2009 Tour of California
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Amgen
Tour of California was the 4th running of an annual cycling race contained within the state of California
. The event was staged February 14–22 and began with a prologue in the state capital of Sacramento
. The event was held as part of the schedule of both the UCI America Tour and USA Cycling Professional Tour
. The race was won by Levi Leipheimer
for the third consecutive year.
in Sacramento
on February 14, 2009. Drawing many of the top cyclists from around the world, the Tour of California generated an estimated revenue of $100 million for the state of California.
The team included two-time returning champion Levi Leipheimer
, and seven-time Tour de France
winner Lance Armstrong
. The 2006 champion, Floyd Landis
returned, riding for .
Tour organizers have switched the route form year to year, hoping to reach out to fans in different parts of the state and maintain the challenge of the race. Santa Cruz
, one of the cities added for the 2009 running, expected added costs of $100,000 to cover public services and accommodations for lodging and meals for the cycling teams, and was expecting 250,000 fans to attend the end of Stage 2. The sales and hotel taxes generated by drawing tourists at a traditionally slow time of the year were expected to help recover the costs of hosting the event. Stage 2 also took the peloton across the Golden Gate Bridge
for the first time in the tour's history.
In another first, Stage 4 includes an excursion through the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada foothills, starting in Merced
, then passing through the foothill towns of Mariposa
and Oakhurst
, and finishing in Clovis
(adjacent to Fresno
).
The tour organizers tried to integrate climbing into nearly every day's stage; only the prologue, time trial and Stage 5 — the tour's longest at 134.3 miles (216.1 km) — had no climbs. The 2009 Tour features at least one King of the Mountain
summit on each other stage, with the Tour's technical director proclaiming that the difficult climbs in the course they designed having the potential to have the leader change on a daily basis.
The eighth stage alone, the last of the tour, stretching nearly 100 miles (160.9 km) from Rancho Bernardo
to Escondido
featured four King of the Mountain summits including a climb of Palomar Mountain
, home of the Palomar Observatory
, which runs for 7 miles (11.3 km), climbing 4200 feet (1,280.2 m) at an average grade of 7%, with 21 switchbacks
on the mountain that reaches an elevation of 5123 feet (1,561.5 m).
Teams
UCI Professional Continental Teams
UCI Continental Teams
Sacramento
Start Time: 1:30 PM
Miles: 2.4
KM: 3.9
End ETA: 4:00 PM
Davis to Santa Rosa
Start Time: 12:00 noon
Miles: 107.6
KM: 173.2
End ETA: 3:56–5:01 PM
Francisco Mancebo
of Rock Racing broke away after 5 miles of racing, and stayed away almost all day. He was briefly joined by Tim Johnson
and David Kemp in his breakaway effort, but he later broke away from them as well, and they were reabsorbed by the peloton. A 23-man chase group formed as Mancebo neared Santa Rosa, which included four members of Astana, working for two-time defending race champion Levi Leipheimer
, as well as some other overall favorites such as Ivan Basso
. Race officials decided to extend the "crash zone," the area in which riders would be granted the same finishing time as the group they were in on crashing (should they crash) from the final lap of the Santa Rosa circuit to the first, since the road was saturated by a steady downpour of rain. The chase group started out 12 minutes behind Mancebo and closed the time gap to 1'07" at the beginning of the first lap of the Santa Rosa circuit. They subsequently slowed at the end of the first circuit (since the only thing left to gain was the stage win - the group that was together at the beginning of the first circuit were all given the same finishing time, relative to Mancebo) and allowed some riders to attack, chief among them Vincenzo Nibali
and Jurgen Van de Walle
, who joined Mancebo at the beginning of the last lap. Mancebo managed to outsprint Nibali and Van de Walle to the line. Stage placings were taken on the first time the riders crossed the finish line, but Van de Walle and Nibali were awarded identical sprint classification points for finishing second and third as the riders credited with finishing second and third, Leipheimer and Michael Rogers.
Monday, February 16
Sausalito to Santa Cruz
Start Time: 8:30 AM
Miles: 115.9
KM: 186.6
End ETA: 12:52–2:03 PM
Note: For the first time, the peloton rode across the Golden Gate Bridge
.
After a few unsuccessful breakaway attempts immediately following the neutral zone, Rabobank's Grischa Niermann
was the first rider to break free of the peloton. He was quickly joined by Garmin-Slipstream's Steven Cozza
and eight other riders, to form a ten-man break that held a four to five minute advantage over the peloton for most of the stage. The best placed rider in the break was Ben Jacques-Maynes of Bissell, 5'05" behind race leader Francisco Mancebo
, whose Rock Racing team paced the peloton calmly, content to let the breakaway get a lead. When the peloton reached the beginning of the climb of Bonny Doon road, Astana took over the pace, and the time gap to the breakaway fell precipitously. On their respective ways up the climb, Carlos Barredo
attacked from the leading group of ten and Levi Leipheimer
from the peloton, each coming free. Leipheimer gradually overtook members of the day's breakaway as they faltered on the climb, eventually reaching Barredo, Thomas Peterson
, and Jason McCartney
(Peterson and McCartney had themselves caught Barredo only moments earlier) to take first position on the road. Leipheimer was the first to the top of the climb, and he and Peterson stayed together on the descent. A 17-man chase group paced by Lance Armstrong
reabsorbed all the other members of the morning breakaway. Peterson took the stage win uncontested, with Leipheimer just behind him, and the Armstrong group having closed to 20 seconds behind them.
