On team Kelly Benefit: "We’ve been trying, and hopefully today will play out in our favor. Each day the field is getting smaller and smaller, so that helps our team. And I’m feeling pretty good so we’ll see. I tend to do better when conditions aren’t good. There should be high winds and maybe some rain, so it won’t be a typical SoCal day. As a sprinter, I have to hope Astana and Quick Step will keep everything together. I think CSC and Slipstream will really take it to Astana today."
Jonas Carney, Director Sportif, Kelly Benefit Strategies
On Kelly Benifit's chances: "Our strongest rider is Alex Candelerio, he has incredible form right now. Unfortunately we are suffering from the same virus that the rest of the peloton has, so we have lost some guys and may lose more today. But Alex has been our strongest guy, 11th on stage 2 and 8th on stage 4, so he may be able to get onto the podium if it is a bunch kick. And he’s climbing well enough that even if there is a small group, he can still keep pace. We’ll be opportunistic and look for chances, but we are getting low on riders. It’s also tough as a division three continental team to compete against Pro Tour riders, so we’ll see."
Ignatias Konovalovas, Credit Agricole
On teammate Hivert: "Hivert is sick today, and the weather isn’t so good, so we’re all trying to stay healthy. We would like to get into a breakaway, so we’ll go for it!"
Thomas Voeckler, Bouyges Telecom
On stage six: "There will probably be a breakaway that may stay away, so we’ll try to put one guy at the front to try to win the stage. The race goes very fast and it’s bit hard for us, but we’ll see."
Mario Cipollini, Rock Racing
On, of course, himself: "Now that there is no rain, it is incredible. I’ll try today for the win and also tomorrow. It is the first time riding in California, it is an incredible race. I finished my career but now I come back and am happy to be here."
Thomas Petersen, Slipstream
Petersen's big plans: "I’m going more for the overall than the young rider jersey today."
Luciano Pagliarini, Saunier Duval
How Luca's feeling: "Yeah, I think maybe I have a chance for the win. We’ll wait for the stage to unfold and then try to grab the win if it is a bunch sprint. I feel good, so we’ll do our best."
Oscar Friere, Rabobank
Rounding into form: "Today we have maybe the best chance to win because the course in the beginning is a little hard. We have a chance actually for the next two days for the win. My condition is getting better so we’ll see. Today and tomorrow we have a good opportunity."
Juan Jose Haedo, CSC
Hopeful Haedo: "Probably it will be a sprint finish, but it will depend on who gets into the breakaway. We’ll see how the stage unfolds and also if the overall battle changes."
Mark Cavendish, High Road
Cav on the stage, his future: "It’s looking like a windy day ahead and it’s not the flattest stage, so maybe the race will explode today. If it does come down to a bunch sprint, I think we have as good a chance as any team for the win, and we need a win this week. My goal for this year is consistency. It won’t be as easy to win eleven times again, but I’ll try."
Janez Brackovich, Astana
On Astana's chances: "We’re gonna defend the jersey of course, and we’ll bring the jersey to the end. We’ll keep it tomorrow also. I’m confident we have a strong team. It will be hard but I think we can do it. I feel OK, actually better than the first few days."
Levi Leipheimer, Astana
Levi is cautiously opimistic: “Long way to go really. Yesterday was a huge day for us but it is far from over, that’s for sure.”
Karsten Kroon, CSC
On CSC's stage six plan: "Yeah, we’ll for sure make Astana hurt today. It’s a really hard stage and I think it will be a really exciting stage today. No giving up for us man!"
On his chances in the Wallonian Classics: "Last year I had really bad preparation for the season. First I broke my wrist snowboarding, and then I broke a few ribs here in California last year in a crash, so that was tough. Nothing like that this year though, so I think I’ll be ready for the classics."
Henk Vogels, Toyota United
Hendricus predicts: "I think we’re just gonna sit tight today and let those sprint points go up the road. I think High Road are really desperate for a win here today, so I think you’ll see them try to bring it back for Cavendish. I don’t think CSC can win the overall any more, so I think they’ll want to try to get a stage win as well. CSC and Slipstream will probably try to put Astana under pressure, but Astana is strong. They have only two more days to ride at the front and that’s it, so they should be able to win the Tour."
Steven Cozza, Slipstream
On Slipstream's and his chances for the day: "We definitely want to get into the break, and if I can do that I think I can win the stage. So we’ll see. I think we can count on High Road to help us out with attacking. We’re all getting better from the sickness. We have all hit rock bottom, and now we’re all improving each day."
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