and welcome to VeloNews.com's Live Coverage of the fifth stage of the 2008 Tour of California. Today's time trial is going to be a very decisive stage. With the leader's jersey still within the grasp of several riders, we'll see quite a few people giving it their all today.

Riders will start in reverse order of the G.C. Here are the first five riders up, starting at 12:00 PST:
1. Bryce Mead (USA), Jelly Belly, 12:00:00
2. Roman Kilun (USA), Health Net Maxxis, 12:01:00
3. Scott Tietzel (USA), Jelly Belly, 12:02:00
4. Scott Nydam (USA), BMC, 12:03:00
5. Michael Creed (USA), Rock Racing, 12:04:00

Here's where the top ten sit on the G.C.

1. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Astana, 20:44:06
2. Fabian Cancellara (Swi), CSC, 0:13
3. Robert Gesink* (Nl), Rabobank, 0:15
4. David Millar (GB), Slipstream-Chipotle, 0:20
5. Gustav Larsson (Swe), CSC, 0:21
6. David Zabriskie (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle
7. Christian Vandevelde (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle, 0:23
8. Christopher Horner (USA), Astana, 0:25
9. Alexandre Moos (Swi), BMC, 0:29
10. Pena Grisales Victor Hugo (Col), Rock Racing, 0:31

the sun is finally shining on the riders in Solvang

is on the road. We have two riders on the course and it will be at least 90 minutes before we see the heavy hitters come to the start house.

is much nicer than we expected it to be. Right now it's sunny and the winds are only around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. and we've seen some scattered showers today, but it's clear now.

The Aussie from Bissel and we should be getting time splits soon. That will give us an idea what competitors will have to aim for later in the day.

for split times and timing data.

As most of you know, today's starting order - as with any stage race time trial - is in reverse order of GC. So the first rider off at noon was Bryce Meade from Jelly Belly and the last rider off is race leader Levi Leipheimer.

We see Mike Creed on the road today. We're glad to see him out there, because we know he's been suffering from the crud and had doubts he was even going to make it to the finish, both Wednesday and Thursday.

The scattered showers are showing up again.

The top ten riders will be rolling off the start line in about an hour-fifteen.

Until then, riders will be rolling out of the start house at 1:00 intervals, but these final ten will start at two minute intervals:

1:35 p.m. - PENA GRISALES Victor Hugo RRC
1:37 p.m. - MOOS Alexandre BMC
1:39 p.m. - VANDEVELDE Christian TSL
1:41 p.m. - HORNER Christopher AST
1:43 p.m. - ZABRISKIE David TSL
1:45 p.m. - LARSSON Gustav CSC
1:47 p.m. - MILLAR David TSL
1:49 p.m. - GESINK Robert* RAB
1:51 p.m. - CANCELLARA Fabian CSC
1:53 p.m. - LEIPHEIMER Levi AST

But we should be getting that feed up and running pretty soon.

BMC rider Frank Pipp is on course. Here's an interesting interview with him from a day or two ago, where he talks about what it's like being a criterium specialist trying to stay with an elite field on a very hilly day.

National cyclocross champion Tim Johnson is on the road. We'll try to get time checks for him.

Man, people like that guy. He's off on the road.

If you have any questions, hit the "Contact the Editors" link below the update window. We'll try to answer as many as possible.

It's spotty. There are portions of the road that are a bit damp... and others quite dry.

has the finished with the fastest time. He's turned in a 34:58.06. Mike Creed is in and he has a 36:47.488.

is coming back out.

The Kelly Benefits rider has taken over the hot seat, with a time of 34:48.055.

for weather are pretty accurate. It's cloudy and the rain is sporadic.

We got an interesting note from one reader:

"I am wondering if course roads are prepared in any way before each stage, including sweeping crud away. For example, I have attended Tour de France stages in two different years and noticed that, at least occasionally, some course roads were re-paved in anticipation of the race. In contrast, while waiting for the race last Tuesday, I was standing near a pothole. Also have there been more flat tires in this race than you might normally expect?"

Certainly any good organizer will do the minimum of sweeping corners and scanning the route for crud, but you're right, in some small communities in Europe, entire stretches of road are repaved and repaired. Indeed, some of Italy's toughest passes were actually paved in anticipation of Giro stages.

just blasted in with a 32:52.175. Jelly Belly's Bernard Van Ulden had just moved into the top spot, with an impressive time of 32:54.959, more than 1:20 better than John Murphy's, but nw his in second by two seconds.

Years and years of toying with our live updates, we've tried most-recent-first and we've tried stacking updates so that you need to scroll to the bottom for the latest. The one thing we've learned is that no matter what we do, half of you aren't happy. So the choice is yours. Check the option on top of the viewer box if you want the most recent update on top. You make the call.

