Amgen Tour of California
Encyclopedia
The Tour of California is an annual professional cycling
stage race on the UCI America Tour and USA Cycling Professional Tour
. It began on February 19, 2006. The eight-day race covers 650–700 miles (1,045 - 1,126 km) through California
. A typical edition might begin in Nevada City
, travel through the redwoods, wine country and the Pacific Coast
, and finish in a southern California city such as Escondido
. The 2009 race crossed the Central Valley from Merced
to Fresno
, with an excursion through the Sierra Nevada foothills, before crossing to the coast. The tour is sponsored by Amgen
, a large California-based biotech company.
With eight or nine of the 20 UCI ProTour
teams (known as ProTeams) usually racing, the Tour of California is the most important cycling race in the United States
since the demise of the Coors Classic
in 1988. On November 28, 2006, the UCI
upgraded it from 2.1 (category 1) to 2.HC , the highest rating and one of only three such stage races in the United States. Neither of the other two races, the Tour de Georgia
and the Tour of Missouri
, have been held since 2009, leaving the Tour of California as the United States' only UCI 2.HC race in 2010.
In 2010, the 2010 Tour of California
moved from February to May (May 16–23), the same time as the Giro d'Italia
. It is considered likely that the number of Americans in the Giro and Italians in the Tour of California will decrease. Tour of California organizers seek to make the race a preparatory event for the Tour de France
, believing few riders who seek a serious position in the Tour will ride the Giro. The race remained in May in 2011.
, but in 2009 the jersey color was changed to yellow.
or "KOM."
has won this jersey three times, after stages in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Jan Bárta
won the award twice during the 2011 edition. No one else has won this jersey more than once.
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
stage race on the UCI America Tour and USA Cycling Professional Tour
USA Cycling Professional Tour
The USA Cycling Professional Tour is a professional road bicycle racing series organized by USA Cycling.-Results:-External links:*...
. It began on February 19, 2006. The eight-day race covers 650–700 miles (1,045 - 1,126 km) through 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...
. A typical edition might begin in Nevada City
Nevada City, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Nevada City had a population of 3,068. The population density was 1,399.7 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Nevada City was 2,837 White, 26 African American, 28 Native American, 46 Asian, 0 Pacific Islander, 40 from other races,...
, travel through the redwoods, wine country and the Pacific Coast
Pacific Coast
A country's Pacific coast is the part of its coast bordering the Pacific Ocean.-The Americas:Countries on the western side of the Americas have a Pacific coast as their western border.* Geography of Canada* Geography of Chile* Geography of Colombia...
, and finish in a southern California city such as 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...
. The 2009 race crossed the Central Valley from 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...
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...
, with an excursion through the Sierra Nevada foothills, before crossing to the coast. The tour is sponsored by Amgen
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,...
, a large California-based biotech company.
With eight or nine of the 20 UCI ProTour
UCI 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 (known as ProTeams) usually racing, the Tour of California is the most important cycling race in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
since the demise of the Coors Classic
Coors Classic
The Coors International Bicycle Classic was a stage race sponsored by the Coors Brewing Company. Coors was the race's second sponsor, the first, Celestial Seasonings, named the race after its premium tea Red Zinger, which began in 1975...
in 1988. On November 28, 2006, the UCI
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
upgraded it from 2.1 (category 1) to 2.HC , the highest rating and one of only three such stage races in the United States. Neither of the other two races, the Tour de Georgia
Tour de Georgia
The Tour de Georgia is a U.S. professional cycling stage race across the state of Georgia. The race began in 2003 and has been contested six times. It is one of the three events in North America ranked as Hors Classe stage race events by the UCI, which is cycling's international governing body,...
and the Tour of Missouri
Tour of Missouri
The Tour of Missouri is a professional road bicycle racing stage race in Missouri that started on September 11, 2007 with six days of racing. The organizers, who also run the Tour de Georgia and the Amgen Tour of California, billed it as the third highest profile race in the United States.The 2009...
