The Amgen Tour of California 2015 began on Sunday, May 10th in Sacramento and ended nearly 700 miles later in Pasadena on Sunday, May 17.

The route included a mix of old and new locations, with the first-time host city, Lodi, the ten-time host city, San Jose, and Sacramento, Nevada City, Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, Santa Barbara, Santa Clarita, Big Bear Lake, Ontario, Mt. Baldy, Los Angeles, and Pasadena.

Stage 1: Sacramento

Mark Cavendish (Etixx QuickStep) sprinted to a stage 1 victory at the Amgen Tour of California 2015 in Sacramento. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) was second and Jempy Drucker (BMC Racing) was third.

I wasn’t really that calm to be honest because it was really chaotic out there. When Mark Renshaw is stressing a bit you know it’s really stressful. But I know with my teammates I don’t really have to think too much even with chaos, so it means I can focus on saving my energy for the sprint. In this situation, we maybe didn’t go exactly how we wanted to inside the last kilometer.

Mark Renshaw had to go a bit far from behind. But we knew when Sagan lost the wheel he was in the wind a bit. I knew he’d get in on my wheel and when I jumped I could get a gap. I didn’t go too early, I didn’t go too late. Mark set me up perfectly at about 200 meters to go and I’m super happy to win here in Sacramento. It also says a lot about Mark Renshaw because he went down hard in that crash. There was a massive pothole and when you’re in the middle of the peloton you don’t see it.

I was riding next to him and he just disappeared due to the fall. So I was a bit worried. But fortunately, he made it back and did a great job in the end, even if he’s a bit sore. As for tomorrow’s stage, I’d really like to see if we can go for another win with me in the yellow jersey. Then we will take it day-by-day in the next stages. We’ve got a strong team here structured around the sprints, and we’ll see what results we can get when the chances are there after this victory today.”
– Mark Cavendish, Ettix

It was a long day. The break went pretty early. Probably the biggest race our team will be doing this year. We have seven more stages to come and we’re looking forward to having riders win more stages.”
– Will Clarke, Drapac

I am very happy and very satisfied. The team had confidence in me and I gave them back with a result. I am maybe not the fastest sprinter, but I can still do some good placement and get some good results. So I will try to be up there again tomorrow.”
– Jempy Drucker, BMC Racing

Stage 2: Nevada City to Lodi

Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep) bested Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) at the line to pick up back to back wins at the Amgen Tour of California in Lodi. Wouter Wippert (Drapac) was third.

To be fair, on the line, I didn’t even know if I’d got it. I’m happy I could win after the hard work of Etixx – Quick-Step today.”
– Mark Cavendish, Etiss-QuickStep

Soon after leaving the start in Nevada City, a breakaway formed consisting of Daniel Oss (BMC Racing Team), Markel Irizar Aranburu (Trek Factory Racing’s ), Luis Romero Amaran (Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home) and Robin Carpenter (Hincapie Racing Team). The four held off the main field until hitting the circuits in Lodi.

With the win, Cavendish kept the leader’s jersey and held on to the top position in the sprint classification, leading Sagan by 6 points. Robin Carpenter (Hincapie Racing Team) leads the KOM and Best Young Rider classifications.

Stage 3: San Jose

Toms Skujins of the Hincapie Racing Team held on from the breakaway to solo to victory in San Jose and take the stage 3 victory.

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) was second, 1 minute six seconds back, and Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-QuickStep) was third.

We came out and rode from Livermore to the finish; I kind of knew the most important parts of the route. I knew that after Mt. Hamilton it was a pretty technical decent.

I was mostly worried about that long drive from like 20 kilometers to go. Even in training I was like ‘What the hell is this? It keeps going and going.’ I knew it was going to be hard to chase and a small group would go over Mt. Hamilton and not a lot of teams would be able to chase. Thank God I won.”
– Toms Skujins, Hincapie Racing Team

This season is all about new experiences for me as a young rider, and this is my first time at Tour of California. This was also my first eight-day stage race with a mountain stage and a time trial still to come. I have to say I’m enjoying it a lot. So far we had great teamwork with Mark winning two stages, and defending Yellow.

It was important to learn how to work in support of him, sometimes using a lot of energy in front. I was also honored to be his second-to-last leadout man yesterday. We accomplished the goal of the win, and I was happy I contributed in the last kilometers. Today I thought might be a chance to maybe show myself if the condition was there.

Voila, my condition was good. I was able to stay in the front group with the best guys. In the end it was clear we couldn’t catch Skujins, so congratulations to him for a strong stage.

