Stage 1: Levi maintains overall lead despite crash

Marin: Eldridge Grade to East Peak, Mt. Tamalpais
A real test for mountain bikers, here in the birthplace of the sport. Buy a biking map at any bike shop in Marin. Then, as you sweat up the steep Eldridge Grade fire road to the top of Mt. Tam, focus on the reward ahead—a knockout view of the San Francisco Bay.

Trailhead: Mount Tamalpais State Park, Marin
Length: 17 1/2 miles, one way
Difficulty: Difficult
Website: More info

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ROUTE DETAILS

Day: Monday, Feb 19
Start: Sausalito
Finish: Santa Rosa
Start Time: 11:00 AM
Miles: 97.2
KM: 156.4
Finish ETA: 2:44 PM

Stage 1 Results | Video | Press Release

Graeme Brown (Rabobank) won Monday's Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California minutes after a huge pileup took down race leader Levi Leipheimer (Discovery Channel) and some 50 other racers on a finishing circuit in downtown Santa Rosa, bringing most of the race to a halt.

Although Leipheimer's chase group crossed the line more than a minute down on the front group, race commissaires ultimately decided to give all finishers the same time, preserving the hometown favorite's overall lead. Typically, crashes that occur within the final 3km result in an automatic same-time designation; this ruling was based solely on the commissaires' discretion.

Two of the day's competitions were squared away before the finish. Slipstream's Thomas Peterson took the King of the Mountains jersey. Sitting in second place after the prologue, Peterson managed to take second in both KOM sprints of the day, each time behind Quick Step-Innergetic's Jurgen Van De Walle. The sprint jersey went to Discovery's Allan Davis, who handily snatched up the first two sprints.
Info excerpted from VeloNews

Stage 1 Action

While You're There

Stage 1 Profile

Top Viewing Spots

Departing from Sausalito

SAUSALITO will really be one of the best places to catch the racing action. The cyclists will start on Spinnaker Drive downtown and do three "parade" loops through town – down Bridgeway to Johnson Street, down Caledonia and back to the center of town. Next best places to catch the cyclists are the hills – any steep grade they’re moving at a slower pace and this is more likely where the "break ups" will occur. Stay clear of the high speed descents!

Stage One Sausalito Starting Line – downtown Sausalito on Bridgeway @ Spinnaker Way, a short walk from the ferry dock.
Caledonia Street in Sausalito (runs parallel to the main drag, Bridgeway) – the cyclists will make two parade loops down Caledonia from the starting line.
Bridgeway & Nevada Street in Sausalito – there is a slight rise in the road; from the top of the hill spectators will be able to see the cyclists leave town.
Panoramic Highway – just before The Mountain Home Inn
Pantoll Station – Mt. Tam – the Muir Beach overlook and the ridge above Slide Ranch; just past the Pelican Inn at the intersection of Highway One and the Muir Woods turnoff. (Great ale and darts in the old English pub room at the Pelican; towering and awe-inspiring redwood forest a short distance away in Muir Woods.)
Stinson Beach, Highway One - the best viewing will be from the south end of town, just on the outskirts; watch the cyclists come town the hill and race through town. (Don't miss the Sand Dollar restaurant or the Stinson Beach Grill for outdoor deck dining right on the race route...before the race grab a great breakfast, coffee and/or homemade pastry at the Parkside. And be sure to visit the Stinson Beach Bookstore. All veritable landmarks. Picnic on the beach after the racers leave.
Dog Town, Highway One – some great visuals from here and plenty of space on the side of the highway for spectators.
Olema, Highway One – again, plenty of space for viewing at this Highway One junction, just before and just outside town. Lunch at the Olema Inn couldn't be more divine.
Pt. Reyes Station, Highway One – especially just outside of town on the northern end; there’s a great climb. Bovine Bakery (amazing croissants); Cowgirl Creamery (famous local cheese producer) and the Stationhouse Restaurant are not to be missed. Fun shops & saloons. Make a day of it and take the drive out to the historic Point Reyes lighthouse on the dramatic north coast.
Tomales Bay, Highway One – where the racers turn inland from the water; plenty of spectator viewing and plenty of hills to the south and north of town. Don't miss the local BBQ'd oysters.
Valley Ford – where Highway One meets Valley Ford Road and the racers leave the coastal highway. The road leading up to Valley Ford provides good viewing and just outside of town there are some good curves
The Coleman Grade – a good steep climb.
The Finish – Santa Rosa

Entering Sonoma County

Bodega Bay - See the Sprint at Inn at the Tides hotel which is offering big cash prizes for the first, second and third place winner.
Coleman Valley Road - Nothing would beat the excitement of watching the racers come up Coleman Valley Road for Stage One. The big benefit is that you'd actually get a shot at watching them race for awhile due to the steepness of the road rather than having them whizzing past on a flatter portion of the course. Coleman Valley will be a crucial climb because the riders that can't stay with the leaders will have put themselves into a spot that will make it hard for them to contend for the overall if they get dropped and don't reconnect.
Occidental - A picturesque town at the foot of Coleman Valley Road will be a great festive place to be as the riders fly down Coleman Valley Road after the long climb.
Santa Rosa - The Finish Line in Old Courthouse Square is not to be missed. There is a 3 mile circuit around downtown with lots of great spots including 4th an B and Third and Railroad Street as the pelaton enters the final laps.

Current Weather

Sausalito

Santa Rosa

Current Conditions:
Fair, 62 F

Forecast:
Thu - Sunny. High: 93 Low: 63
Fri - Partly Cloudy. High: 87 Low: 60

Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather
(provided by The Weather Channel)

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Current Conditions:
Fair, 58 F

Forecast:
Thu - Sunny. High: 99 Low: 60
Fri - Partly Cloudy. High: 93 Low: 57

Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather
(provided by The Weather Channel)

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