, have been held since 2009, leaving the Tour of California as the United States' only UCI 2.HC race in 2010.
In 2010, the 2010 Tour of California
2010 Tour of California
The 2010 Tour of California was the fifth running of the Tour of California cycling stage race. It was held from May 16–23, and was the first edition of the race held in the month of May, after the first four occurred in February. It was rated as a 2.HC event on the UCI America Tour...
moved from February to May (May 16–23), the same time as the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
. It is considered likely that the number of Americans in the Giro and Italians in the Tour of California will decrease. Tour of California organizers seek to make the race a preparatory event for 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...
, believing few riders who seek a serious position in the Tour will ride the Giro. The race remained in May in 2011.
General Classification Results
The leader and overall winner by time after each stage and at the conclusion of the race wears a Yellow Jersey. Originally the leader's jersey was gold, a reference to the California Gold RushCalifornia Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
, but in 2009 the jersey color was changed to yellow.
| Year | 1st place | team | 2nd place | team | 3rd place | team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | ||||||
| 2007 | ||||||
| 2008 | ||||||
| 2009 | ||||||
| 2010 | ||||||
| 2011 |
Most Stage Victories
, 6 (2011; 2009; 2008; 2007: 2; 2006), 5 (2008; 2007: 2; 2006: 2), 3 (2008; 2006:2), 3 (2010; 2009: 2), 3 (2011; 2010: 2), 2 (2006: 2), 2 (2009; 2008), 2 (2011; 2010)Most Days in Leader's Jersey
, 22 days (2009: 7; 2008: 5; 2007: 8; 2006: 2), 5 days (2006), 5 days (2011), 4 days (2010), 3 days (2009: 1; 2008: 2), 2 days (2010)Sprints Classification
The leader and overall winner by points from intermediate and final sprints wears the Green Jersey.Sprint Winners
|
Most Days in Green Jersey
, 10 days (2011: 6; 2010: 4), 7 days (2010: 3; 2009: 4), 6 days (2007: 4; 2006: 2), 4 days (2006), 4 days (2008), 4 days (2009), 3 days (2007), 2 days (2008)Mountains Classification
The leader and overall winner by points in mountain climbs is awarded the Red Jersey (Orange in the past, before 2009) and is known as the race's King of the MountainsKing 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...
or "KOM."
KOM Winners
|
Most Days in Mountains Jersey
, 6 days (2009), 5 days (2006), 5 days (2008), 5 days (2010), 5 days (2011), 4 days (2007), 3 days (2006), 3 days (2007), 2 days (2008), 2 days (2009), 2 days (2010)Best Young Rider Classification
The leader and overall winner by time for riders under 23 is awarded the White Jersey. Before 2009, this jersey was silver and blue.Best Young Rider Winners
|
Most Days in Youth Jersey
, 16 days (2009: 8; 2008: 5; 2007: 3), 9 days (2010: 7; 2011: 2), 6 days (2006), 4 days (2011), 3 days (2007), 2 days (2007), 2 days (2006), 2 days (2008)Teams Classification
Teams are classified based on the total time of the team's top three finishers in each stage.Best Team Winners
|
Most Courageous Rider Classification
The Blue Jersey is given to the most courageous rider at the end of each stage. In 2008, the jersey was red. George HincapieGeorge Hincapie
George Hincapié Garcés is an American professional road bicycle racer currently riding for UCI ProTeam . Hincapie resides in Greenville, South Carolina...
has won this jersey three times, after stages in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Jan Bárta
Jan Bárta
Jan Bárta is a professional Czech road cyclist, currently riding for Team NetApp.-Palmarès:200320082009...
won the award twice during the 2011 edition. No one else has won this jersey more than once.
External links
- Amgen Tour of California: No more dreamin' - VeloNews.com
- Embeddable Stage Maps, Elevation Profiles and Media Tools MapMyRide.com
- Tour of California, live coverage, videos and photos: Cyclingfans.com
- AMGEN Tour of California Live Dashboard