Peter Sagan Sprints to Stage 1 win in the Tour of California
Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) came from behind to overtake Wouter Wippert (Cannondale) and Dylan Grownewegen (Lotto Jumbo) in an amazing display of sprinting speed and power.
The first stage of the 2016 AMGEN Tour of California in San Diego. The peloton departed Mission Bay traveling through Balboa Park before heading south toward downtown and the harbor with views of the historic Gaslamp District and Coronado Bridge.
A group of 7 riders went away which included; Daniel Patten (Team Wiggins), Daniel Eaton (United Healthcare), Jacob Rathe (Team Jellybelly p/b Maxxis), Michael Seehan, Oscar Clarke (Holowesko Citadel Racing Team), Joonas Henttala (Team Novo Nordisk) and Danny Pate (Rally Cycling).
The race's first Visit California Sprint took place in bike-friendly Imperial Beach were Michael Seehan (Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis) took the points and they headed east toward the rolling hills of East County.
The gap went up to over 6 minutes but after the only climb the Lexus King of the Mountain on Honey Springs Road the peleton started to chase and the gap started to come down. A few riders including Mark Cavendish were slightly distanced on the climb but easily got back to the Peleton, on the descent.
Michael Seehan (Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis) took the second sprint after 87 miles. With the gap hovering aroound 3 minutes with 16 miles to go, Jacob Rathe attacked the breakaway taking Daniel Patten and Oscar Clark with him.
With the gap down to 25 seconds Oscar Clarke went again with Jacob Rathe with 5 miles to go dropping Patten.
With 3 miles to Team Tinkoff, Team Sky and BMC all came to the front on the wide road.
Lotto Jumbo then launched an attack with 1.5 miles to go. Teams leading out their sprinters all over the road.
Peter Sagan waited behind two of his team mates moving up, following and came off the wheel of Wouter Wippert to take the Sprint in the final 100 meters.
Mark Cavendish just coming up short, being boxed against the barriers.
Stage 1 Results
SVK 1 SAGAN, Peter (TINKOFF) 4:20:41
NED 2 WIPPERT, Wouter (CANNONDALE)
NED 3 GROENEWEGEN, Dylan (LOTTO NL – JUMBO)
FRA 4 COQUARD, Bryan (DIRECT ENERGIE)
NED 5 VERSCHOOR, Martijn (NOVO NORDISK)
ITA 6 BONIFAZIO, Niccolo (TREK – SEGAFREDO)
POR 7 GUERREIRO, Ruben (AXEON HAGENS BERMAN)
BEL 8 BOONEN, Tom (ETIXX – QUICK STEP)
CAN 9 DUCHESNE, Antoine (DIRECT ENERGIE)
USA 10 MURPHY, John (UNITEDHEALTHCARE)
GBR 11 FENN, Andrew (SKY)
NED 12 VAN POPPEL, Danny (SKY)
USA 13 POWLESS, Neilson (AXEON HAGENS BERMAN)
USA 14 PUTT, Tanner (UNITEDHEALTHCARE)
GBR 15 DOULL, Owain (TEAM WIGGINS)
NOR 16 KRISTOFF, Alexander (KATUSHA)
ITA 17 CANOLA, Marco (UNITEDHEALTHCARE)
GBR 18 TENNANT, Andrew (TEAM WIGGINS)
USA 19 ANTHONY, Jesse (RALLY CYCLING)
ITA 20 PERON, Andrea (NOVO NORDISK)
USA 21 MCCABE, Travis (HOLOWESKO/CITADEL)
GBR 22 GEOGHEGAN HART, Tao (AXEON HAGENS BERMAN)
USA 23 PHINNEY, Taylor (BMC RACING)
USA 24 BOOKWALTER, Brent (BMC RACING)
USA 25 OWEN, Logan (AXEON HAGENS BERMAN)
ESP 26 MEGIAS LEAL, Javier (NOVO NORDISK)
SLO 27 BRAJKOVIC, Janez (UNITEDHEALTHCARE)
USA 28 EATON, Daniel (UNITEDHEALTHCARE)
GBR 29 CAVENDISH, Mark (DIMENSION DATA)
ESP 30 IRIZAR ARANBURU, Markel (TREK – SEGAFREDO)
General Classification after Stage 1
SVK 1 SAGAN, Peter (TINKOFF) 4:20:31
NED 2 WIPPERT, Wouter (CANNONDALE) + 4
USA 3 SHEEHAN, Michael (JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS)
NED 4 GROENEWEGEN, Dylan (LOTTO NL – JUMBO) + 6
USA 5 EATON, Daniel (UNITEDHEALTHCARE) + 7
FIN 6 HENTTALA, Joonas (NOVO NORDISK) + 8
FRA 7 COQUARD, Bryan (DIRECT ENERGIE) + 10
NED 8 VERSCHOOR, Martijn (NOVO NORDISK)
ITA 9 BONIFAZIO, Niccolo (TREK – SEGAFREDO)
POR 10 GUERREIRO, Ruben (AXEON HAGENS BERMAN)
Tomorrow's Stage 2 is from South Pasadena to Santa Clarita at 92 miles and 11,300 feet of climbing. Despite being a sprinter's finish, the profile on the way to Santa Clarita is filled with long gradual climbs that could take a toll on the sprinters' legs. Riders will face several Lexus King of the Mountain points in the Angeles National Forest including Highway 2, Big Tujunga and Little Tujunga Canyon.
