Tour of California (2014) Photos May 11 - 18

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Start Sacramento	Departing Sacramento with in front of the State Capital Building
	The Break
Todays Best Young Rider- Tao Geoghegan Hart (Bissell DEVO)		Leaving Auburn
Break	Sacramento River	A long, lumpy California road
Cav doing his share, pulling at the front after the split	Phinney and Wiggins	Phinney and Wiggins
Entering the finishing circuits with 3 to go.	Teams lining up with one to go	Mark Cavendish coming around John Degenkolb
Mark Cavendish wins the closest finish in the nine year history of the Tour of California	No time for a victory salute, in fact, it wasn't until Cav saw the stage finish on a cell phone that he celebrated	Did the added weight and imbalance of an experimental bike cam on Degenkolb's bike cost him the win? Now posted: Amazing bikecam video of John Degenkolb's Stage 1 leadout and sprint
We won't mention that Cav pushed Sagan (right) off of Degenkolb's wheel to position himself for victory	Your Stage 1 winner and race leader, Mark Cavendish	Stage 1 podium: 2nd John DEGENKOLB (GIANT-SHIMANO), 1st Mark CAVENDISH (OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP) 4:44:17, 3rd Moreno HOFLAND (BELKIN)
Jersey leaders

Stage 2:  Folsom, 20.1 km  Full Results and Report

Jens Voigt (Trek Factory Racing) getting ready for the 20 km Folsom individual time-trial	Jens Voigt (Trek Factory Racing) entering the start house before his 9th place + 1:24 ride	American National TT Champ: 11th Tom ZIRBEL (OPTUM P/B KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES) + 1:28
Bradley Wiggins getting ready	Bradley Wiggins meant business today	Bradley WIGGINS (SKY) launches out of the start house on his way to posting the best time on the 20.1 km course, 23:18, 44s faster than the next rider
3rd Taylor PHINNEY (BMC RACING) + 52s was hoping for a better outcome. Taylor Phinney: 'Wiggins Is in Another Category' (video)	Peter SAGAN (CANNONDALE) on his way to 15th + 1:36	Fist bump between the stage 1 top sprinters, John DEGENKOLB (GIANT-SHIMANO) and Mark CAVENDISH (OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP)
Mark CAVENDISH (OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP), the last rider off as race leader, was 27th + 2:02	Taylor PHINNEY (BMC RACING) on his way to 3rd + 52s	Peter SAGAN (CANNONDALE) on his way to 15th + 1:36
Mark Cavendish	Mark Cavendish	Stage 2 podium: 2nd Rohan DENNIS (GARMIN SHARP) + 44s, 1st Bradley WIGGINS (SKY) 23:18, 3rd Taylor PHINNEY (BMC RACING) + 52s
Best Young Rider Lawson Craddock	Jersey leaders	Bradley Wiggins (Sky) will take a commanding 44s lead into Stage 3, the first mountain stage. In regards to his performance during the first two stages: “You have a plan in your head as to how you imagine you’re going to come out at the end of today and so far it’s probably a bit better than I imagined. I’m in a really good place. I'm probably a bit ahead of where I was in 2012 with the Tour de France. I’ve worked hard for this – I’ve said openly all year this has been my goal.”

Stage 3:  San Jose → Mount Diablo State Park, 175 km  Full Results and Report

Peter Sagan signing in for Stage 3 in San Jose	The rollout from East San Jose	The base of Mt. Hamilton
Race leader, Bradley Wiggins early in the stage	Mexican National RR Champ, Luis Enrique Davila (Jelly Belly) leading the break on his way to earning the Amgen Breakaway from Cancer Jersey	The Break
Looking down the switchbacks on Mt Hamilton, the first of two big climbs on the day	The peloton on Mt Hamilton	The switchbacks near the top of Mt Hamilton, with Silicon Valley in the distance
The Lick Observatory 4,216 feet (1,285 m) in the top-left corner marks the top of the Mt Hamilton climb	Feed zone on the way to Livermore after descending Mount Hamilton	Livermore vineyard
SKY protecting the front for Bradley Wiggins while cheered on by school kids		Sky breaking back the break which had a 2 mile advantage at one point
Feed zone		Taylor Phinney getting his climber Peter Stetina in position for the final climb. Stetina finished 7th + 14s.
Bradley Wiggins set a fast tempo up Mt. Diablo	Bradley Wiggins' fast tempo thwarted attacks until the race reached the very top	Rohan Dennis (Garmin-Sharp) attacked with 150m to go when the climb kicked up to 16% and stretched out his lead to the line
	Bare chested (not good for the sponsors) Rohan Dennis wins Stage 3: "I'd like to thank all my teammates on Team Nipples-Pasty White Chest"	The winning margin of 6s over 2nd Tiago MACHADO (NETAPP - ENDURA) and 8s over 3rd Lawson CRADDOCK, (GIANT-SHIMANO)
3rd Lawson CRADDOCK, (GIANT-SHIMANO) + 8s, the top American, followed by 4th Adam YATES (ORICA GreenEDGE) and 5th Janier ACEVEDO (GARMIN SHARP) + 11s	Mom was very proud of Lawson CRADDOCK (GIANT-SHIMANO)	Bradley Wiggins looked great on the finishing climb, but lost 20s to Rohan Dennis and now leads by 24s. The GC battle is now down to two riders.
Stage 3 podium: 2nd Tiago MACHADO (NETAPP - ENDURA) + 6s, 1st Rohan DENNIS (GARMIN SHARP) 4:56:02, 3rd Lawson CRADDOCK (GIANT-SHIMANO) + 8s	The jersey leaders after Stage 3

