Final Stage of 2008 TOC Off and Running

Santa Clarita hosted the final stage of the 2008 TOC

The seventh and final stage of the Tour of California left Santa Clarita today, as riders embarked on the 93 mile final leg of the American Tour. Intermittent rain mixed with sunshine throughout the morning, but by start time it had trailed off to a light spritzing, with moments of brilliant sunshine.

Boonen and Friere, happy ahead of the Tour's final stages

Riders were in good spirits at the start, despite the forecast for forty degree temperatures and steady rain. Astana was surely looking forward to the end of the race, as their team bus pulled out of the hotel parking lot earlier than any other team. Levi Leipheimer, pulling his suitcase behind him as he left the hotel, stopped for a few pictures and then hopped into the team camper, ready for whatever lay ahead.

Cipollini ahead of the start, in god spirits despite the wet weather

Team High Road, still without a win in the event after Cavendish’s relegation on the sixth stage, would be looking to put a rider in an early breakaway, and then hope for a sprint finish. Kim Kirchin, the Luxembourgian Classics specialist, wouldn’t be riding the final stage, but explained High Road’s plans for the day. “Yesterday we tried all we could for the win. Today, it is a tough climb so we’ll see. We’ll put a rider in the break if more than five go up the road, and then we’ll ride for Cavendish or Ciolek if it stays together. We’ll see who is best of the two at the finish. I’m not riding today, though, too much bad weather”

Bettini, ready to go at the Santa Clarita start line

Quick Step, already with two podiums in the race, would be working for Paolo Bettini, according to super domestique Matteo Tossato. “Today the stage will be for Bettini, and if not him, Tom Boonen. This race is very important for our team to build good condition, it’s very important for Milan-San Remo, Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix.” For their part, Bettini and Boonen were both relaxed, and each promised the Santa Clarita crowd that they would be back to race in 2009.

The bunch heads out for the final stage, led by Dominique Rollin (center), the sprint jersey leader

Steven Cozza, the energizer of the 2008 Tour, spoke a bit at the start about his handlebar mustache. “I’m thinking of joining the WWF after this, so I’m getting ready.” He also had a few moments to speak about his long breakaway in stage six. “Yesterday was a tough day. It was long and drawn out. It’s too bad we got caught with only three kilometers to go, but it’s good TV time for the sponsor and the team, and that’s what is most important. I had fun and was hoping to get the most aggressive jersey, but I lost out on that, so. . . .”

Steven Cozza on his way out of Santa Clarita for the final day's racing

With only one stage to go, Cozza still had a bit of fight left in him, providing that circumstances were to his liking. “Today I’m gonna go for it again. Be active again and try to get into the break ahead of the climb, and if I don’t, then that’s the end of the race for me probably.”

The sprinters: Cipollini, Bettini, Boonen, Friere

Speaking briefly about his upcoming schedule, he said, “Yeah, I go off next to do the Belgian Classics, so I’m looking forward to it.” Euro Peloton will be providing weekly updates on the young pro, as he attackes some of cycling’s biggest monuments. Bon Chance Steven, your fans will be watching!