH, Champion System, at 5:38
• 61. Ben JACQUES-MAYNES, Jamis-Hagens Berman, at 5:40
• 62. Oliver ZAUGG, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 5:41
• 63. James STEMPER, 5-hour Energy-Kenda, at 5:43
• 64. Christopher JONES, UnitedHealthcare, at 5:51
• 65. Gavin MANNION, Bontrager, at 6:01
• 66. Caleb FAIRLY, Garmin-Sharp, at 6:04
• 67. John MURPHY, UnitedHealthcare, at 6:08
• 68. Tyler WREN, Jamis-Hagens Berman, at 6:17
• 69. Paul VOSS, NetApp-Endura, at 6:19
• 70. Shawn MILNE, 5-hour Energy-Kenda, at 6:21
• 71. Marsh COOPER, Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 6:34
• 72. Edward KING, Cannondale, at 6:35
• 73. Wesley KREDER, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 6:37
• 74. Jay MCCARTHY, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 6:37
• 75. Lachlan David MORTON, Garmin-Sharp, at 6:49
• 76. Thor HUSHOVD, BMC Racing, at 6:52
• 77. Jasper STUYVEN, Bontrager, at 6:53
• 78. Chad BEYER, Champion System, at 6:56
• 79. James DRISCOLL, Jamis-Hagens Berman, at 7:04
• 80. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Leopard, at 7:06
• 81. Matt BRAMMEIER, Champion System, at 7:07
• 82. Jacobe KEOUGH, UnitedHealthcare, at 7:09
• 83. Jonathan Patrick MC CARTY, Bissell, at 7:12
• 84. Aldo Ino ILESIC, UnitedHealthcare, at 7:20
• 85. Guillaume BOIVIN, Cannondale, at 7:20
• 86. Christopher BALDWIN, Bissell, at 7:23
• 87. Alexander CANDELARIO, Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 7:25
• 88. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 7:37
• 89. Zakkari DEMPSTER, NetApp-Endura, at 7:39
• 90. Chris BUTLER, Champion System, at 7:40
• 91. Kris BOECKMANS, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 7:44
• 92. Frank Kevin PIPP, Bissell, at 7:45
• 93. Daniel SCHORN, NetApp-Endura, at 7:45
• 94. Maciej BODNAR, Cannondale, at 7:58
• 95. Max JENKINS, 5-hour Energy-Kenda, at 8:00
• 96. Alex HOWES, Garmin-Sharp, at 8:02
• 97. Lucas Sebastian HAEDO, Cannondale, at 8:06
• 98. Baden COOKE, Orica-GreenEdge, at 8:13
• 99. Bobbie TRAKSEL, Champion System, at 8:20
• 100. Ken HANSON, Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 8:36
• 101. Bertjan LINDEMAN, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 8:40
• 102. Kin San WU, Champion System, at 8:43
• 103. Jeffry LOUDER, UnitedHealthcare, at 8:44
• 104. David WILLIAMS, 5-hour Energy-Kenda, at 8:47
• 105. Carson MILLER, Jamis-Hagens Berman, at 8:50
• 106. Jonas Aaen JÖRGENSEN, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 9:07
• 107. Thomas SOLADAY, Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 9:20
• 108. Mitchell DOCKER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 9:28
• 109. Ryan EASTMAN, Bontrager, at 9:37
• 110. Timothy DUGGAN, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 9:56
• 111. Cesare BENEDETTI, NetApp-Endura, at 11:30
• OTL Chun Kai FENG, Champion System, at 24:53
• DNS David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp

Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) won the stage 6 individual time trial on Friday at the Amgen Tour of California. The American logged a time of 48:49 over the 31-kilometer course in San Jose.

Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) was second, at 23 seconds. Rohan Dennis (Garmin-Sharp) was third, at 28 seconds.

Van Garderen extended his overall lead to 1:47 over Michael Rogers (Saxo-Tinkoff) and 2:57 over Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge), who vaulted up from fifth overall.

“I’m really struggling for words right now,” said van Garderen. “This feeling’s incredible. Now we just need to bring it home on Saturday.”

The San Jose course followed a circuitous route on the southeastern outskirts of the city and featured two main challenges: a technical descent near the halfway point and the 2.5km climb of Metcalf Road.

Scott Zwizanski (Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies) set the fast early time, finishing in 49:51.

Travis Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge) bested the American by 29 seconds, signaling the start of the heavy hitters. Dennis started 47th and set a new best mark of 49:19. Marco Pinotti (BMC Racing) slotted in behind Dennis by 41 seconds.