Stage 4:  Monterey → Cambria, 165 km  Full Results and Report

KOM leader Will ROUTLEY (OPTUM P/B KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES) has been in all the breaks during the first three road stages including today. We'll see him again later.	The six men break entering the Bixby Creek Bridge	The peloton on the famous Bixby Creek Bridge
Bixby Creek Bridge	Team Sky navigating around the moose on loose	More scenic roads as the race heads south on Highway 1
		Gregory DANIEL (BISSELL DEVELOPMENT TEAM), the youngest rider in the race at age 19, leading the break
A beautiful day for a bike ride along the coast. Of course, it makes a big difference when there's no car traffic.
	2:35 down on the break	Thor Hushovd
Will ROUTLEY (OPTUM P/B KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES) took more KOM and Sprint points in the break	Gorgeous!
Last time Bradley Wiggins did this race, the weather was horrible down the coast. By his own admission he enjoyed todays ride, both weather and pace wise, and added 4s more on his GC lead over Rohan Dennis	The sprinter teams got organized too late in chasing down the break
	Giant Shimano chasing	The peloton passing disinterested elephant seals
With a tailwind, the peloton was going 70 kph down the coast...	but, the break stayed away; bunch sprint in Cambria	Will ROUTLEY (OPTUM P/B KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES) wins the bunch sprint over 2nd Gregory DANIEL (BISSELL DEVELOPMENT TEAM), 3rd Kevin DE MESMAEKER (NOVO NORDISK)
After the peloton miscalculated the break, Mark Cavendish won the field sprint 1:17 later over Peter Sagan	Will ROUTLEY (OPTUM P/B KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES) enjoys his first UCI pro win as a six year pro although he's a former Canadian National Champion and a stage winner at the Redlands Classic	Your Stage 4 podium: 2nd Gregory DANIEL (BISSELL DEVELOPMENT TEAM), Will ROUTLEY (OPTUM P/B KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES), 3rd Kevin DE MESMAEKER (NOVO NORDISK)

Stage 5:  Pismo Beach → Santa Barbara, 174 km  Full Results and Report

Stage 5 start from Pismo Beach Pier		Pismo Beach Pier panorama
The rollout from Pismo Beach		Beginning a hot day...already 105F at 10 miles in
A rare shady spot along the route	Not everyday you see Wiggins attack at the front so early	The Break. First one all week that KOM leader Will Routley didn't make.
	Hot. There goes some precious southern California fresh water.	Bare chested Team Sky at the front
Hot, parched landscape	Bridge over dried up river	So hot... even the camera couldn't focus. No bull.
Jens Voigt		Break
		Sagan shadowing Wiggins
The pace is heating up	Brad made the San Marcos climb look easy	Will Routley scooping up more KOM on San Marcos before the descent to the finish
Dropping like a stone. 6 foot 5 inch, 185 lb Taylor Phinney attacked on the descent of San Marcos with 25 km to go	Taylor Phinney had a maximum lead of 35 seconds	Taylor Phinney knows the Santa Barbara roads well and he benefited from a tailwind off the coast for the flat final run to the line
First professional road win for Taylor Phinney on American soil	Your stage 5 winner Taylor Phinney (BMC) had time to celebrate in Santa Barbara	12s later, Peter SAGAN (CANNONDALE) won the field sprint for 2nd over Matthew GOSS Harley (ORICA GreenEDGE)
The podium hostesses getting passionate with the race leader, Bradley Wiggins	Your stage 5 podium: 2nd Peter SAGAN (CANNONDALE) + 12s, 1st Taylor PHINNEY (BMC RACING) 3:59:33, 3rd Matthew GOSS (ORICA GreenEDGE) + 12s	Race leader Bradley Wiggins taking the opportunity to congratulate Taylor Phinney during the jersey leaders presentation
Your jersey leaders after Stage 5