I still wanted to go for the podium on the uphill finish and I did it. Against a guy like Peter Sagan I can be satisfied with a 3rd place. Now I am in the White Jersey for Best Young Rider, and 4th in the GC. Tomorrow begins more chances for sprints with Mark. We’ll see what we can do. I’m learning more and more day-by-day, and if there can be an opportunity for me in the next days, why not, we will see what I can do to protect my overall position.”
– Julian Alaphilippe, Etiixx-Quick-Step

Stage 4: Pismo Beach to Avila Beach

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) powered through the streets of Avila Beach edging out Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep) to claim the Amgen Tour of California 2015 stage 4 victory.

Thank you to all my teammates. I want to give this victory to Maciej Bodnar because he had a very bad crash yesterday and went home this morning. Today Ettix – Quick-Step [Pro Cycling Team] did the most work as well as the Hincapie [Racing] Team on the front. We tried with the crosswinds to break from the group.

For the finish we lost [Daniele] Bennati because he flat-tired the last 3 kilometers. Matti Breschel, Michael [Mørkøv] and Jay [McCarthy] did a very good job in the last 2 kilometers to bring me to the front. Mark Cavendish, was a little bit behind the last turn left – right – left and then I took position on the front.”
– Peter Sagan, Tinkoff-Saxo

Toms Skujins (Hincapie Racing Team) remained in the overall lead, 22 seconds in front of Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) and 43 seconds ahead of Team SmartStop’s Rob Britton.

Well, this morning I was pretty tired, but feeling better now. Just loosened up the legs in the race and it was pretty hard in the end, but the team kept me safe, so that was awesome. You never know what the other teams are planning, but we kept the tempo good.

The team rode amazing, riding up front, drilling it. I’m super happy and super grateful. They road their hearts out.”
– Toms Skujins, Hincapie Racing Team

I was very happy to be in the break today. It was the plan of the team to have a rider in the breakaway. It was hard with the wind and the bunch wasn’t giving us any gap. At least the team could hide in the bunch and save energy for the finish. Tyler got 5th on the stage so I am happy with my contribution.”
– Daniel Teklehaimanot, MTN Qhubeka

Stage 5: Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita

Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep) claimed his third win at Amgen Tour of California on a cold, rainy stage 5 that ended in Santa Clarita.

The thing is, when you’re going so fast there’s the wind chill as well. It’s one thing to be wet and to be cold when you’re wet, but with the wind coming on you’re freezing to the absolute bone. But it was good. All my teammates, thank you.

It was hard to catch them back in the final but my team really looked after me. It was also nice to see so many people out here despite the weather. As for the sprint, I had Mark Renshaw at the end, and as always he was cool and calm, but we had to dig deep. It was a bit hectic in the last kilometer and Mark Renshaw was cooked, so we couldn’t go as fast as we wanted in the end.

It was a headwind finish, and I knew I didn’t want to jump early. Waeytens went first and I timed it well enough to catch him before the line. I’m super happy to get the stage win for the team today.”
– Mark Cavendish, Etixx-QuickStep

Zico Waeytens (Team Giant Alpecin) was second and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) was third.

Toms Skujins (Hincapie Racing Team) retained the overall lead, 18 seconds ahead of Sagan and 44 seconds in front of Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-QuickStep).

The guys did amazing. With the help of Etixx – Quick-Step [Pro Cycling Team], we managed to not let the guys get too far ahead of us. We kept them pretty close, like 3:30 or something.

We know that after the last decent it could be tailwind or crosswind, so it would be a really fast finish. The good thing was that we had them at :02-something at that moment. So, it didn’t get too out of hand. It was pretty hectic in the final with the rain and stuff, but we managed to keep it and we were pretty happy.”
– Toms Skujins, Hincapie Racing Team

I’d like to thank my teammates for their hard work today, we pulled at the front during the whole day, at times with other teams. It was raining in some parts of the stage but the heaviest rainfall took place on the last 20km and the colder temperatures made it even tougher.

Overall, it was a good stage and I could, probably, have finished in a better position but we did our best and we are satisfied with the result. Tomorrow’s shorter time-trial suits me better and I will certainly try to take the yellow jersey.”
– Peter Sagan, Tinkoff-Saxo

Stage 6: Six Flags Magic Mountain ITT

Due to the forecast of snow and low temperatures, the Amgen Tour of California organizers determined that race day conditions were not safe for riders, teams, partners, fans or staff participating or attending the Individual Time Trial events scheduled for Friday, May 15 at Big Bear Lake. Friday’s Men’s and Women’s Individual Time Trials was relocated to Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) rode his way into the leader’s jersey at stage 6 time trial at the Amgen Tour of California. Jos Van Emden(Team Lotto  NL-Jumbo) was second and Etixx-QuickStep’s Julian Alaphillipe placed third, which lifted him to second in the overall GC.

