Category: Tour of California
The expected sprint in Modesto resulted in an unexpected Stage 4 finish as Francesco Chicchi (right) beat Juan Jose Haedo and Mark Cavendish at the Amgen Tour of California on Wednesday.
The highly touted HTC-Columbia team appeared disorganized in the closing miles and wasn't able to set up its typical lead-out train for star sprinter Cavendish until a few hundred yards before the finish.
Chicchi (Liquigas) and Haedo (Saxo Bank) also appeared near the front and took advantage of the apparent confusion. QuickStep did a lot of the work at the front of the peloton for Tom Boonen, but he wasn't a factor in the finish.
Meanwhile, overall leader David Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions) finished comfortably in the main group …..
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/05/19/surprising-result-for-sprinters-in-modesto-at-tour-of-california/
Time trial specialist Dave Zabriskie won a three-man sprint to the finish of Stage 3 in Santa Cruz on Tuesday, but a fist pump nearly cost him the win and the overall lead at the Amgen Tour of California.
The Garmin Transitions cyclist narrowly beat Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia) and Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack) after the three formed a breakaway at the base of the Bonny Doon climb, about 20 miles from the finish of the 110-mile race that started in San Francisco.
While Leipheimer set the pace on the steep climb, all three worked together on the final 15-mile run after the summit to hold off a fast-charging chase group. The three topped Bonny Doon with a 90 second lead, which dwindled to 17 seconds as they neared the finish line.
The three leaders took turns as they passed through Santa Cruz …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/05/18/zabriskie-surfs-to-narrow-win-in-santa-cruz-leads-tour-of-california/
Australian Brett Lancaster plowed across rain-slicked streets in front of a 26-man breakaway group to win Stage 2 and take the overall lead at the Amgen Tour of California on Monday.
That group of two dozen cyclists included some of the pre-race favorites, who now have nearly a minute-and-a-half lead over the rest of the peloton after only the second stage.
Among them are Levi Leipheimer and Lance Armstrong of Team RadioShack, Michael Rogers of HTC-Columbia, Andy Schleck of Saxo Bank, and David Zabriskie and Tom Danielson of Garmin-Transitions.
Commentators believed the breakaway was set up by five members of Team RadioShack on the Trinity Grade, the last of three steep climbs on the 110-mile bike race from Davis to Santa Rosa …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/05/17/unseasonable-rain-swamps-stage-2-of-tour-of-california-major-split-in-peloton/
One of the coolest things about the Amgen Tour of California is how the real-time video coverage and other bike race information is streamed online at the website.
Since its inception in 2006, bike race organizers have offered Tour Tracker by Adobe at the website so those without access to TV can watch the entire bike race.
Tour Tracker has returned to the Tour of California this year so that desk jockeys can follow the action of the bicycling road warriors through the race.
Coverage was spotty and not always a pretty sight during the race's inaugural year in 2006. Since then, the Adobe team …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/05/17/tour-tracker-returns-for-2010-tour-of-california/
Mark Cavendish escaped at least two crashes in the final circuit around Sacramento on Sunday to win Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California.
The speedster from HTC-Columbia just barely bested Juan Jose Haedo, who rode Cavendish's slipstream toward the finish but faded when he tried to pass.
With HTC-Columbia leading out their sprinter at the head of the peloton, there was no danger of him being caught in the carnage back in the field. Other well-known sprinters like Tom Boonen and Stuart O'Grady weren't so lucky, however.
One crash occurred soon after the bell lap started and the second occurred within sight of the finish line. So many riders went down or were held up by the collisions ….
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/05/16/crashes-mar-finish-of-stage-1-at-2010-tour-of-california/
[Corrects Universal Sports schedule for Giro d'Italia]
The Giro d'Italia and Amgen Tour of California bike races will be running on simultaneous days for the week beginning this Sunday.
While the conflict created havoc for some teams that either had to choose between the two bike races or split their squads between California and Italy, all it's going to do for cycling fans is put them in front of the TV for more hours on days when they should be enjoying the fresh air.
Fortunately, the Giro is broadcast live in the mornings on Universal Sports, while the Tour of California will appear live in the afternoons on Versus ….
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/05/14/tv-and-online-coverage-for-2010-tour-of-california-and-giro-ditalia/
An all-star cast of pro cyclists will appear in the Golden State when the 2010 Amgen Tour of California rolls out May 16 – 23.
The peloton has been stronger every year since the race started in 2006. This year's scheduling conflict with the Giro d'Italia that was created by moving the race from February to May doesn't appear to have hurt the level of competition.
Returning for his second Tour of California is 7-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. This year he competes for the new Team Radio Shack and will probably ride in support of defending champion Levi Leipheimer.
The UK's powerful sprinter Mark Cavendish …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/05/10/2010-tour-of-california-announces-rosters/
Pasadena is no longer the starting city for Stage 6 of the 2010 Tour of California.
California's state road department (Caltrans) notified the organizers about winter damage to the Angeles Crest Highway (Route 2) above La Cañada Flintridge that created potential safety hazards to racers and spectators who will line the route.
The Tour is searching for a city to …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/04/08/pasadena-is-out-as-start-for-stage-6-of-tour-of-california/
Organizers of the 2010 Tour of California announced on Tuesday the 16 pro cycling teams that will compete in the 5th annual week-long race that rolls out from May 16 – 23.
All the usual suspects are here, including top US teams RadioShack, HTC-Columbia, Garmin-Transitions, and BMC Racing.
Because the California race organizers moved the event from February to May, many of the teams will be splitting their squads between the Tour of California and the three-week Giro d'Italia which runs at the same time.
RadioShack was not invited to the Giro, so its stars Lance Armstrong and defending champ Levi Leipheimer are expected to compete in California in May ….
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/04/06/16-cycling-teams-announced-for-2010-tour-of-california-bike-race/
Somehow the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta d' Espana each are able to reveal the routes for their three-week-long, 2,000-plus mile bike races in a single grand event.
Not the 2010 Amgen Tour of California. Celebrating its fifth year — and rolling out for its first time in May (May 16 through 23) — the tour organizers are releasing route details two stages per day through Friday.
Moving the race from February to May gives bike race organizers the opportunity for improved weather and a more challenging course that includes a mountain-top finish in the Sierra Nevada at Big Bear Lake. You'll just have a wait two more days to learn the exact route the cyclists will take.
Videos and detailed route maps were posted on Tuesday for Stage 1…..
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/02/09/2010-tour-of-california-bike-race-routes-announced-all-week/
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