Lance Armstrong Cycles Through the Santa Clarita Valley.
Compiled by Margie Anne Clark Photo by Margie Anne Clark, City Life Communications
Cyclist icon Lance Armstrong and fellow racers gear up for the start of Stage 7 of the Amgen Tour of California on Town Center Drive of the Westfield Valencia Town Center.

Stage 7 top-five finishers:

1) Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA), AG2R La Mondiale

2) Hayden Roulston (NZL), Cervelo Test Team

3) Pieter Weening (NED), Rabobank

4) Markus Zberg (SUI), BMC Racing Team

5) Martin Elmiger (SUI), AG2R La Mondiale

General Classification top-five standings as of Stage 7:

1) Levi Leipheimer (USA), Astana

2) David Zabriskie (USA), Garmin-Slipstream

3) Michael Rogers (AUS), Team Columbia-High Road

4) Jens Voigt (GER), Team Saxo Bank

5) Thomas Lövkvist (SWE), Team Columbia-High Road

Stage 7 jersey winners include:
Amgen Race Leader Jersey- Levi Leipheimer (USA), Astana
Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Rider Jersey- Christian VendeVelde (USA), Garmin-Slipstream
Herbalife Sprint Jersey- Mark Cavendish (GBR), Team Columbia-High Road
Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey- Robert Gesink (NED), Rabobank
California Travel & Tourism Commission King of the Mountain (KOM) Jersey- Jason McCartney (USA), Team Saxo Bank
STAGE 7 TOMORROW:

Saturday, Feb. 21 – Pasadena (88.9 mi/143 km)

Start Time: Noon PT

Estimated Finish Time: 3:15-3:50 p.m. PT

Satellite Feed Time: 4:30-4:45 p.m. PT (7:30-7:45 p.m. ET)

(Coordinates can be found at http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/news/media-info.html)

The race from Santa Clarita to Pasadena proved to be a difficult one during the final stage of the 2008 Amgen Tour of California, and this year will be no different. The first 25 miles of Stage 7, sponsored by Herbalife, includes a gradual climb from Santa Clarita, through Acton, to the intersection of Angeles Forest Road. The route continues uphill, showcasing the beauty of the San Gabriel Mountains, to the second highest elevation ever reached by the Amgen Tour of California on the towering Millcreek Summit (4,906 ft.). Descending with a 15-mile run to Angeles Crest Highway, the route begins a fast plunge to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. After more than 65 miles from Santa Clarita to Pasadena, with the mountains and the Rose Bowl serving as the backdrop, the peloton will complete the stage with five, five-mile laps on a very demanding circuit through the area surrounding the Rose Bowl. This course will provide a challenging, action-packed day leading up to the finale on Sunday.

For full results, archived footage, GPS data, course information, race play-by-play and more, please visit the official race Web site at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

In addition to the Web site, fans can view the race on the daily VERSUS broadcasts. Stage 6 will air on VERSUS tomorrow at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET.

About the Amgen Tour of California

The largest cycling event in America, the Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, presented by AEG, that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course. Building on last year’s third-annual stage race, which attracted

1.6 million spectators, the 2009 Amgen Tour of California will be expanded to cover more than 750 miles over nine days from February 14-22, 2009.