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AEG ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF 650-MILE ROUTE

2007 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL CYCLING ROAD RACE
Coverage of the First U.S. Professional Race of the Season
Will Air Nightly on VERSUS Network February 18-25

Specific route and race details for the 2007
Amgen Tour of California, a Tour de France style cycling road race in which 16 of the world’s top professional cycling teams will compete along a demanding 650-mile course from San Francisco to Long Beach, Calif. February 18-25 were revealed today by AEG, promoters/presenters of the second year event.  

Highlights of the 2007 Amgen Tour of California race route include:

Prologue: San Francisco (Sunday, Feb. 18 )
At 1 p.m., riders will kick off the 2007 Amgen Tour of California with a short, but intense Prologue through the streets of San Francisco. Starting by the Ferry Building at Pier 1, the cyclists will ride 1.9-mile individual time trials along the Embarcardero, making the sharp left onto Bay Street and then up the tight, steep climb through Telegraph Hill to the finish at Coit Tower.

Stage 1: Sausalito to Santa Rosa (Monday, Feb. 19 )
Starting on the northern side of the San Francisco Bay, Stage 1 will cover almost 100 miles from Sausalito to Santa Rosa.  The stage begins with a climb from Mill Valley up to Mt. Tamalpais State Park before turning toward Muir Beach.  The route mirrors that of 2006 all the way to Valley Ford, but where the riders headed east to Santa Rosa, the 2007 route will continue north to Bodega Bay and turn onto Coleman Valley Road, a landmark climb in Northern California.  Then, spectators can watch the stage win unfold as the field heads downhill from Occidental for three finishing circuit laps in downtown Santa Rosa.  In 2006, Santa Rosa set the mark for one of the most enthusiastic and largest crowds of the entire Amgen Tour of California.
 
Stage 2: Santa Rosa to Sacramento (Tuesday, Feb. 20)
A scenic start through several Sonoma County wineries will quickly turn into one of the most significant climbs of the race as the peloton heads east en route to Sacramento.  Twelve miles from the start, Trinity Road's vertical climbs and treacherous decent into the wineries of Napa Valley will make it one of the most difficult climbs of the entire race.  Continuing east past Lake Berryessa, the peloton will head through Davis, recently named the best cycling town in the U.S. by Bicycle Magazine.  With a quick turn to the north, the route will follow the Sacramento River to the well-known Tower Bridge and on to the Capitol Mall.  The stage concludes with three circuits through downtown, finishing on the front step of California's Capitol Building, a perfect viewing location.

Stage 3: Stockton to San Jose (Wednesday, Feb. 21)
After a neutral start with parade laps through Stockton's revitalized downtown area, the peloton will head west through California's farm lands.  After passing through Tracy, the riders will encounter a climb new to this year's race, Patterson Pass.  After passing through the city of Livermore, The route then connects to the familiar roads of the 2006 Stage 2 route on Calaveras Road.  This long, constant grade leads to the most difficult climb of the race, the Category One (highest ranked in order of difficulty) Sierra Road climb in San Jose.  After completing this KOM (King of the Mountain) competition, the peloton will finish the 94.6-mile course in front of San Jose City Hall.

Stage 4: Seaside to San Luis Obispo (Thursday, Feb. 22 )
The remarkable views of stage four will make it a favorite for riders and spectators alike.  Beginning in Seaside with a short neutral lap and traveling along a similar route to last year's Stage 4, the peloton will head south on scenic Highway 1 where the mountains and redwood forests flank the Pacific Ocean.  At more than 130 miles and with three KOMs, this is the longest stage of the race and will test the riders on consistently hilly and technical terrain.  The six-hour day will take the riders through Big Sur and by Hearst Castle before shifting inland toward the finish at the intersection of Osos and Monterey in San Luis Obispo.
 
Stage 5: Solvang Individual Time Trial (Friday, Feb. 23 )
The quaint Danish village of Solvang hosts some of the ProTour teams for training camps as well as some of the largest cycling events in the U.S.  At only 14.5-miles, and with the start and finish located only two blocks apart, Stage 5 is an ideal location for spectators to view the race.  The route will highlight some of the most beautiful areas and towns of Central California, winding through quaint towns, vineyards, farms, and one short but steep climb. This year's shorter, flatter and faster time trial will create a challenging test for the riders.  