Tuesday, February 17
San Jose to Modesto
Start Time: 12:00 noon
Miles: 104.2
KM: 167.7
End ETA: 3:53–4:55 PM
A 4-man breakaway formed immediately after the stage's neutral zone, comprising Bauke Mollema
of Rabobank, Jeff Louder
of BMC, Bradley White of OUCH, and Brian Vandborg
of Liquigas. The best-placed among them was Mollema, two minutes behind race leader Levi Leipheimer
(the rest were nearly 24 minutes behind Leipheimer). King of the Mountains leader Francisco Mancebo
joined them shortly thereafter and topped the climb up Sierra Road in first position, padding his lead. He then rejoined the peloton. The breakaway's lead extended to nearly six minutes, which was increased partially because Leipheimer crashed at the front of the peloton at about the 30 mile mark causing the Astana-paced bunch to slow to allow him to rejoin them. The time gap held steady at between four and five minutes for most of the stage, until Team Columbia-High Road, Quick Step, and Cervélo TestTeam came forward after the descent of the second climb of the day to take the pace, working to get the field together so their respective strong sprinters would have a chance at the stage win. Louder attacked from the leading group on the way into Modesto, and only Mollema could answer. They were subsequently caught in the middle of the Modesto circuit, and a classic bunched sprint saw the stage win go to Thor Hushovd
.
Merced to Clovis
Start Time: 11:00 AM
Miles: 115.4
KM: 185.7
End ETA: 3:19–4:29 PM
Several unsuccessful breakaway attempts occurred in the first hour of racing. The breakaway that got away involved Francisco Mancebo
, Jason McCartney
, Serge Pauwels
, and Tyler Hamilton
. Mancebo took maximum points in the climbs and intermediate sprints available to him. After topping the fourth climb of the day, Mancebo dropped and rejoined the peloton. The breakaway's biggest advantage was close to six minutes before the peloton, paced chiefly by Team Columbia-High Road, began to chase in earnest, on the descent from the fifth and last climb. The catch occurred with about two miles left to race. A Rabobank rider attacked with the last half mile but was caught by Mark Cavendish
, who launched his sprint early but held on in a photo finish for the stage win.
Visalia to Paso Robles
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Miles: 134.3
KM: 216.1
End ETA: 3:00–4:22 PM
This was a rather straightforward day of racing, on a course without even a single categorized climb. After five miles, a six-man breakaway formed, that was eventually whittled to four: Matthew Crane, Glen Chadwick
, Pieter Weening
, and Cameron Evans. Racing under clear blue skies for the first time in the Tour, the four were caught with about three miles to left to race, as the teams of the prominent sprinters ratcheted up the pace in the peloton to bring them back. The finish was contested in another mass sprint, won for the second day in a row by Mark Cavendish
.
Solvang - Time Trial
Start Time: 12:00 noon
Miles: 15
KM: 24
End ETA: 2:50 PM
Early times to beat were set by Saxo Bank riders Jens Voigt
and Gustav Erik Larsson
, with Larsson 13 seconds better of the two (though Voigt's ride was enough to propel him into fourth place in the General Classification). They stood for almost the whole stage, with noted time trial specialists such as George Hincapie
and Stef Clement
failing to top them. Even former world time trial champion Michael Rogers could not beat Larsson's time. The reigning American national champion David Zabriskie
was the first to beat Larsson, by nine seconds. Yellow jersey wearer and two-time defending Tour of California and Solvang time trial champion Levi Leipheimer
was the last man to take the course. He was two seconds better than Zabriskie at the intermediate time check and had eight seconds on him at the line, winning the stage.
Santa Clarita to Pasadena
Start Time: 12:00 noon
Miles: 88.9
KM: 143
End ETA: 3:17–3:50 PM
A very aggressive first hour of racing saw many attempted attacks reeled in by the race leader's Astana team. It wasn't until nearly the half the stage, about 40 miles, had been covered that a successful breakaway group of ten formed. They attained a maximum advantage of four minutes, but for the better part of the stage the time gap held steady between two and three minutes, as Astana was content to let them get that lead. On the descent of the one climb of the day, King of the Mountains leader Francisco Mancebo
clipped a small rock and tumbled off his bike, suffering a concussion and elbow and hand fractures, which forced him to abandon the race and surrender the KOM lead to Jason McCartney
. The riders took five laps on a finishing circuit in the city of Pasadena. On the second lap, an even split in the breakaway formed, with five riders coming 20 seconds clear of the others, but by the end of the third, the group was one again. On the fourth lap, Fränk Schleck
attacked from the back of the group and got clear for several minutes, but was eventually caught. The last split saw Rinaldo Nocentini
, Hayden Roulston
, and Pieter Weening
come free on the sprint toward the finish, with Nocentini winning the stage. The other members of the breakway finished 7 seconds back, and the peloton was 2' 19" behind the stage winner.
Rancho Bernardo to Escondido
Start Time: 12:00 noon
Miles: 96.8
KM: 155.8
End ETA: 3:34–4:43 PM
What was called the Tour of California's queen stage again saw very early attacking. Jason McCartney
joined a three-man break that came free of the peloton almost immediately and topped the first two of four categorized climbs on the course in first position, assuring his victory in the King of the Mountains classification. Numerous splits occurred going up the mammoth Mount Palomar climb, with race leader Levi Leipheimer
isolated from his teammates at one point, for the first and only time in the Tour, as he had to answer attacks from David Zabriskie
and Michael Rogers. A group of GC leaders, along with most of team Astana, consolidated on the descent. Four riders came clear and were in the lead approaching the last climb of the day - Vincenzo Nibali
, Fränk Schleck
, Bauke Mollema
, and Glen Chadwick
. Nibali, 2' 21" behind Leipheimer, was a small threat to the race lead, but the Astana-paced leading group kept the time gap at around one minute. After numerous attacks, only Nibali and Schleck remained out front. The chase from the Astana-led group proved too slow to catch Nibali and Schleck, and they were able to survive to finish and contest the stage win between themselves. Schleck opened up a small gap on the Italian in the final straightaway and won the stage.
Additionally, there was also a sprints classification, akin to what is called the points classification
in other races, which awarded a green jersey. In the sprints classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 10 in a stage. The winner got 15 points, second place 12, third 10, fourth 7, and one point less per place down the line, to a single point for tenth. In addition, some points could be won in intermediate sprints.
