Update #1: The Bikers Are Coming

With Stages 1-4 Complete, Solvang Is Next

Mother Nature was a major factor Thursday, as Stage 4 of the
Amgen Tour of
California made its way into San Luis Obispo along the rain
slicked roads of Highway 1. Current race leader- and California
native- Levi Leipheimer successfully defended his yellow jersey
today, navigating the 132 miles just fast enough to hold a 3 second
lead in the overall competition. However, the big story of the day
was the ridiculously close finish between stage winner Paolo
Bettini and Gerald Ciolek. With hundreds of screaming fans and
ringing cow bells providing a deafening backdrop, the two riders
blazed across the finish line a mere inch apart from one another
for a certified photo finish- with Bettini’s time of 5:05:47
garnering him the stage victory. The Stage 5 time trial kicks of in
Solvang at 11 am today with Leipheimer looking hold off his closest
competitors Jens Voigt of Germany- a mere 3 seconds back- and Rory
Sutherland of Austria only 15 seconds off the leaders pace. As of
press time, the roads are all ready closed in the Valley with
thousands of race fans stuffing the quaint little Danish village to
its maximum capacity. Sunny skies have retuned and the action
should be fantastic. Check in later today for the latest
update.