I was feeling in great shape today and this shorter race course helped me. This morning I was feeling confident and I believed I could make it. I was aiming at the yellow jersey without focusing on a stage victory but I got both. I tried, I gave my best and I’m happy with the result. My sports director Patxi Vila was following me in the team car and as he was giving me my intermediate times, I saw I was getting faster, which made me confident in the fact that I would have a big advantage.

Over the winter, I spent more time on my time-trial position and carried out tests in the Specialized wind tunnel as well as on race tracks in Europe after Paris-Roubaix. That had, undoubtedly, a positive impact on my time-trial performance. If Maciej Bodnar had been here, I am sure he would have won and we could have had two Tinkoff-Saxo riders on the podium.”
– Peter Sagan, Tinkoff-Saxo

With the change of the time trial course to a shorter distance in Santa Clarita, this suited me. I felt good at the start and wanted to do my best to defend my 3rd place in the GC. I have been taking it day-by-day, because I came here after some hard racing at the Ardennes Classics. I’ve had good legs so far, including today. I was super pleased with how I performed. Sagan was really strong today, so congratulations to him on the victory.

I am really happy to be on the podium and to go into the queen stage having protected my overall placement. This is my first time at an eight-day stage race, and so far I did well at the time trial. We will see how I do on a key mountain stage tomorrow. I know that Mt. Baldy will not be easy, but we will see what can happen. We have a very motivated team here, as you can see with three victories of Mark Cavendish and my two podium placings. We also have the White Jersey and Green Jersey. I will do my best to honor my 3rd place in the GC on Saturday, and to also learn from the experience with the support of my teammates.”
– Julian Alaphilippe, Etixx-QuickStep

Stage 7: Ontario to Mt Baldy

Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-QuickStep) soloed to victory on Mt Baldy claiming the Amgen Tour of California 2015 Stage 7 win and the leader’s jersey.

Sergio Henao (Team Sky) was second and Ian Boswell (Team Sky) was third.

Peter Sagan now sits 2 seconds behind Alaphilippe in the general classification heading into the final stage which begins in Los Angeles and ends in Pasadena on Sunday.

I am super happy with this win. Today was a short stage and we were going full gas since the beginning. In the final I was there with the best guys. Henao was attacking, stopping, attacking, stopping. He was relentless. At a certain moment at about 4 kilometers to go I decided to try to attack, and see if I could improve my classification. I went, and Henao didn’t respond immediately.

When I saw he didn’t follow me I thought he was playing with me, and that he would arrive at any second and pass me. But I kept going and going anyway. The last two kilometers were the hardest of my life. I gave everything to go the distance, my legs felt like they were exploding. In my mind I was always thinking that Henao could come back. But I was doing my best to stay away. It wasn’t until the final 200 meters when I finally understood I had won the stage. I enjoyed the moment, but I kept going 100 percent until the finish line.

It was a great emotion for me because this is the second victory of my career. But, what makes me so happy is the way I won. I won a mountain stage in the Tour of California, the first stage race of eight days in my professional career. For me that is really special. I worked for Mark Cavendish on the flat stages and took my chances here when possible. I really rode with good legs this week after the Ardennes Classics. To have this performance with such momentum going into it is really great.

Now I am in the leader’s jersey. Of course tomorrow won’t be easy to defend my position. There are intermediate time bonuses, and time bonuses at the finish line of the stage. It is clear Sagan is faster than me, so we will see tomorrow what will happen. I don’t want to put pressure on myself for the GC. For the stage of tomorrow, I think we have to go with our original plan to try and win with Mark. He’s won three stages already and is going really well. Then we will see if we can defend the yellow jersey.

If not, it won’t be the end of the world. We won four stages here so far out of seven. I had the best young rider jersey going into this stage, and Mark has the points jersey. So, we’ve already done plenty here and we are simply trying to add to what we’ve already accomplished. The 2015 Amgen Tour of California will be a race I never forget.”
– Julian Alaphilippe, Etixx-QuickStep

It was a very hard stage with a tough final climb. I wanted to be in the front in order to secure my position in the GC as much as I could, in view of Sunday’s fast stage. I did my best and everything will now be decided in the sprints. We will aim at the overall victory and we will give our best to achieve it.”
– Peter Sagan, Tinkoff-Saxo

I said before the race that I thought Julian was the wildcard, because obviously he’s young rider and he’s had a really impressive Spring Classics campaign. But we haven’t really seen him climb at altitude on a stage like this and obviously today he came through. Looks like he’s secured the tour.

