Stage 1: Escondido → Escondido, 103 mi Full Results and Report
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Peter Sagan and Philippe Gilbert say good morning prior to the start in Escondido | 
The rollout from Escondido | 
Ben Jacques-Maynes hanging loose off the front | 
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Barbie enjoying the nice weather | 
The break reaching the first sprint at mile 20 in Ramona | 
Francesco Mancebo (5 Hour Energy) correctly forecasted early on that he would finish second on the opening stage | 
The break after a food stop at a local general store? | 
Peloton approaching the 2nd KOM, Mt Palomar, the highest point of this year's race at 5400 ft | 
The pace wasn't very fast due to the heat | 
Tyler Wren attacks at the 2nd KOM | 
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Bert Grabsch leads the chase | 
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NetApp heating things up with the temperature hitting 105F | 
Schleck and Busche followed Mancebo | 
This guy has been at just about every Tour of California | 
The break had 4:30 approaching the final climb, Cote Grand, with 23 miles to go | 
The peloton reeling in the break | 
James Stemper (5 Hour Energy) and Carter Jones (Bissell Cycling) were the two remaing survivors of the original break | 
Michael Rogers returns to racing in California | 
Omega Pharma and Cannondale driving the chase | 
The late two man break succeeds on stage 1 in Escondido. Lieuwe WESTRA (VACANSOLEIL-DCM) wins ahead of Francisco MANCEBO (5 HOUR ENERGY) with the peloton blurry in the background six seconds back. | 
The margin of victory | 
In the distance, Peter Sagan in the Cannondale green is driving to the line to take 3rd + 6s. | 
Your sunbaked Stage 1 winner, Lieuwe WESTRA (VACANSOLEIL-DCM) | 
Your Stage 1 podium, 2nd Francisco MANCEBO (5 HOUR ENERGY) s.t., 1st Lieuwe WESTRA (VACANSOLEIL-DCM) 4:31:33, 3rd Peter SAGAN (CANNONDALE) + 6s | 
The jersey leaders after the first day |
Stage 2: Murrieta → Palm Springs, 124 mi Full Results and Report
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Race leader Lieuwe Westra about to start his first and only day in Yellow. He finished 37th + 09:41. | 
The rollout from Murrieta | 
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Vacansoleil-DCM managing the chase | 
Sylvain CHAVANEL leading the four man break | 
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Crossing the heat interior of Southern California | 
Hot, dry ride into the wind with no shade | 
Picturesque scenery | 
More straight road | 
This was a familiar scene all day long | 
The peloton led by Vacansoleil-DCM being informed the gap stood at 10:50 | 
The break wilting in the heat | 
Water bottle in mid handout flight | 
The peloton on cat 1 Mountain Center climb | 
The hazy view from Mountain Center | 
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Sylvain CHAVANEL leading the descent of Mountain Center | 
Mountain Center descent panorama | 
The world champ, Philippe Gilbert, asking for another drink. He finished 30th + 8:16. | 
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Entering Palm Desert | 
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The break in Palm Springs | 
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Philip DEIGNAN (UNITEDHEALTHCARE) attacking at the base of the 4 mile finishing climb to the Palm Spring Tramway. He was caught during the steep 20% final mile and finished 3rd + 27. | 
Colombian Janier ACEVEDO (JAMIS - HAGENS BERMAN) wins the brutally hot and steep uphill finish to the Palm Springs Tramway followed by Tejay VAN GARDEREN (BMC RACING) + 12s and, out of the picture, 3rd Philip DEIGNAN (UNITEDHEALTHCARE) + 27 who led much of the final climb. | 
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After a quick victory salute, Janier ACEVEDO need help staying on his bike | 
2nd Tejay VAN GARDEREN (BMC Racing) + 12s and now well positioned for the overall win. He called this stage his hottest race ever. Here's his post-race interview (video). | 
Andy Schleck (RadioShack Leopard) was one of many Europeans to suffer in the 110 F heat. A rude change in weather for those racing in the especially cold European spring | 
Janier ACEVEDO (JAMIS - HAGENS BERMAN) getting his winner kisses | 
Your dehydrated stage 2 podium: 2nd Tejay VAN GARDEREN (BMC Racing) + 12s, Janier ACEVEDO (JAMIS - HAGENS BERMAN), 3rd Philip DEIGNAN (UNITEDHEALTHCARE) + 27s | 
The jersey leaders after Stage 2 |
Stage 3: Palmdale → Santa Clarita, 110 mi Full Results and Report
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The jersey leaders in Palmdale | 
The rollout from Palmdale | 
Lawson Craddock "Proves it!" | 
Jens makes today's first break | 
Getting ready for the first climb | 
Strong winds split the peloton | 
KOM 1 on the by the KOM leader, Carter Jones | 
Andy Schleck looks back to see RadioShack Leopard teammate Jens Voigt coming up | 
Andy Schleck leading the break | 
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Jamis - Hagens Berman driving the chase for race leader Janier Acevedo | 
Magic Mountain in the Backround (Velencia) | 
Passing by the Prison | 