Van Garderen was the last man down the start ramp at 3:02 p.m. The American, in yellow, rode a full time trial setup with a rear disc wheel. Much was made of equipment choice before the stage and van Garderen, second overall Michael Rogers (Saxo-Tinkoff), third overall Janier Acevedo (Jamis-Hagens Berman), and fourth overall Matthew Busche (RadioShack-Leopard) each started on their standard TT gear.

Fifth overall Philip Deignan (UnitedHealthcare) rode his TT bike with deep-profile wheels, but no disc. He would go on to finish outside the top 20 and lose his spot in the top five of the GC.

Up the road, stage 1 winner Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) was blazing the course, setting the second fastest time at the intermediate check. The Dutch TT champion attacked the final climb and went under Dennis’ time by five seconds to take his place in the hot seat.

Meanwhile, van Garderen was taking time out of Rogers on the road and putting time into him on the general classification. With 10km to go, the American was up almost a minute.

“I was going entirely off of feel,” said van Garderen. “My wife, my daughter, and my mother-in-law came in this morning and gave me more motivation.”

Acevedo ran into difficulty just up the road, dropping his chain at the base of a short rise. He took a quick bike change, but lost at least 20 seconds on the change.

As soon as the top three hit the final climb, the planned bike changes started. Acevedo jumped from his TT bike and took a standard road frame. Rogers soon did the same. Each rider’s change took inside of six seconds.

Van Garderen, like Busche, continued onto the climb with his TT bike, hands spread into the bullhorns.

Meyer, who entered the day fifth overall, blitzed the climb, registering the third best time when he crossed the line. Busche lost more than two minutes and saw Meyer’s ride push him out of the top five.

Acevedo fought his way up the climb, but had dropped too much time leading into the finale. The race’s former overall leader crossed the line 2:18 off Westra’s time, giving up his overall podium spot for the night.

Rogers climbed out of the saddle and pushed for the top of Metcalf Road. But even with his bike change, Rogers appeared to be losing time on the climb.

“It was a hard time trial, a lot of wind. It was tough,” said Rogers.

The former TT world champion crossed the line in 49:57, third best to that point, but it was all van Garderen.

The American came through as the only man to go under 49 minutes, crossing the line in 48:49.

“It was brutal,” said van Garderen. “Actually, I felt the worst on the flat, headwind section. The climb I actually felt ok.”

Van Garderen’s teammate, Matthias Frank, used the TT to vault into fourth overall, behind Meyer. Acevedo fell to fifth overall, at 3:31.

The Amgen Tour of California continues Saturday with the 147km seventh stage, from Livermore to the hors-categorie summit finish on Mount Diablo.

Evelyn Stevens (Specialized-lululemon) won the Amgen Tour of California’s women’s time trial in San Jose on Friday. Stevens, the former U.S. national champion, finished the 31-kilometer test in 55:49.

Alison Powers (NOW-Novartis for MS) was second, at 56 seconds unofficially. Kristin McGrath (Exergy Twenty16) was third, at 1:24.

“It was really flipping hard,” said Stevens. “It was uphill, it was downhill, it was flat. And then you have that climb.”

Former world champion Amber Neben (Pasta Zara) crashed hard 15km into the race after overcooking a tight, right-hand corner on the course’s technical descent. Neben impacted the road-cut wall with her left side and crash onto her right hip. She sat on the road at the inside of the next corner, with SRAM neutral service staff attending to her, as Stevens, Powers, and Jade Wilcoxson (Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies) blazed past.

Race staff confirmed on Friday night that Neben was in an area hospital for observation, but did not expand on the nature of her injuries.

Powers and Stevens went back and forth over the course’s flat lead-in to the Metcalf Road climb. A number of times, Stevens passed Powers and other riders closely, but officials did not penalize her. Stevens would lead for a kilometer. Powers would draw even and lead for nearly the same distance. The race was on for the win; if Powers could stay with Stevens, her 30-second woman, on the flats, she would have a 30-second buffer on the climb.

The National Racing Calendar leader did so, but it wasn’t enough. Stevens stomped her way up the climb, distancing Powers and riding into the race win.

“I knew that I could win it. You have to be in the race,” said Stevens. “And Powers passed me. She passed me, so we stayed within contention. So once I got to the climb, I was like, ‘Oh man. I’ve got to open a can of whoop-ass.’”