Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team had two strong performances in the 29km AMGEN Tour of California Stage 5 individual time trial in Bakersfield. As a result, their GC contention remains strong as they head into the final three stages.
Peter Velits had an impressive split time of 15'56,' and finished 6th amongst the time trial specialists on Thursday with a time of 36'48", while Levi Leipheimer, who has been racing despite still recovering from being hit from behind a car while training in early April, finished 17th, 1'44" back. David Zabriskie (Garmin-Barracuda) won the time trial with a time of 35'59". Velits moved into 5th place overall.
"I think considering the circumstances it was OK," Leipheimer said of his performance. 'If I think back three weeks ago it's a big improvement. So that is encouraging, and I think I will continue to get better and gain form for the future — especially a race like the Tour. I am looking at the positive side."
As far as the course, Velits did not think the course was too difficult when it came to handling the bike. However, it was deceptively difficult in terms of how much climbing was involved.
"The parcour was not technical at all," Velits said. I didn't touch the brakes the whole time. It's a really simple road, but the profile, it seemed it was going to be flat, but it was not flat all the time. It was a bit rolling, I had to push through the pedals. There was one significant climb at the end and the heat made it really difficult. You could see even in the small rolling hills it's not that easy and it's not flat."
The team looks next to Stage 6, a 186km race from Palmdale to Big Bear.
"Right after the second stage Levi came to me and said you can do your race, you don't have to take care of me because I am not 100 percent," Velits said. "Since then we really have both been the two leaders. Then after the time trial I've moved a little bit ahead of him and he's going to help me on Mt. Baldy, he said. Levi is not 100 percent, so it is really professional that he is not thinking this is his race and he won't help anyone. He's really professional and a good teammate, and it's great to have such a helper like Levi."