The 2012 Tour of California heads to Bakersfield on Thursday with an individual time trial through Bakersfield. This will be an 18.4 mile run from Mt. Vernon Ave. at Alfred Harrell Highway to Panorama Dr. A single racer should take anywhere from 36 minutes to 42 minutes to finish Stage 5. There will be a slight climb to the finish line but nothing too challenging.
Peter Sagan will look to win his fifth stage, but he may want to rest for Friday's stage, which ends at Big Bear Lake. Sagan owns a 16-second lead over Garmin-Barracuda's Heinrich Haussler. Could this be the day Haussler overtakes Sagan or will the other riders -- none closer than 34 seconds -- close the gap and emerge with the yellow jersey?
Start time: 2:00 p.m. MT
Expected finish (last racer): 4:55 p.m. MT
TV: NBC Sports Network, 3:00 p.m. MT
Stick with this Tour of California StoryStream, cycling blog Podium Cafe and the Tour of California's official site for more race coverage as it happens.