Stage 6: Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita (Saturday, Feb. 24)
This could be the pivotal stage for the 2007 Amgen Tour of California.  This is one of the longest stages at 105 miles, and it is heavy on climbs with four KOMs, two Sprints and a demanding finishing circuit in Santa Clarita.  With the individual time trial late in the tour, there could be several riders separated by just a few seconds.  After a start in view of the Santa Barbara shoreline, this will be the last chance for a solid favorite to emerge before the circuit race finale in Long Beach.  Once the peloton hits Highway 150, the racers will face two KOMs before passing Lake Casitas and riding into the town of Ojai for the first Sprint of the day.  The third KOM is just a few miles outside Ojai, and then the course will head downhill into Santa Paula for the second Sprint of the day among fragrant citrus groves.  The ominous Balcom Canyon will be the final climb of the day, where in 2006, nearly 10,000 fans formed a narrow corridor for the riders.  The cyclists will end the day with three circuits in Santa Clarita that finish at McBean Parkway at the Valencia Town Center.

Stage 7: Long Beach Circuit Race (Sunday, Feb. 25)
Stage 7 is flat, fast, and will be a favorite with spectators, featuring a lot of sprint action as the cyclists race in 10 laps around a circuit course in downtown Long Beach.  This course is part of the famous Long Beach Grand Prix course used for the CART race cars, meaning a legacy of roads that are wide and fast.  Views of San Pedro Bay and the Pacific Ocean will be visible for the entire course, with a backdrop of the famed Queen Mary in the bay.  Organizers expect a hard sprint to the finish; as with all the Grand Tours of Europe, winning the final stage of the 2007 Amgen Tour of California is a prize coveted by the riders.
For complete course maps and elevation profiles for each stage, please visit http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/.

And the winner of the Prologue is

LEVI LEIPHEIMER of the Discovery Channel Team.

Here is the top ten:

1) Levi Leipheimer, US, Discovery Channel, 4:49.050
2) Jason Donald, US, Slipstream-Chipotle, + 1.447
3) Ben Jacques-Maynes, US, Priority Health-Bissel, +5.176
4) Rory Sutherland, Australia, Health Net-Maxxis, +5.649
5) Fabian Cancellara, Switzerland, Team CSC, +6.048
6) Adam Hansen, Australia, T-Mobile, +6.55
7) Mauricio Ardila, Colombia, Rabobank, +7.86
8) Hilton Clarke, Australia, Navigators, +7.91
9) George Hincapie, US, Discovery Channel, +8.19
10) Ben Day, Australia, Navigators, +8.25

Stage 1 Results
1 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank                                          4.17.19
2 Greg Henderson (NZl) T-mobile                                              
3 Allan Davis (Aus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                       
4 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole                                         
5 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Predictor-Lotto                                       
6 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC                                              
7 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                           
8 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team CSC                                             
9 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Credit Agricole                                    
10 David Vitoria (Swi) BMC         

General classification
 
1 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team             4.22.08
2 Jason Donald (USA) Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle                   0.01
3 Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team             0.05
4 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC                                                     0.06
5 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team                   
6 Adam Hansen (Aus) T-mobile                                                 
7 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank                                      0.07
8 Ben Day (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team                              0.08
9 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Health Net Presented By Maxxis                        0.09
10 Michael Rogers (Aus) T-mobile                                             

Stage 2 Results

1) Juan José Haedo, Argentina, Team CSC, 4:40:39
2) Luca Paolini, Italy, Liquigas
3) Thor Hushovd, Norway, Credit Agricole
4) Allan Davis, Australia, Discovery Channel
5) Gerald Ciolek, Germany, T-Mobile
6) Graeme Brown, Australia, Rabobank
7) Greg Henderson, New Zealand, T-Mobile
8) Ivan Dominguez, Cuba, Toyota United Pro
9) Hilton Clarke, Australia, Navigators Insurance
10) Paolo Bettini, Italy, Quick Step,