Stage 6:  Santa Clarita → Mountain High, 152 km  Full Results and Report

The rollout from Santa Clarita for Stage 6	Watch Out! Whatever this volunteer gets paid it's not enough ;-)
Careful train track crossing	Jens makes the first move of the day....for a minute
Barbie, Convertible... we must be in Southern California	The Break
BMC on the descent	The peloton strung out after the second sprint	The break leaves Palmdale
Spread out. Windy. Hot.		1k to go 3rd KOM
Baking in the 105F heat	Midrace Bissell feed	Cav getting back to the action after his spill (video)
Team Sky did a good job today for race leader Bradley Wiggins	Bradley Wiggins	KOM and Stage 4 winner, Will ROUTLEY (OPTUM P/B KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES)
	Sky's Joe DOMBROWSKI ticked out a good pace on the final climb	Jack Bobridge dangled off the back of the break
Bearded Lady cheers the Aussie based Orica GreenEdge led break; Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) and Tom Danielson (Garmin-Sharp) at the front on the Mountain High summit finish	Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) attacks with several km to go	Never to be seen again until the podium ceremony
	Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) wins Stage 6 on Mountain High	Biggest win to date for the 24 year old Colombian
	Nothing like winning	First two kisses?
Your Stage 6 podium: 2nd David DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO (NETAPP - ENDURA) + 13s, 1st Esteban CHAVES (ORICA GreenEDGE) 4:09:13, 3rd Thomas DANIELSON (GARMIN SHARP) + 41s

Stage 7:  Santa Clarita → Pasadena, 143 km  Full Results and Report

The SRAM Neutral Support Guys are prepared for anything..even the heat!	A racer's best friend today	Cav and Routley
Prep for depart from Santa Clarita, Stage 7	Everybody in Southern California owns a smartphone	Start scene
	The Break	Echelons. Windy in the desert
	Hot and dry; Southern California drought scene again
Wiggins and Sagan enjoying a little lunch together		The SKRATCH Support crew were rockstars all week
		The break
	Heading towards Pasadena....fast descent	Reminents of the break
	Cannondale chasing to setup a sprint finish	The last two of the original break, Ben King (Garmin-Sharp) and Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), on the finishing circuits in Pasadena
Pasadena circuits	Pasadena City Hall	Passing through the finishing line. One rider lost count of the circuits and thought he won (video)
Sprint finish: Peter Sagan (Cannodale) beats Thor Hushovd (BMC) and Boy Van Poppel (Trek Factory Racing)	First win of the week for Peter Sagan, boosting his all-record Tour of California stage win record to 11	Yellow Jersey Ceremony; Bradley Wiggins (Sky) has all but wrapped it up.
Your stage 7 podium: 2nd Thor Hushovd (BMC), 1st Peter Sagan (Cannodale), 3rd Boy Van Poppel (Trek Factory Racing)	The jersey leaders after Stage 8

Stage 8:  Thousand Oaks, 134 km  Full Results and Report

Stand here Bradley Wiggins	Cav and Sagan	Another beautiful day in California; the start scene in Thousand Oaks
The rollout for the hilly circuit race	The shade today was a welcomed sight	Jelly Belly tries to make a break
Ken Hansen (UHC) leads the peloton	Approaching the KOM	The Rock Store climb
	Cav getting a new wheel and assistance from SRAM
	Big crowds on the climb today
The final 2 of the break led by Jack Bobridge (Belkin)	Jens Voigt was frustrated post-race (video)	Cannodale looking to setup another sprint finish
Two man break still away	There are bikes and then there are bikes!	Bradley Wiggins
	Lars BOOM and John DEGENKOLB on the steep decent	First of the three circuits
10:17:51 101751__VEG0120.jpg	Full on sprint in Thousand Oaks	The expected big names at the front
It looks close	Mark CAVENDISH (OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP) wins ahead of John DEGENKOLB (GIANT-SHIMANO) and Peter SAGAN (CANNONDALE)	Photo finish photo
Bradley Wiggins crosses the line as the GC winner	Your Stage 8 winner, Mark Cavendish (OPQS)	Guns and Champagne
Your Stage 8 podium: 2nd John DEGENKOLB (GIANT-SHIMANO), 1st Mark CAVENDISH (OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP), 3rd Peter SAGAN (CANNONDALE)		Jersey winners + Bradley Wiggins kids
All present for the best team presentation: Garmin-Sharp + Phil Gaimon cut out	Garmin-Sharp celebrates another Tour of California best team award	Rohan Dennis looks on as Bradley Wiggins gets the women. His time will come.
Your 2013 Overall Podium: 2nd Rohan DENNIS (GARMIN SHARP) + 30s, 1st Bradley WIGGINS (SKY) 22:03:42, 3rd Lawson CRADDOCK (GIANT-SHIMANO) + 1:48	Time to celebrate and cool off at the same time