There was also a mountains classification, which awarded a red jersey. In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a mountain before other cyclists. Each climb was categorized, either first, second, third, or fourth category, with more points available for the harder climbs.
There was also a youth classification. This classification is calculated the same way as the general classification, but only young cyclists (under 23) are in. The leader of the young rider classification received a white jersey.
The fifth jersey was not awarded on the basis of a time or points-based classification. It was for each stage's "Most Courageous" rider, akin to the combativity award
in the Tour de France
. The rider who received this award wore a blue jersey in the next stage. Unlike the Tour de France's combativity award, there was no overall award given.
There was also a classification for teams. In this classification, the times of the best three cyclists per stage were added, and the team with the lowest time was leader.
Jersey wearers when one rider is leading two or more competitions
If a cyclist leads two or more competitions at the end of a stage, he receives all those jerseys. The next stage, he can only wear one jersey, and he wears the jersey representing leadership in the most important competition (yellow first, then green, then red, then white). The other jerseys that the cyclists holds are worn in the next stage by the second-placed rider (or, if needed, third- or fourth-placed rider) of that classification.
Amgen
Amgen Inc. is an international biotechnology company headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California. Located in the Conejo Valley, Amgen is the world's largest independent biotech firm. The company employs approximately 17,000 staff members. Its products include Epogen, Aranesp, Enbrel, Kineret,...
Tour of California was the 4th running of an annual cycling race contained within the state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The event was staged February 14–22 and began with a prologue in the state capital of Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
. The event was held as part of the schedule of both the UCI America Tour and USA Cycling Professional Tour
2009 USA Cycling Professional Tour
The 2009 USA Cycling Professional Tour is the third year of this elite men's professional road bicycle racing series organized by USA Cycling.Christian Vande Velde and the Garmin/Chipotle Pro Cycling Team are the defending champion of the overall individual and team titles, respectively.- Events...
. The race was won by Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a...
for the third consecutive year.
Race details
The Fourth Tour of California covered nine days and 780.44 miles (1,256 km), starting with a flat 2.4 miles (3.9 km) prologue near the California State CapitolCalifornia State Capitol
The California State Capitol is home to the government of California. The building houses the bicameral state legislature and the office of the governor....
in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
on February 14, 2009. Drawing many of the top cyclists from around the world, the Tour of California generated an estimated revenue of $100 million for the state of California.
The team included two-time returning champion Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a...
, and seven-time Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
winner Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
. The 2006 champion, Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis is an American retired cyclist who after initially being awarded victory in the 2006 Tour de France was stripped of his title for a doping offense. He was an all-around rider, with special skills in climbing and time-trialing, and is also known to be a very fast descender.Landis...
returned, riding for .
Tour organizers have switched the route form year to year, hoping to reach out to fans in different parts of the state and maintain the challenge of the race. Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, one of the cities added for the 2009 running, expected added costs of $100,000 to cover public services and accommodations for lodging and meals for the cycling teams, and was expecting 250,000 fans to attend the end of Stage 2. The sales and hotel taxes generated by drawing tourists at a traditionally slow time of the year were expected to help recover the costs of hosting the event. Stage 2 also took the peloton across the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
for the first time in the tour's history.
In another first, Stage 4 includes an excursion through the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada foothills, starting in Merced
Merced, California
Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government...
, then passing through the foothill towns of Mariposa
Mariposa, California
Mariposa is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Mariposa County, California, United States. The population was 2,173 at the 2010 census, up from 1,373 at the 2000 census. Its name is Spanish for "butterfly", after the flocks of Monarchs seen overwintering there by early...
and Oakhurst
Oakhurst, California
Oakhurst is a census-designated place in Madera County, California, south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Oakhurst is located on the Fresno River south-southwest of Yosemite Forks, at an elevation of 2274 feet...
, and finishing in Clovis
Clovis, California
Clovis is a city in Fresno County, California, United States, northeast of Fresno. The population is estimated to be 97,218 as of September, 2011. Clovis is located northeast of downtown Fresno, at an elevation of 361 feet .-History:...
(adjacent to Fresno
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
).
The tour organizers tried to integrate climbing into nearly every day's stage; only the prologue, time trial and Stage 5 — the tour's longest at 134.3 miles (216.1 km) — had no climbs. The 2009 Tour features at least one King of the Mountain
King of the Mountains
The King of the Mountains is the title given to the best climber in a cycling road race; usually and officially known as the Mountains classification...
summit on each other stage, with the Tour's technical director proclaiming that the difficult climbs in the course they designed having the potential to have the leader change on a daily basis.
The eighth stage alone, the last of the tour, stretching nearly 100 miles (160.9 km) from Rancho Bernardo
Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, California
Rancho Bernardo is an upscale master-planned community in the northern hills of the city of San Diego, California.-Geography:The topography of Rancho Bernardo consists of canyons and rolling hills...
to Escondido
Escondido, California
Escondido is a city occupying a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills, just north of the city of San Diego, California. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. The city had a population of 143,911 at the 2010 census. Its municipal government set itself an operating...
featured four King of the Mountain summits including a climb of Palomar Mountain
Palomar Mountain
Palomar Mountain is a mountain in the Peninsular Ranges in northern San Diego County. It is famous as the location of the Palomar Observatory and Hale Telescope, and known for the Palomar Mountain State Park.-History:...
, home of the Palomar Observatory
Palomar Observatory
Palomar Observatory is a privately owned observatory located in San Diego County, California, southeast of Pasadena's Mount Wilson Observatory, in the Palomar Mountain Range. At approximately elevation, it is owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology...
, which runs for 7 miles (11.3 km), climbing 4200 feet (1,280.2 m) at an average grade of 7%, with 21 switchbacks
Hairpin turn
A hairpin turn , named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, is a bend in a road with a very acute inner angle, making it necessary for an oncoming vehicle to turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Such turns in ramps and trails may be called switchbacks in American English, by analogy...
on the mountain that reaches an elevation of 5123 feet (1,561.5 m).
