For stage 6, the 2016 race will return to the same course Bradley Wiggins won on in 2014
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Sergey Tvetcov bursts out of the starting house at the 2014 Folsom Time Trial.
2014 Tour of California stage 3 podium: Dennis, Wiggins and Phinney(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Brianna Walle, Alison Powers and Tayler Wiles on the 2014 Tour of California women's time trial podium.
Jens Voigt gets aero during the 2014 Folsom Time Trial
A Garmin rider heads out onto the time trial course in Folsom.
Folsom fans cheer a BMC rider at the 2014 Tour of California.
Garmin's Phil Gaimon blasts out of the start house at the Folsom Time Trial.
crowds line the barricades in Folsom for the 2014 Tour of California stage 3 time trial.
Laurens ten Dam hit the deck after colliding with another rider just past the finish of the Folsom Time Trial.
The jersey wearers after the 2014 Tour of California stage 3 time trial.
Jesse Sergent gets ready to start the Folsom Time Trial.
Brianna Walle, Alison Powers and Tayler Wiles on the 2014 Tour of California women's time trial podium.
Peter Sagan was riding for Cannondale at the 2014 Tour of California.
Bontrager's Tao Geoghegan Hart will get another shot at the Folsom time trial this year with Axeon Hagens Berman
John Degenkolb in the green sprinters jersey during the 2014 Folsom Time Trial.
Luis Amaran (Jamis-Hagens Berman) prepares to pass Dennis Van Winden (Belkin Pro Cycling Team)
Greg Van Avermaet will be back at California in 2016.
Lawson Craddock took over the jersey for the best young rider after the Folsom Time Trial stage.
Taylor Phinney saves a rose for the podium hostess after the stage 3 podium at the 2014 Tour of California.
Crowds watch the podium ceremony at stage 3 of the Tour of California
Tiago Machado finishes the time trial at the 2014 Tour of California.
Cavendish makes his way to the finish of the Folsom Time Trial.
Lawson Craddock finished 13th in the 2014 time trial in Folsom.
Lawson Craddock shows the pain after finishing the 2014 time trial in Folsom.
A UnitedHealthcare rider cruises along Folsom Lake in 2014(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
TV motos follow Bradley Wiggins on his way to victory in the 2014 Folsom Time Trial.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Peter sagan rides toward the finish of the 2014 Folsom Time Trial.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Rohan Dennis finished second to Wiggins at the 2014 Folsom Time Trial while riding for Garmin.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Mark Cavendish turns toward the finish of the Folsom Time Trial course.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Bradley Wiggins won the 2014 Folsom Time Trial by 44 seconds over Rohan Dennis and 52 seconds over Taylor Phinney(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
UnitedHealthcare's Jonny Clarke gets underway at the 2014 Folsom Time Trial.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Tom Boonen in action in Folsom during the 2014 time trial.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Bradley Wiggins digs deep on his way to winning the 2014 Folsom Time Trial.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
After taking the race lead in early sprints, Mark Cavendish wore yellow into the 2014 Folsom Time Trial.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
A Garmin rider makes his way through Folsom during the stage 3 time trial of the 2014 Tour of California.
Bradley Wiggins flies over the roads of Folsom during the stage 3 time trial of the 2014 Tour of California.
Taylor Phinney en route to the finish of the stage 3 time trial at the 2014 Tour of California.
Rohan Dennis en route to the finish of the stage 3 time trial at the 2014 Tour of California.
Taylor Phinney finished third during the stage 3 time trial in Folsom at the 2014 Tour of California.
Bradley Wiggins shows the form that earned the win in Folsom in 2014.
Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) on the podium after winning the stage 3 time trial at the 2014 Tour of California
Alison Powers digs deep to win the 2014 Tour of California Women's Time Trial in Folsom.
Alison Powers on the podium after winning the 2014 Tour of California Women's Time Trial in Folsom.
Mark Cavendish leans into a corner during the 2014 Folsom Time Trial.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Wiggins' form for this year's tour is still a question mark as he has basically retired from road racing to focus on the track for the 2016 Rio Olympics, but both Dennis and Phinney have returned to set up a podium rematch of sorts. Wiggins won the 2014 race against the cock by 44 seconds over Dennis and by 52 seconds over Phinney. This year they'll also have to battle with Time Trial World Champion Vasil Kiryienka (Team Sky), US champion Andrew Talansky and a host of other WorldTour riders.
The 20.3km course in Folsom is mostly flat and not very technical, so the contest will be about power and speed as the riders make their way from downtown out toward the turn around near Folsom Lake. We've collected some photos from the 2014 contest ahead of Friday's stage. Check them out in the photo gallery above.
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