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Beginning the climb at Lake Castiac | 
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Peter Sagan was all over Southern California | 
The Break | 
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Cannondale had a plan | 
Andy Schleck spending more time at the front of the break and won the second KOM | 
Sprint finish as expected in Santa Clarita with Peter Sagan coming from the middle of the pack, two rows back to take the win | 
It's a good thing Peter Sagan didn't finish second today | 
Your stage 3 podium: 2 MATTHEWS, Michael (ORICA GREENEDGE), 1 SAGAN, Peter (CANNONDALE), 3 FARRAR, Tyler (GARMIN SHARP) | 
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Stage 4: Santa Clarita → Santa Barbara, 84 mi Full Results and Report
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The sprint finish in full flight in downtown Santa Barbara | 
After a good leadout, Tyler FARRAR (GARMIN SHARP) celebrates his sprint finish win in Santa Barbara.USA 2 HANSON, Ken (OPTUM - KELLY BENEFIT)
BEL 3 MEERSMAN, Gianni (OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP)
BEL 4 BOECKMANS, Kris (VACANSOLEIL-DCM)
SVK 5 SAGAN, Peter (CANNONDALE) AUS 6 MATTHEWS, Michael (ORICA GREENEDGE)
NOR 7 HUSHOVD, Thor (BMC RACING)
FRA 8 CHAVANEL, Sylvain (OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP)
NZL 9 VENNELL, Jeremy (BISSELL CYCLING)
BEL 10 STUYVEN, Jasper (BONTRAGER)
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Stage 5: Santa Barbara → Avila Beach, 115 mi Full Results and Report
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Start perspective from yesterday's finish and today's start in Santa Barbara | 
The rollout from Santa Barbara | 
Early break getting started. Two of these riders were part of the main break. | 
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Under an overpass | 
Starting the cat 2 San Marcos climb in the Los Padros National Forest with Santa Barbara in the distance | 
The three man break on San Marcros led by KOM leader, Carter Jones (Bissell) followed by Kai Chun Feng (Champion System) and Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM) | 
Jens Voigt and Andy Schleck | 
Cattle under Coast Live Oaks... Classic California scenery along Foxen Canyon Rd in the Santa Ynez Valley | 
The peloton getting a time gap | 
Foxen Canyon Rd? | 
The peloton continuing to work their way north | 
The three man break fighting a head wind | 
The peloton passing through Orcutt | 
The break arriving San Luis Obispo County | 
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The three man break doing a mini echelon as the head wind has turned into a crosswind | 
Jens Voigt, far right, instigated a 17 man break that got away in the strong crosswinds. Note the chasing peloton, which contained the race leader, in the distance | 
Sylvain Chavanel | 
Tejay Van Garderen took his turns at the front in the break as virtual leader on the road | 
GC guys Matt Busche and Tejay Van Garderen pulling through | 
Sprinters in the break consisted of Tylar Farrar, Michael Matthews, Peter Sagan and Thor Hushovd | 
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Enthusiastic triathletes | 
More guys in their speedos | 
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The break extended their lead out to over a minute as they passed through vineyards on their way to the finish | 
The peloton with the race leader had given up hopes of reeling in the break at this point | 
After starting the winning break that split the peloton, Jens VOIGT (RADIOSHACK LEOPARD) attacked again on the last hill with several km to go and soloed into Avila Beach. | 
“I felt like I’m a little bit stronger than the other guys in the break, but of course less fast than the sprinters, so the only chance for me to win is to come here [to the finish line] alone” | 
Stage 4 winner Tylar FARRAR (GARMIN SHARP) then took the bunch sprint for 2nd +6s. | 
New race leader Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) could bearly contain his emotions on the podium | 
Your stage 5 podium: 2nd Tyler Farrar, 1st Jens Voigt, 3rd Thor Hushovd |
Stage 6: San Jose ITT, 19.6 mi Full Results and Report
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The Women's TT was won by Evelyn Stevens (Specialized-lululemon). 31 km in 55:49 | 
Women's TT 2nd Alison Powers (NOW-Novartis for MS) + 56s | 
Womens's TT 3rd Kristin McGrath (Exergy Twenty16) + 1:24 | 
Jens Voigt (RadioShack Leopard) out warming up for the men's TT | 
Men's TT: 1st Tejay VAN GARDEREN (BMC RACING) 48:52 | 
Tejay VAN GARDEREN (BMC RACING) | 
Tejay VAN GARDEREN (BMC RACING) extended his overall lead to + 1:47 | 
2nd Lieuwe WESTRA (VACANSOLEIL-DCM) + 23 | 
4th Michael ROGERS (SAXO-TINKOFF) + 1:05 | 
Michael ROGERS (SAXO-TINKOFF) | 
5th Marco PINOTTI (BMC RACING) + 1:08 | 
6th Cameron MEYER (ORICA GREENEDGE) + 1:28 and now 3rd on GC + 2:57 | 
7th Bob JUNGELS (RADIOSHACK LEOPARD) + 1:29 | 
9th Mathias FRANK (BMC RACING) + 1:46 | 
10th Sylvain CHAVANEL (OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP) + 1:48 | 
16th Francisco MANCEBO (5 HOUR ENERGY) + 2:33 | 