Participating teams
UCI ProTourUCI ProTour
The UCI ProTour was a series of road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the UCI . Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, it comprises a number of 'ProTour' cycling teams, each of whom are required to compete in every round of the series...
Teams
- ALM -
- AST -
- GRM -
- LIQ -
- QST -
- RAB -
- SAX -
- THR -
UCI Professional Continental Teams
- BMC -
- CTT -
UCI Continental Teams
- BPC -
- COL -
- FAS - Fly V Australia
- JBC -
- OCM -
- RRC -
- TT1 -
General Classification
| # | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
31h 28' 21" | |
| 2 | + 36" | ||
| 3 | + 45" | ||
| 4 | + 1' 10" | ||
| 5 | + 1' 29" | ||
| 6 | + 1' 37" | ||
| 7 | + 1' 46" | ||
| 8 |  |
+ 1' 54" | |
| 9 | + 2' 24" | ||
| 10 | + 2' 48" | ||
Teams Classification
| # | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 94h 28' 50" | |
| 2 | + 1' 40" | |
| 3 | + 1' 49" | |
| 4 | + 2' 46" | |
| 5 | + 4' 45" | |
| 6 | + 7' 18" | |
| 7 | + 7' 54" | |
| 8 | + 34' 55" | |
| 9 | + 36' 22" | |
| 10 | + 39' 50" |
King of the Mountains Classification
| # | Rider | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | '  |
39 | |
| 2 | 22 | ||
| 3 | 21 | ||
| 4 | |
20 | |
| 5 | 15 | ||
| 6 | 12 | ||
| 7 | 10 | ||
| 8 | 9 | ||
| 9 | 9 | ||
| 10 | |
8 | |
Young Rider Classification
| # | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ' |
31h 30' 15" | |
| 2 | + 1' 03" | ||
| 3 | + 3' 50" | ||
| 4 | + 17' 18" | ||
| 5 | + 21' 29" | ||
| 6 | + 25' 41" | ||
| 7 | + 26' 59" | ||
| 8 |  |
+ 44' 35" | |
| 9 | Jelly Belly Cycling Team Jelly Belly Cycling Team Jelly Belly Cycling Team is an elite men's cycling team registered in the United States as a UCI Continental Team. The team competes on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar and the UCI America Tour. Its jersey is derived from the Jelly Belly Candy Company, which has been the sponsor since... |
+ 47' 16" | |
| 10 | Jelly Belly Cycling Team Jelly Belly Cycling Team Jelly Belly Cycling Team is an elite men's cycling team registered in the United States as a UCI Continental Team. The team competes on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar and the UCI America Tour. Its jersey is derived from the Jelly Belly Candy Company, which has been the sponsor since... |
+ 47' 38" | |
Sprint Classification
| # | Rider | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ' |
36 | |
| 2 | 22 | ||
| 3 | 19 | ||
| 4 | 18 | ||
| 5 | 16 | ||
| 6 | 15 | ||
| 7 | 15 | ||
| 8 | 15 | ||
| 9 | 15 | ||
| 10 | |
14 | |
Tour stages
For the first time, the 2009 tour had an additional 8th stage meant to increase the competitiveness of the event.Prologue
Saturday, February 14Sacramento
Start Time: 1:30 PM
Miles: 2.4
KM: 3.9
End ETA: 4:00 PM
Prologue Result
|
Stage 1
Sunday, February 15Davis to Santa Rosa
Start Time: 12:00 noon
Miles: 107.6
KM: 173.2
End ETA: 3:56–5:01 PM
Francisco Mancebo
Francisco Mancebo
Francisco Mancebo Pérez is a Spanish pro cyclist. He initially rode for team Illes Balears, but moved to AG2R Prévoyance in 2006....
of Rock Racing broke away after 5 miles of racing, and stayed away almost all day. He was briefly joined by Tim Johnson
Tim Johnson (cyclist)
Timothy Johnson is an American professional racing cyclist who has found success in cyclocross and road bicycle racing, and is the first rider from the United States to stand on a UCI Cyclocross World Championships podium...
and David Kemp in his breakaway effort, but he later broke away from them as well, and they were reabsorbed by the peloton. A 23-man chase group formed as Mancebo neared Santa Rosa, which included four members of Astana, working for two-time defending race champion Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a...
, as well as some other overall favorites such as Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently racing with UCI ProTeam . Basso, nicknamed Ivan the Terrible, is among the best mountain riders in the professional field in the 21st century, and is considered one of the strongest stage race riders...
. Race officials decided to extend the "crash zone," the area in which riders would be granted the same finishing time as the group they were in on crashing (should they crash) from the final lap of the Santa Rosa circuit to the first, since the road was saturated by a steady downpour of rain. The chase group started out 12 minutes behind Mancebo and closed the time gap to 1'07" at the beginning of the first lap of the Santa Rosa circuit. They subsequently slowed at the end of the first circuit (since the only thing left to gain was the stage win - the group that was together at the beginning of the first circuit were all given the same finishing time, relative to Mancebo) and allowed some riders to attack, chief among them Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who rides UCI ProTeam . Born near the Strait of Messina, Nibali's nickname is the "shark of the strait" or simply "the shark." His first major win came at the 2006 GP Ouest-France, where he beat an impressive field on a tough course...
and Jurgen Van de Walle
Jurgen Van de Walle
Jurgen Van de Walle is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam .- Palmares :20002006-External links:...
, who joined Mancebo at the beginning of the last lap. Mancebo managed to outsprint Nibali and Van de Walle to the line. Stage placings were taken on the first time the riders crossed the finish line, but Van de Walle and Nibali were awarded identical sprint classification points for finishing second and third as the riders credited with finishing second and third, Leipheimer and Michael Rogers.
Stage 1 Result
|
General Classification after Stage 1
|
Stage 2
Sausalito to Santa Cruz
Start Time: 8:30 AM
Miles: 115.9
KM: 186.6
End ETA: 12:52–2:03 PM
Note: For the first time, the peloton rode across the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
.
