It's going to be pretty hard [to catch Landis]. This is pretty much it.

Man, I wasn't even close to that! I didn't really see the course until this morning. I rode it this morning on my Time Trial bike. Then I rode it on my road bike. I felt comfortable on my Time Trial bike so I went with that. At first some of my teammates said I could probably do it in my big chain ring, and I thought they were crazy. I had the mechanics put on a 42. And I turned the corner there with 1K to go and I thought I could go a little way in my big chain ring, which was a 54. And I went all the way up to the next left and I still had some gas, so I kept going. I did switch to the 42 with about 500 meters to go. I was surprised how fast I was going and how quickly the last bit went. I was just giving it everything I had. I had heard what the fastest time was before I left the starting house. So when I crossed the line, I looked down and I knew I'd won. It was a great feeling.

The professionalism (of the race) is what keeps the European teams coming back and what makes the American riders so focused. The Coors Classic and Tour Du Pont were huge things that got George and I into cycling and now it's up to us to inspire the next generation (of cyclist). I think the Tour of California can help up with that.

This is Lance's world and we're squirrels just trying to get a nut. If he comes here ready to play, we're all suffering.

My work with Bjarne and the rest of the team has definitely played the main part in me achieving these kinds of results this late in my career,

I did have a contract for next year, but Bjarne has since decided to open up the contract and basically make a new one for two more seasons. It's rewarding me for sticking with him when he was having money problems, and also for doing so well.