Our team was fantastic today. We had all 8 riders up until the last 25k in the race and we knew we had to take it on pretty early because I think Tinkoff-Saxo wanted to keep it a bit more controlled for [Peter] Sagan and not make it too difficult. But the guys were doing the work before the cameras came on. Xabier [Zandio Echaide] and Nathan Earle and Danny Pate were really impressive today coming up over the top. Unfortunately we didn’t win the race overall, but I think it’s impressive to see Sergio [Luis Henao Montoya] doing what he’s doing after his crash less than a year ago.”
– Ian Boswell, Team Sky

Stage 8: Los Angeles to Pasadena

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) won the Amgen Tour of California by two millimeters at the line on the last day of the eight-stage race.

Starting the day 2 seconds behind Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-QuickStep), the intermediate sprint on the first lap of the finishing nine-lap circuit at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena saw Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep) take first and the top time bonus, with Sagan crossing second and Alaphilippe third. The result pulled Sagan to a single second behind Alaphilippe in the overall.

Heading to the finish line, Sagan needed to be on the podium and to see Alaphilippe out of one of the top three spots. At the line, it was Cavendish crossing first, Drapac Racing Team’s Wouter Wippertsecond and, in a photo finish, Sagan crossed by less than a tire rim ahead of MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung’s Tyler Farrar.

I’m very happy, and I want to pay a big thanks to all my teammates for doing an incredible job. We lost two riders on the third stage, as Michael Kolar had allergy while Maciej Bodnar suffered a bad crash. I’m very happy and relieved as it was so close right until the end. I never would have thought that I could have won the GC, when I started the race so it’s also a surprise for me.

I didn’t have any further strategy in the final sprint, and I just had to go for it, it’s not just Tinkoff-Saxo and Etixx-Quikstep as there were many others trying to get a result and we had to pay attention to many factors and teams today in order for us to secure this win.

All the stages have been incredible and especially yesterday on the queen stage to Mt. Baldy, where I must admit that I felt really good and had to dig really deep. For me the last kilometers yesterday on Baldy were so hard, my legs were burning but I had to continue on the climb, as I knew that it was still within reach of Alaphilippe.

I believed that I could do it. I don’t know if it was the hardest effort that I’ve ever done, but it was tough. It was just 129k, while the Classics for instance are much longer and drain your energy slowly. But yes, yesterday I was in pain almost throwing up. But now everything is OK”, finishes the winner of Tour of California with a big smile.”
– Peter Sagan, Tinkoff-Saxo

I’m happy to finish off a strong Amgen Tour of California with my 4th win, and the 5th for the team out of eight stages. Really it’s about the team and how we rode all week. We were on the podium every day. We rode so strong. We went for the stage today and still protected Alaphilippe in the GC with some great racing all day, leaving it up to a photo finish in the sprint. In the end we got two jerseys, yet another stage win, and a 2nd place overall. I’m super proud of what we’ve done here and think things are going in the right direction ahead of the Tour de France.

I really have to congratulate Julian for how he performed this week going for the overall. He is really talented. I didn’t actually know how talented he was in the big mountains until yesterday. We already saw him in the Ardennes Classics finishing 2nd behind guys like Alejandro Valverde. But to do what he did yesterday really shows his form. But even more, it is about his personality on and off the bike. He’s got a winner’s attitude. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks, he’s going to go for it anyway, and that is someone who is going to go far in life. He’s a good kid too, a super nice kid.

As for me, I’ve been happy with my form all year, which to me is the same as my form last year at this time. Had I not crashed in the first stage of Le Tour in 2014 I am fully confident I could have gone for multiple stages. So we’ll see what I can do this year. I’m feeling really good. My team is fully committed and focused. I go next to Tour de Suisse and the British National Championships, and we’ll see what I can do to improve my form even more before July.”
– Mark Cavendish, Etixx-QuickStep

I must say I am a little frustrated with the finish but at least we were right in the mix and it was still our best result of the race. It would have been great to be on the podium though. We did a good job during the race as a whole.

The team was active in the breaks and we were trying our hand in all of the sprints. The performance we put in this week is certainly one we can build on in the future. It was good to be racing in the United States with MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung, people showed that they are excited about the team and what the team stands for.”
– Tyler Farrar, MTN Qhubeka

This was strange for me because I was always in the breakaways, accumulating points. But I am not a climber. I weigh 80 kilos. But I was looking for this jersey after the first breakaway and getting some points. I said, ‘this is something we have to do,’ so we went after it.

I didn’t know what I could do. This was my first race after the classics season. I felt fresh and I felt good and I was just looking to see what I could do to build my shape up for the second part of the season.”
– Daniel Oss, BMC Racing Team

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