After a few unsuccessful breakaway attempts immediately following the neutral zone, Rabobank's Grischa Niermann
Grischa Niermann
Grischa Niermann is a German professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam Rabobank. He started his professional career in 1997 with the Die Continentale team, where he won the Hessen-Rundfahrt in 1998 and the Regio-Tour in 1999. He moved on to Rabobank in 2000...
was the first rider to break free of the peloton. He was quickly joined by Garmin-Slipstream's Steven Cozza
Steven Cozza
Steven Cozza is a professional road bicycle racer who currently rides for Team NetApp.Cozza helped his father co-found the Boy Scouts equality advocacy group Scouting for All when he was 12 years old....
and eight other riders, to form a ten-man break that held a four to five minute advantage over the peloton for most of the stage. The best placed rider in the break was Ben Jacques-Maynes of Bissell, 5'05" behind race leader Francisco Mancebo
Francisco Mancebo
Francisco Mancebo Pérez is a Spanish pro cyclist. He initially rode for team Illes Balears, but moved to AG2R Prévoyance in 2006....
, whose Rock Racing team paced the peloton calmly, content to let the breakaway get a lead. When the peloton reached the beginning of the climb of Bonny Doon road, Astana took over the pace, and the time gap to the breakaway fell precipitously. On their respective ways up the climb, Carlos Barredo
Carlos Barredo
Carlos Barredo Llamazales is a Spanish road racing cyclist with UCI ProTeam . He was issued a suspension for the first two months of the 2011 season in response to a fight with Rui Costa after a 2010 Tour de France stage, with Barredo claiming that Costa had ridden dangerously in the final stages...
attacked from the leading group of ten and Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a...
from the peloton, each coming free. Leipheimer gradually overtook members of the day's breakaway as they faltered on the climb, eventually reaching Barredo, Thomas Peterson
Thomas Peterson
Thomas Peterson is a professional racing cyclist who rides for . In 2004 he became the Junior US National Road Race Champion.-Career accomplishments:200420062007-External links:...
, and Jason McCartney
Jason McCartney (cyclist)
Jason McCartney is an American professional road racing cyclist for UCI ProTour team . His 2004 Tour de Georgia stage win led to his being named the North American rider of the year" by VeloNews Magazine. He represented the USA Olympic team in the road racing event in 2004 and 2008...
(Peterson and McCartney had themselves caught Barredo only moments earlier) to take first position on the road. Leipheimer was the first to the top of the climb, and he and Peterson stayed together on the descent. A 17-man chase group paced by Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
reabsorbed all the other members of the morning breakaway. Peterson took the stage win uncontested, with Leipheimer just behind him, and the Armstrong group having closed to 20 seconds behind them.
Stage 2 Result
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General Classification after Stage 2
|
Stage 3
San Jose to Modesto
Start Time: 12:00 noon
Miles: 104.2
KM: 167.7
End ETA: 3:53–4:55 PM
A 4-man breakaway formed immediately after the stage's neutral zone, comprising Bauke Mollema
Bauke Mollema
Bauke Mollema is a Dutch professional cyclist currently riding for Rabobank. Mollema is a Climbing specialist.-Early years:...
of Rabobank, Jeff Louder
Jeff Louder
Jeff Louder is an American professional road bicycle racer for . Originally from Salt Lake City, UT, Louder won the Redlands Bicycle Classic in 2009.He took part in the 2010 Giro d'Italia, abandoning in the 11th stage....
of BMC, Bradley White of OUCH, and Brian Vandborg
Brian Vandborg
Brian Bach Vandborg is a Danish professional road bicycle racer, who rides for UCI ProTeam . He was national U/23 champion in individual time trial in 2002 and 2003 and in 2004 he signed his first professional contract with , with a length of two years...
of Liquigas. The best-placed among them was Mollema, two minutes behind race leader Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a...
(the rest were nearly 24 minutes behind Leipheimer). King of the Mountains leader Francisco Mancebo
Francisco Mancebo
Francisco Mancebo Pérez is a Spanish pro cyclist. He initially rode for team Illes Balears, but moved to AG2R Prévoyance in 2006....
joined them shortly thereafter and topped the climb up Sierra Road in first position, padding his lead. He then rejoined the peloton. The breakaway's lead extended to nearly six minutes, which was increased partially because Leipheimer crashed at the front of the peloton at about the 30 mile mark causing the Astana-paced bunch to slow to allow him to rejoin them. The time gap held steady at between four and five minutes for most of the stage, until Team Columbia-High Road, Quick Step, and Cervélo TestTeam came forward after the descent of the second climb of the day to take the pace, working to get the field together so their respective strong sprinters would have a chance at the stage win. Louder attacked from the leading group on the way into Modesto, and only Mollema could answer. They were subsequently caught in the middle of the Modesto circuit, and a classic bunched sprint saw the stage win go to Thor Hushovd
Thor Hushovd
Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road...
.
Stage 3 Result
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General Classification after Stage 3
|
Stage 4
Wednesday, February 18Merced to Clovis
Start Time: 11:00 AM
Miles: 115.4
KM: 185.7
End ETA: 3:19–4:29 PM
Several unsuccessful breakaway attempts occurred in the first hour of racing. The breakaway that got away involved Francisco Mancebo
Francisco Mancebo
Francisco Mancebo Pérez is a Spanish pro cyclist. He initially rode for team Illes Balears, but moved to AG2R Prévoyance in 2006....
, Jason McCartney
Jason McCartney (cyclist)
Jason McCartney is an American professional road racing cyclist for UCI ProTour team . His 2004 Tour de Georgia stage win led to his being named the North American rider of the year" by VeloNews Magazine. He represented the USA Olympic team in the road racing event in 2004 and 2008...
, Serge Pauwels
Serge Pauwels
Serge Pauwels is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour .- Cycling career:Serge Pauwels' career kicked off in 2004 in the youth team of the Netherlands ProTour Team Rabobank. He also rode for their Continental team in 2004 and 2005...