Finishes with 34:39, 1:54 off the best time.

finishes in 33:11. That's the fourth best of the day, so far. Not bad for a guy we thought might be forced into retirement after last year's Tour de France crash.

finishes with a time of 35:47.720, 24th best so far, one slot above Tony Cruz from BMC, bettering his younger rival by three seconds.

The weather may finally be cooperating. It's been sketchy for much of the morning, but the sun is working it's way out, but the wind is now picking up.

comes in with a time of 32:16, nearly 30 seconds ahead of Belojvosciks' time. He's a world pursuit champ and it worked for him today.

Brian R. writes in with a common question:

"Question for the guys at ToC ITT: Why do the racers warm up with the things sticking in their nostrils?"

A lot of riders use cotton soaked with eucalyptus oil to open up their sinuses. We've heard various opinions regarding the value of that, but it sure does smell good.

on some of the biggies today. 10th placed Victor Hugo Pena starts in about 10 minutes. We see George Hincapie on the road.

has turned in the second-best ride of the day, thus far. The Astana man turned in a 32:21.595, five seconds off of Wiggins' time.

VeloNews editor in chief Ben Delaney picks Tom Zirbel as an early starter to watch out for. Zirbel started at 12:58. The Bissell rider was 12th last year in the Solvang TT. Zirbel is in with a strong 32:10, five seconds better than Wiggins and the new leader in the hot seat.

Victor Hugo Pena is in the start house. We'll see riders going off at two-minute intervals from here on out and every one of these guys is within 30 seconds of the yellow jersey.

from BMC.

came in with a strong ride. He powered in with a 32:54, good enough for fifth.

Will his 32:10 hold for the day?

Several of the men lining up right now hope - and expect - to beat that.

is on the road.

Christian Vande Velde and Chris Horner are out on the road.

the only American to win stages in all three grand tours, is looking smooth, decked out in his Captain America national TT champion's skin suit.

Robert W. writes:

"Yesterday you guys mentioned how much more interesting stages like yesterday's might be if race radio were done away with. I totally agree. But what are the real chances of it ever happening? Have there ever been any motions more substantial than wistful statements by spectators and journalists?"

No, we agree. It won't happen, but complaining is an American tradition, no?

is on the road. Meanwhile, CSC's Bobby Julich just came in with a time of 33:04. That's 10th best of the day.... Janez Brojkovic (Astana) comes in right on his heels with a time of 32:05, five seconds better than the time of Tom Zirbel.

is in the start house. Robert Gesink is out on the road. We're picking him as the day's dark horse. He has a ton of potential. He may surprise folks, even today.

is stepping into the start house. The race leader won here last year with a blistering time of 29:40.44.

on his way.

is really driving it hard out there. The man in the rainbow skinsuit is on a flat portion of the course and is powering through with a big, big gear.

has come across the line with a 32:59, 12th best of the day... and just in front of Bobby Julich.

Ben Jacques Maynes (Bissell) comes in with a 32:11. His time is just one second off of his teammate Tom Zirbel and good enough for third, so far.

at the halfway mark, has turned in a 16:55, which is a little slower than Bradley Wiggins, who is now in fifth place.

has turned in a 16:40 split at the halfway mark. That's the fastest of the day to this point.

has set a new best time at the halfway mark. He has a 16:38.

turns in a weak intermediate time of 17:13

has set the new best time. His 31:31 is a full 33 seconds out of Brajkovic's time. Wow.

comes in with a time of 32:28. That's good enough for ninth.

is heading into the finish.

earns a time of 32:01, could enough for second, but that's still 30 seconds off of Vande Velde's time.

The Astana rider comes in with a 31:44, 12 seconds off of Vande Velde's time.

is within one kilometer of the finish.

is the new leader. He turns in a 31:15, 16 seconds ahead of Vande Velde's time. Nice work. That means Slipstream has three riders in the top four.

Robert Gesink comes in with a time of 32:49. He holds his best young rider's jersey, but may lose a spot or two on GC.

Comes in with a time of 31:52... the fourth best of the day.

Leipheimer takes the stage with a 30:46, that's a full 28 seconds ahead of David Millar. He made it look easy

1. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 30:47
2. David Millar (GB) Slipstream, at 0:29
3. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Slipstream, at 0:45
4. Gustav Larsson (Swe) CSC, at 0:57
5. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) CSC, at 1:05
6. David Zabriskie (USA) Slipstream, at 1:15
7. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana, at 1:19
8. Tom Zirbel (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling, at 1:24
9. Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell, at 1:25
10. Kim Kirchen (Lux) High Road, at 1:28

Congratulations to Levi Leipheimer. He's put his mark on this race in spectacular fashion.

Looking ahead to tomorrow's stage, covers a hilly 105 miles from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita. That kicks off at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow. Remember this is the stage in which George Hincapie broke his wrist. We're wishing him better luck tomorrow.

Meanwhile, check in soon for results, a complete race report and other features right here on VeloNews.com

Thanks again for checking in today and we hope to see you tomorrow.