18th Janier ACEVEDO (JAMIS - HAGENS BERMAN) + 2:41 now down to 5th + 3:31 | 
24th Philip DEIGNAN (UNITEDHEALTHCARE) + 3:35 | 
After yesterday's win and with Matthew Busche in GC contention, Jens Voigt was saving himself today | 
Your stage 6 ITT winner, Tejay VAN GARDEREN (BMC RACING) extends his overall lead to + 1:47 | 
Your Stage 6 ITT podium... | 
2nd Lieuwe WESTRA (VACANSOLEIL-DCM) + 23, 1st Tejay VAN GARDEREN (BMC RACING) 48:52, 3rd Rohan DENNIS (GARMIN SHARP) + 28s | 
Tejay VAN GARDEREN (BMC RACING) celebrates with his new baby daughter | 
Your jersey leaders + the women's ITT winner Evelyn Stevens |
Stage 7: Livermore → Mt. Diablo, 91 mi Full Results and Report
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Start scene in Livermore | 
Rollout from downtown Livermore | 
The peloton heading out to Morgan Territory | 
One of the Jamis riders has already taken a spill | 
Andy Schleck was in the break | 
Thor Hushovd and BMC keeping the gap managable | 
Camino Diablo scenery | 
Passing by the California Acquaduct/ Fabian Bell Canal | 
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Race leader, Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) | 
Lots of windmills on the way to Patterson Pass | 
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Power Plant for all the windmills | 
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Climbing Patterson Pass | 
Patterson Pass | 
Patterson Pass | 
Descending Patterson Pass | 
Leaving Livermore again | 
Re-entering Contra Costa County | 
Heading to Mt Diablo | 
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Ben Jacques-Mayne at the front of the chase | 
This is a view of Mt Diablo just down the road from the steephill.tv office in the Berkeley Hills. From the south gate where stage 7 came through, it's 11.5 miles (18.29 km) averaging 5.8% with the last 150m kicking up to 16%. | 
Lachlan Morton (Garmin-Sharp), Champion System rider and KOM leader Carter Jones from the earlier break on Mt Diablo | 
Early on the finishing climb: Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) followed David de la Cruz (NetApp) led part way up Mt Diablo, but Westra blew before the top. He finished 39th + 4:39. | 
Leopold KONIG (NETAPP - ENDURA) was first to appear, but he was still up to his waist fighting the devil | 
Leopold KONIG (NETAPP - ENDURA) wins the 150m at 16% sprint to the top of Mt Diablo 7 seconds ahead of Janier ACEVEDO (JAMIS - HAGENS BERMAN) who moved up to 3rd overall on the day. | 
Biggest win of Leopold KONIG'S (NETAPP - ENDURA) career | 
1st and 2nd on GC, Tejay van Garderen and Michael Rogers, finished 3rd and 4th, respectively, + 12s | 
The two big winners on the day | 
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Best young rider, American Lawson Craddock (Bontrager) likes to suffer and that's what it took to finish 7th +32s |
Stage 8: San Francisco → Santa Rosa, 82 mi Full Results and Report
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Neutral Start at Marina Green in San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background | 
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Heading north with Alcatraz in the background | 
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The riders were thrilled to go over the Golden Gate Bridge with no traffic | 
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Entering the tunnel with Sausalito on the other side | 
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BMC managing the gap | 
The peloton weaving along the Pacific Coast Highway | 
Hwy 1 | 
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Pt. Reyes | 
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Pt. Reyes Station | 
Marshall | 
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The three man break near Bodega: Jason McCartney (Bissell Pro Cycling) leads Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM), and Antoine Duchesne (Bontrager) | 
Antoine Duchesne (Bontrager) dropping his rivals | 
Jason McCartney rejoined Antoine Duchesne; the last two riders about to be reeled in | 
Stage 8 sprint in full flight | 
Pete Sagan (Cannondale) started his sprint from a long way out and easily won the final stage in Santa Rosa ahead of Daniel Schorn (NetApp-Endura) and Tyler Farrar (Garmin Sharp) | 
Stage 8 podium: 2nd Daniel Schorn (Aut) Team NetApp-Endura, 1st Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale Pro Cycling 3:04:07, 3 rd Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Sharp | 
Your overall winner, Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team, his first pro stage race overall win | 
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2013 GC Podium: 2nd Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff + 1:47, 1st Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 29:43:00, 3rd Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col) Jamis-Hagens Berman + 3:26 | 
Points winner, Peter Sagan | 
BMC also won the team competition by over 8 minutes (RadioShack Leopard was second) | 
Your jersey winners including domestic riders Lawson Craddock (3rd left Best Young Rider) and Carter Jones (3rd right KOM winner) |
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