, and Tyler Hamilton
Tyler Hamilton
Tyler Hamilton is a former American professional road bicycle racer and former Olympic gold medalist. Hamilton became a professional cyclist in 1995, and during the 1999, 2000 and 2001 Tour de France was a teammate of Lance Armstrong who won those races.Hamilton appeared at the 2000 Summer...
. Mancebo took maximum points in the climbs and intermediate sprints available to him. After topping the fourth climb of the day, Mancebo dropped and rejoined the peloton. The breakaway's biggest advantage was close to six minutes before the peloton, paced chiefly by Team Columbia-High Road, began to chase in earnest, on the descent from the fifth and last climb. The catch occurred with about two miles left to race. A Rabobank rider attacked with the last half mile but was caught by Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season...
, who launched his sprint early but held on in a photo finish for the stage win.
Stage 4 Result
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General Classification after Stage 4
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Stage 5
Thursday, February 19Visalia to Paso Robles
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Miles: 134.3
KM: 216.1
End ETA: 3:00–4:22 PM
This was a rather straightforward day of racing, on a course without even a single categorized climb. After five miles, a six-man breakaway formed, that was eventually whittled to four: Matthew Crane, Glen Chadwick
Glen Chadwick
Glen Alan Chadwick is a cyclist with both New Zealand and Australian passports. Glen Chadwick began his career in 2001 at the Belgian cycling team Landbouwkrediet-Colnago. In his first year he came second in the general classification of the Tour de Liège. After two years he moved to Taiwan to...
, Pieter Weening
Pieter Weening
Pieter Weening is a road bicycle racer from Harkema, Friesland, the Netherlands, currently riding for .-2005:In 2005 Weening won a stage in the Tour de France. As of today, Weening is the last Dutch stage winner in the Tour de France. After one of the closest finishes in the Tour ever, Weening won...
, and Cameron Evans. Racing under clear blue skies for the first time in the Tour, the four were caught with about three miles to left to race, as the teams of the prominent sprinters ratcheted up the pace in the peloton to bring them back. The finish was contested in another mass sprint, won for the second day in a row by Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season...
.
Stage 5 Result
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General Classification after Stage 5
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Stage 6
Friday, February 20Solvang - Time Trial
Start Time: 12:00 noon
Miles: 15
KM: 24
End ETA: 2:50 PM
Early times to beat were set by Saxo Bank riders Jens Voigt
Jens Voigt
Jens Voigt is a German professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . Voigt is known for his propensity to attack, and for his positive racing attitude. He is capable of repeated attacking, holding a high tempo, and breaking away from the peloton...
and Gustav Erik Larsson
Gustav Erik Larsson
Gustav Erik Larsson is a Swedish professional road racing cyclist for UCI ProTour . He is a very skilled time trialist, which he showed in the 2008 Olympics, where he won a silver medal....
, with Larsson 13 seconds better of the two (though Voigt's ride was enough to propel him into fourth place in the General Classification). They stood for almost the whole stage, with noted time trial specialists such as George Hincapie
George Hincapie
George Hincapié Garcés is an American professional road bicycle racer currently riding for UCI ProTeam . Hincapie resides in Greenville, South Carolina...
and Stef Clement
Stef Clement
Stef Clement is a Dutch professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam Rabobank. He specializes in the time trial, in which discipline he is the reigning Dutch national champion. He also won the bronze medal at the Time Trial of the 2007 UCI Road World Championships.- Palmarès :20032005...
failing to top them. Even former world time trial champion Michael Rogers could not beat Larsson's time. The reigning American national champion David Zabriskie
David Zabriskie
David Zabriskie is a professional road bicycle racer from the United States who rides for . His main strength is individual time trials and his career highlights include stage wins in all three Grand Tour stage races and winning the US National Time Trial Championship six times...
was the first to beat Larsson, by nine seconds. Yellow jersey wearer and two-time defending Tour of California and Solvang time trial champion Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a...
was the last man to take the course. He was two seconds better than Zabriskie at the intermediate time check and had eight seconds on him at the line, winning the stage.
Stage 6 Result
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General Classification after Stage 6
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Stage 7
Saturday, February 21Santa Clarita to Pasadena
Start Time: 12:00 noon
Miles: 88.9
KM: 143
End ETA: 3:17–3:50 PM
A very aggressive first hour of racing saw many attempted attacks reeled in by the race leader's Astana team. It wasn't until nearly the half the stage, about 40 miles, had been covered that a successful breakaway group of ten formed. They attained a maximum advantage of four minutes, but for the better part of the stage the time gap held steady between two and three minutes, as Astana was content to let them get that lead. On the descent of the one climb of the day, King of the Mountains leader Francisco Mancebo
Francisco Mancebo
Francisco Mancebo Pérez is a Spanish pro cyclist. He initially rode for team Illes Balears, but moved to AG2R Prévoyance in 2006....
clipped a small rock and tumbled off his bike, suffering a concussion and elbow and hand fractures, which forced him to abandon the race and surrender the KOM lead to Jason McCartney
Jason McCartney (cyclist)
Jason McCartney is an American professional road racing cyclist for UCI ProTour team . His 2004 Tour de Georgia stage win led to his being named the North American rider of the year" by VeloNews Magazine. He represented the USA Olympic team in the road racing event in 2004 and 2008...
. The riders took five laps on a finishing circuit in the city of Pasadena. On the second lap, an even split in the breakaway formed, with five riders coming 20 seconds clear of the others, but by the end of the third, the group was one again. On the fourth lap, Fränk Schleck
Fränk Schleck
Fränk René Schleck is a Luxembourgish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . At the start of 2005, Schleck was joined by his younger brother Andy on , and they split the 2005 national championships between them, with Fränk winning the road race and Andy winning the time trial...
attacked from the back of the group and got clear for several minutes, but was eventually caught. The last split saw Rinaldo Nocentini
Rinaldo Nocentini
Rinaldo Nocentini is an Italian racing cyclist with UCI ProTour team .In the 2009 Tour de France, his first participation in the race, he became leader in the General Classification after participating in a stage-long breakaway on stage 7 to take the yellow jersey from Fabian Cancellara with an...
