2007 Stage 6 Quotes
Levi Leipheimer (Santa Rosa, Calif.) General Classification Leader
Discovery Channel Pro Cycling TeamStage 6 Post-Race Comments
On his team’s performance
“I don’t have any words to describe how much my team supported me today. They really had to dig deep. To be honest, we weren’t exactly calm, but now you know why this team has won the Tour de France. Everyone came out today to make us lose, but it’s no fluke that this team has won the Tour de France seven times.”
On the competition
“This year’s Amgen Tour of California has been brutal. It has been battle, after battle, after battle. Today the notch was turned up to the hardest racing there is. Like I said before, everybody came out with all their guns firing to crack us and it was a very hard race. We had some misfortune in the beginning. We were down for a while and we had to wait a long time to come back. There’s not much more that I can say than what you saw today. We really dug deep.”
On entering the final stage
“I know it’s viewed as an easy stage, but we’re going to stay focused and it’s not over until it’s over. This race has been much harder than last year…we are going to stay focused and look forward to the finish.”
On his relationship with teammate Ivan Basso
“I think Ivan is a great guy. One of the nicest, most generous people I’ve ever met. When someone sacrifices as much as he has for me, that goes a long way in solidifying a friendship and bond.”
On racing in his home state
“Ever since they announced that there was going to be an Amgen Tour of California I was on board. It has lived up to everyone’s expectations and is maybe even exceeding them. Everyone was speaking very highly after the race last year and it will just continue to grow. Now that we have some history with the race with the Sierra Road and Balcolm Canyon climbs, that really goes a long way in establishing a history and tradition with the race.”
Juan Jose “J.J.” Haedo (ARG), Stage 6 winner
Team CSCStage 6 Post-Race Comments
On overall competition
“All of the teams did an awesome job today.”
On the race today
“Everyone was at full gas all day long… I had to go really deep the whole day. I think it was the hardest day in the Amgen Tour of California for sure. It was a hard day for the sprinters to go over the climb, there was a lot of attacking. I made my way back to the big group before the third KOM, and then I tried to stay in the front with my team and wait for the final sprint. ...coming into the last kilometer everyone was working for themselves… It’s always good to win. Today was a hard day for me. I went through really hard times; I got dropped once in the climbs. When you go through all that and then try to win, you’ve got to go deep.”
On sprint finish
“I didn’t expect it to be a finish sprint. With three kilometers to go I had to prepare myself to sprint anyway.”
On tomorrow’s finale
“Let’s enjoy today and see what happens tomorrow.”
Stuart O’Grady (AUS), Stage 6 Adobe Most Aggressive Rider Winner
Team CSCStage 6 Post-Race Comments
On the race today
“I initiated the breakaway… The objective was to put pressure on the Discovery Channel team and see if we could get the leader’s jersey. We had some very good riders in the group, including two former time trial world champions, and I thought we had a pretty good chance of success. At one point the chase started to gain ground on us and we worked hard to pull away again. We were working very well together… When they finally absorbed us in the final laps I went back to try and help J.J. in the sprint, but there was nothing left in my legs. It wasn’t a question of mind over matter!”
Christophe Laurent (FRA), Leader, California Travel and Tourism King of the Mountains
Credit AgricoleStage 6 Post-Race Comments
On overall competition
“Today was very good for me; I was very motivated to win. They attacked me on the climbs and Jurgen Van de Walle was very strong. He attacked me, but I was able to ride just behind him on the first two King of the Mountains (KOM) climbs, but on the third he got away from me.”
On the difficulty of defending his KOM lead
“I am happy it’s done. Tomorrow there is no more KOM!”
On the significance of his win
“The climbing in this race was quite challenging, so it is very satisfying to win the King of the Mountains jersey. And the Amgen Tour of California is a very important race. I am very happy to take the (KOM) jersey in such an important race,”
Bjarne Riis
Director Sportif, CSCStage 6 Post-Race Comments
On the race overall
“Although it’s a young race, its been nice. Its been an interesting race, and first of all I want to say the courses are very good. There is great potential in this race. I think it has a big future.”
Shawn Hunter
President AEG Sports, Race PresentersStage 6 Post-Race Comments
On the race and fans:
“It’s exciting, and people were curious how we would do in our sophomore year. The CHP told us today that point to point it was the biggest stage we’ve had in our two years. We’ve had some great racing out there. We’re very proud and more committed than ever. We love this sport. It’s not just one of America’s biggest spectator sports but we hope to be one of the biggest in the world.”
On the possible inclusion of the Amgen Tour of California in the ProTour
“We’re flattered that we are being considered to be included in the ProTour.”
Pat McQuaid
President, Union Cyclist International (UCI)Stage 6 Post-Race Comments
On the race overall
“This race is bigger than it was last year. There are more people on the sidelines. The organization has gotten bigger. I’m very happy with the organizers’ continued commitment to this event. There’s a lot of things here that European races could learn from. Even only in its second year, the history has started and the acceptance of the event has started. I think you’ve arrived when you’ve gotten to that stage. I’m very, very happy to come back to this event that is growing and is one day going to be a very important event on the UCI cycling calendar. “
On the possible inclusion of the Amgen Tour of California in the ProTour
“I’m committed to globalizing the sport of cycling and that includes bringing cycling to countries outside of Europe. I do think that the sport and the ProTour can go global. This is an event that would be very much in the sights of a global ProTour. The US is one of the family members of the UCI. The correct partners are here in this event to bring that forward.”
On the growing prestige
“It is very prestigious for any rider to win a stage here, even in its second year.”
Steve Johnson
President, USA CyclingStage 6 Post-Race Comments
On the impact of the Amgen Tour of California
“I think it’s safe to say that we couldn’t be happier. We have the best racers here (at the Amgen Tour of California) in the world on American soil. There are people out there watching the race that will one day be standing on a podium as American cyclists as a result of seeing this race.”
On American riders
“The success of American riders abroad definitely feeds back to the interest in the sport.”
On the possible inclusion of the Amgen Tour of California in the ProTour
“The important thing is to bring the world’s best to American soil. If this were to become a ProTour event it would be in a league of its own.”
Jim Birrell
Race Director, Amgen Tour of CaliforniaStage 6 Post-Race Comments
On the growth of the race
“Today was an epic day out on the road. It was a fantastic day. We look forward to the growth of this sport here on American soil. Growing (the race) a day or two is certainly in our vision. We’ve had a lot of prospects join us on this year’s tour.”
