The Amgen Tour of California shot off on Sunday, May 11, sending 128 elite cyclists sprinting from the state Capitol for the second time in its history.
Mark Cavendish (GBR) of the Omega Pharma–Quick-Step Cycling Team was the victor in what was the closest finish in the event’s nine years.
“I’ve won a sprint by 10 cm before and I’ve lost a sprint by 3 [cm], and in both of them I knew the outcome. That was the first time in my career I really had no idea who’d won…I’m super happy,” said Cavendish of his seventh win of 2014.
With 128 of the world’s elite cyclists (16 teams) all vying for an early hold on the race, an early breakaway of six riders included the peloton’s youngest member, 19-year old Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBR) of the Bissell Development Team. He was awarded the day’s Crunchies Best Young Rider jersey for his efforts.
The breakaway group held the gap at more than five minute at times, until Team Sky and Cavendish’s Team Omega Pharma-Quick-Step helped close down the breakaway and began controlling the tempo of the peloton with 30 miles to go.
The 120-mile bicycle race, with seven days ahead of them, faced strong winds and a climb up Salmon Falls Rd as they headed back to where they started. The longest of the eight-stage race was full of scenic landscapes.
A stiff crosswind on the way to downtown Sacramento split the pack into two pelotons.
Once back in the city, teams made a three-lap circuit around the Capitol as fans screamed and urged the cyclists on.
Cavendish beat John Degenkolb by a narrow margin. Cavendish will wear a yellow jersey as winner of the first stage.
The second stage’s time trials is taking place in Folsom today.
From the Sacramento area, cyclists will head to San Jose, Monterey, Cambria, Pismo Beach, Santa Barabara, Santa Clarita, Pasadena, and then end in Thousand Oaks on Friday May 18.
For for information, including cyclist rosters and stage details, visit amgentourofcalifornia.com. Download the free Tour Tracker app for live race updates, rider backgrounds, and full race results.
About the Amgen Tour of California
The Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race created and presented by AEG that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course that traverses hundreds of miles of California’s iconic highways, byways and coastlines each spring. The teams chosen to participate have included Olympic medalists, Tour de France contenders, and World Champions.
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