, Hayden Roulston
Hayden Roulston
Hayden Roulston, MNZM is a New Zealand professional racing cyclist for UCI ProTour team . He won the silver medal in the men's 4000 m individual pursuit and a bronze medal in the men's 4000 m team pursuit at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.Roulston was a talented junior rider on both road and...
, and Pieter Weening
Pieter Weening
Pieter Weening is a road bicycle racer from Harkema, Friesland, the Netherlands, currently riding for .-2005:In 2005 Weening won a stage in the Tour de France. As of today, Weening is the last Dutch stage winner in the Tour de France. After one of the closest finishes in the Tour ever, Weening won...
come free on the sprint toward the finish, with Nocentini winning the stage. The other members of the breakway finished 7 seconds back, and the peloton was 2' 19" behind the stage winner.
Stage 7 Result
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General Classification after Stage 7
|
Stage 8
Sunday, February 22Rancho Bernardo to Escondido
Start Time: 12:00 noon
Miles: 96.8
KM: 155.8
End ETA: 3:34–4:43 PM
What was called the Tour of California's queen stage again saw very early attacking. Jason McCartney
Jason McCartney (cyclist)
Jason McCartney is an American professional road racing cyclist for UCI ProTour team . His 2004 Tour de Georgia stage win led to his being named the North American rider of the year" by VeloNews Magazine. He represented the USA Olympic team in the road racing event in 2004 and 2008...
joined a three-man break that came free of the peloton almost immediately and topped the first two of four categorized climbs on the course in first position, assuring his victory in the King of the Mountains classification. Numerous splits occurred going up the mammoth Mount Palomar climb, with race leader Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a...
isolated from his teammates at one point, for the first and only time in the Tour, as he had to answer attacks from David Zabriskie
David Zabriskie
David Zabriskie is a professional road bicycle racer from the United States who rides for . His main strength is individual time trials and his career highlights include stage wins in all three Grand Tour stage races and winning the US National Time Trial Championship six times...
and Michael Rogers. A group of GC leaders, along with most of team Astana, consolidated on the descent. Four riders came clear and were in the lead approaching the last climb of the day - Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who rides UCI ProTeam . Born near the Strait of Messina, Nibali's nickname is the "shark of the strait" or simply "the shark." His first major win came at the 2006 GP Ouest-France, where he beat an impressive field on a tough course...
, Fränk Schleck
Fränk Schleck
Fränk René Schleck is a Luxembourgish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . At the start of 2005, Schleck was joined by his younger brother Andy on , and they split the 2005 national championships between them, with Fränk winning the road race and Andy winning the time trial...
, Bauke Mollema
Bauke Mollema
Bauke Mollema is a Dutch professional cyclist currently riding for Rabobank. Mollema is a Climbing specialist.-Early years:...
, and Glen Chadwick
Glen Chadwick
Glen Alan Chadwick is a cyclist with both New Zealand and Australian passports. Glen Chadwick began his career in 2001 at the Belgian cycling team Landbouwkrediet-Colnago. In his first year he came second in the general classification of the Tour de Liège. After two years he moved to Taiwan to...
. Nibali, 2' 21" behind Leipheimer, was a small threat to the race lead, but the Astana-paced leading group kept the time gap at around one minute. After numerous attacks, only Nibali and Schleck remained out front. The chase from the Astana-led group proved too slow to catch Nibali and Schleck, and they were able to survive to finish and contest the stage win between themselves. Schleck opened up a small gap on the Italian in the final straightaway and won the stage.
Stage 8 Result
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Final General Classification
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Riders' jersey progress table
In the 2009 Tour of California, five different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding the finishing times of the stages per cyclist, the leader received a yellow jersey. This classification is considered the most important of the Tour of California, and the winner of the general classification is considered the winner of the Tour of California.Additionally, there was also a sprints classification, akin to what is called the points classification
Points classification
The points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
in other races, which awarded a green jersey. In the sprints classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 10 in a stage. The winner got 15 points, second place 12, third 10, fourth 7, and one point less per place down the line, to a single point for tenth. In addition, some points could be won in intermediate sprints.
There was also a mountains classification, which awarded a red jersey. In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a mountain before other cyclists. Each climb was categorized, either first, second, third, or fourth category, with more points available for the harder climbs.
There was also a youth classification. This classification is calculated the same way as the general classification, but only young cyclists (under 23) are in. The leader of the young rider classification received a white jersey.
The fifth jersey was not awarded on the basis of a time or points-based classification. It was for each stage's "Most Courageous" rider, akin to the combativity award
Combativity award
The combativity award, , is a prize given in the Tour de France. It favours constant attackers and since 1981 the winner of the award has not won the whole Tour.- History :...
in the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
. The rider who received this award wore a blue jersey in the next stage. Unlike the Tour de France's combativity award, there was no overall award given.
There was also a classification for teams. In this classification, the times of the best three cyclists per stage were added, and the team with the lowest time was leader.
