Chris Horner, Levi Leipheimer: Don't expect drama, predictiable path ahead

RadioShack teammates Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer ended Stage 6 in the same place they began - in the top two places in the standings after six days of racing in the 2011 Amgen Tour of California.

Stage 6 was won by time trial specialist David Zabriskie in a time of 30:35 around Solvang's 24 km (15-mile) track. Behind Zabriskie, the time trial at Solvang failed to deliver anything significant in the overall standing as all the race leaders finished within less than a minute of each other.

It wasn't enough to make any significant changes in the general classification.

RadioShack's Levi Leipheimer, also a time trial specialist, won the Tour of California three previous times, primarily through dominating performances in the stage. However, Leipheimer was only able to cut Horner's lead in half. Horner now has a 38 second lead on his teammate.

UnitedHealthcare's Rory Sutherland moved into the third podium spot, a full minute behind Leipheimer. It was the only significant change of the day.

Sutherland leads teammates Garmin teammates Christian Vande Velde and Thomas Danielson by a slim margin of 1 second and 6 seconds, respectively.

Stage 6 failed to cause any shake-up among the leaders, leading to predictable remainder of the race.

Horner and Leipheimer are teammates and co-leaders on Team RadioShack. Team tactics will likely mean Leipheimer will not attack Horner on Stage 6's Mt. Baldy climb.

Leipheimer would only take the lead in default, if Horner completely falters on the climb.

Horner and Leipheimer will most likely work together to maintain their lead, to take the top two podium spots for Team RadioShack at the end of the race.

Still, a battle for third place remains where teammates Vande-Velde and Danielson will work together to put a gap on Sutherland and overcome his small lead.

Stage 7 will feature a treacherous Hors or beyond-category climb up Mt. Baldy to the finish line.

Stage 8 is the final stage takes the peloton to Southern California from Santa Clarita to Thousand Oaks. Stage 8 can be expected to be another opportunity for the sprint teams or possibly breakaway group to take the stage win.