| Stage | Winner | General Classification |
Youth Classification |
Mountains Classification |
Sprint Classification |
Team Classification |
Most Courageous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Fabian Cancellara Fabian Cancellara Fabian Cancellara is a Swiss professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . A time trial specialist, he is a four-time World Time Trial Champion and is the current Olympic gold medalist... |
Fabian Cancellara Fabian Cancellara Fabian Cancellara is a Swiss professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . A time trial specialist, he is a four-time World Time Trial Champion and is the current Olympic gold medalist... |
Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season... |
none | Levi Leipheimer Levi Leipheimer Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a... |
Lance Armstrong Lance Armstrong Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support... |
|
| 1 | Francisco Mancebo Francisco Mancebo Francisco Mancebo Pérez is a Spanish pro cyclist. He initially rode for team Illes Balears, but moved to AG2R Prévoyance in 2006.... |
Francisco Mancebo Francisco Mancebo Francisco Mancebo Pérez is a Spanish pro cyclist. He initially rode for team Illes Balears, but moved to AG2R Prévoyance in 2006.... |
Robert Gesink Robert Gesink Robert Gesink is a Dutch professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam Rabobank.-Early years:At the Junior World Championships of 2004 UCI Road World Championships in Verona, Gesink finished eighth in the individual time trial and sixth in the road race, while riding for team De Peddelaars in... |
Francisco Mancebo Francisco Mancebo Francisco Mancebo Pérez is a Spanish pro cyclist. He initially rode for team Illes Balears, but moved to AG2R Prévoyance in 2006.... |
Francisco Mancebo Francisco Mancebo Francisco Mancebo Pérez is a Spanish pro cyclist. He initially rode for team Illes Balears, but moved to AG2R Prévoyance in 2006.... |
Ivan Basso Ivan Basso Ivan Basso is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently racing with UCI ProTeam . Basso, nicknamed Ivan the Terrible, is among the best mountain riders in the professional field in the 21st century, and is considered one of the strongest stage race riders... |
|
| 2 | Thomas Peterson Thomas Peterson Thomas Peterson is a professional racing cyclist who rides for . In 2004 he became the Junior US National Road Race Champion.-Career accomplishments:200420062007-External links:... |
Levi Leipheimer Levi Leipheimer Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a... |
Ben Jacques-Maynes | ||||
| 3 | Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road... |
Bradley White | |||||
| 4 | Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season... |
Tyler Hamilton Tyler Hamilton Tyler Hamilton is a former American professional road bicycle racer and former Olympic gold medalist. Hamilton became a professional cyclist in 1995, and during the 1999, 2000 and 2001 Tour de France was a teammate of Lance Armstrong who won those races.Hamilton appeared at the 2000 Summer... |
|||||
| 5 | Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season... |
Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season... |
Matthew Crane | ||||
| 6 | Levi Leipheimer Levi Leipheimer Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a... |
George Hincapie George Hincapie George Hincapié Garcés is an American professional road bicycle racer currently riding for UCI ProTeam . Hincapie resides in Greenville, South Carolina... |
|||||
| 7 | Rinaldo Nocentini Rinaldo Nocentini Rinaldo Nocentini is an Italian racing cyclist with UCI ProTour team .In the 2009 Tour de France, his first participation in the race, he became leader in the General Classification after participating in a stage-long breakaway on stage 7 to take the yellow jersey from Fabian Cancellara with an... |
Jason McCartney Jason McCartney (cyclist) Jason McCartney is an American professional road racing cyclist for UCI ProTour team . His 2004 Tour de Georgia stage win led to his being named the North American rider of the year" by VeloNews Magazine. He represented the USA Olympic team in the road racing event in 2004 and 2008... |
Christian Vandevelde Christian Vandevelde Christian Vande Velde is an American professional road racing cyclist who currently rides for . The son of United States Bicycling Hall of Fame inductee John Vande Velde, Christian became professional in 1998 for US Postal.He twice rode on the Tour de France team that brought Lance Armstrong to... |
||||
| 8 | Fränk Schleck Fränk Schleck Fränk René Schleck is a Luxembourgish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . At the start of 2005, Schleck was joined by his younger brother Andy on , and they split the 2005 national championships between them, with Fränk winning the road race and Andy winning the time trial... |
Fränk Schleck Fränk Schleck Fränk René Schleck is a Luxembourgish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . At the start of 2005, Schleck was joined by his younger brother Andy on , and they split the 2005 national championships between them, with Fränk winning the road race and Andy winning the time trial... |
|||||
| Final | Levi Leipheimer Levi Leipheimer Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a... |
Robert Gesink Robert Gesink Robert Gesink is a Dutch professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam Rabobank.-Early years:At the Junior World Championships of 2004 UCI Road World Championships in Verona, Gesink finished eighth in the individual time trial and sixth in the road race, while riding for team De Peddelaars in... |
Jason McCartney Jason McCartney (cyclist) Jason McCartney is an American professional road racing cyclist for UCI ProTour team . His 2004 Tour de Georgia stage win led to his being named the North American rider of the year" by VeloNews Magazine. He represented the USA Olympic team in the road racing event in 2004 and 2008... |
Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season... |
n/a | ||
Jersey wearers when one rider is leading two or more competitions
If a cyclist leads two or more competitions at the end of a stage, he receives all those jerseys. The next stage, he can only wear one jersey, and he wears the jersey representing leadership in the most important competition (yellow first, then green, then red, then white). The other jerseys that the cyclists holds are worn in the next stage by the second-placed rider (or, if needed, third- or fourth-placed rider) of that classification.
- After stage 1, Francisco ManceboFrancisco ManceboFrancisco Mancebo Pérez is a Spanish pro cyclist. He initially rode for team Illes Balears, but moved to AG2R Prévoyance in 2006....
received the yellow jersey, the green jersey, and the red jersey, because he was leading the general, sprints, and mountains classifications. In stage 2, he wore the yellow jersey, Tim JohnsonTim Johnson (cyclist)Timothy Johnson is an American professional racing cyclist who has found success in cyclocross and road bicycle racing, and is the first rider from the United States to stand on a UCI Cyclocross World Championships podium...
wore the green jersey, and David Kemp wore the red jersey. - In stages 3 and 5, Jason McCartneyJason McCartney (cyclist)Jason McCartney is an American professional road racing cyclist for UCI ProTour team . His 2004 Tour de Georgia stage win led to his being named the North American rider of the year" by VeloNews Magazine. He represented the USA Olympic team in the road racing event in 2004 and 2008...
wore the red jersey. - In stage 4, Bauke MollemaBauke MollemaBauke Mollema is a Dutch professional cyclist currently riding for Rabobank. Mollema is a Climbing specialist.-Early years:...
wore the red jersey.