General Classification

Remains the same

Stage 3 Results

1) Jens Voigt, Germany, Team CSC, 3:43:44
2) Levi Leipheimer, US, Discovery Channel, same time
3) Christopher Horner, US, Predictor-Lotto, same time
4) Robert Gesink, Netherlands, Rabobank, at :04
5) Paolo Bettini, Italy, Quick Step, same time
6) Stuart O'Grady, Australia, CSC, same time
7) Enrico Gasparotto, Italy, Liquigas, same time
8) Dimitri Fofonov, Kazakhstan, Credit Agricole, same time
9) Bram De Groot, Netherlands, Rabobank, same time
10) Sergey Lagutin, Uzbekistan, Navigators Insurance, same time

 General classification:

1) Levi Leipheimer, US, Discovery Channel, 12:46:25
2) Jens Voigt, Germany, CSC, at :03
3) Rory Sutherland, Australia, Health Net-Maxxis, at :15
4) Chris Horner, USA, Predictor-Lotto, at :16
5) Mauricio Ardila Cano, Colombia, Rabobank, at :17
6) Ben Day, Australia, Navigators Insurance, at :18
7) Ryder Hesjedal, Canada, Health Net-Maxxis, at :19
8) Michael Rogers, Australia, T-Mobile, same time
9) Sergey Lagutin, Uzbekistan, Navigators Insurance, at :20
10) Stuart O'Grady, Australia, CSC, same time

Stage 4 Results

1. Paolo Bettini (I), Quick Step-Innergetic
2. Gerald Ciolek (G), T-Mobile, same time
3. Juan José Haedo (Arg), CSC, s.t.
4. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Crédit Agricole, s.t.
5. Graeme Brown (Aus), Rabobank, s.t.
6. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), CSC, s.t.
7. Henk Vogels (Aus), Toyota United, s.t.
8. Robert Förster (G), Gerolsteiner, s.t.
9. Mathew Hayman (Aus), Rabobank, s.t.
10. Fred Rodriguez (USA), Predictor-Lotto, s.t.


General Classification

1. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Discovery Channel, 17:52:12
2. Jens Voigt (G), CSC, at 0:03
3. Rory Sutherland (Aus), Health Net-Maxxis, at 0:15
4. Christopher Horner (USA), Predictor-Lotto, at 0:16
5. Ardila Cano Mauricio Alberto (Col), Rabobank, at 0:17
6. Ben Day (Aus), Navigators Insurance, at 0:18
7. Ryder Hesjedal (Can), Health Net-Maxxis, at 0:19
8. Michael Rogers (Aus), T-Mobile, s.t.
9. Sergey Lagutin (Uzb), Navigators Insurance, at 0:20
10. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), CSC, s.t.

Results Stage 5

1. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Discovery, 29:40.44
2. Jens Voigt (G), CSC, at 0:18
3. Jason McCartney (USA), at 0:24
4. Fabian Cancellara (Swi), CSC, at 0:37
5. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery, at 0:40
6. Bobby Julich (USA), CSC, at 0:41
7. Christian Vande Velde (USA), CSC, at 0:56
8. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), CSC, at 0:59
9. Ivan Basso (I), Discovery Channel, at 1:02.57
10. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA), Priority Health, at 1:14.17

General Classification

1. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Discovery Channel, 18:21:52
2. Jens Voigt (G), CSC, at 0:21
3. Jason McCartney (USA), Discovery Channel, at 0:54
4. Bobby Julich (USA), CSC, at 1:06
5. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), CSC, at 1:20
6. Christian Vande Velde (USA), CSC, at 1:24
7. Michael Rogers (Aus), T-Mobile, at 1:34
8. Ben Day (Aus), Navigators, at 1:38
9. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas, at 1:41
10. Ryder Hesjedal (Can), Health Net -Maxxis, at 1:57

This was the most exciting stage yet ! Discovery proved there metal on this one. 

Results Stage 6 

1. José Juan Haedo (Arg), CSC, 105.4mi in 3:56:04
2. Greg Henderson (NZl), T-Mobile, same time
3. Paolo Bettini (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, s.t.
4. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Crédit Agricole, s.t.
5. Fred Rodriguez (USA), Predictor-Lotto, s.t.
6. Robert Förster (G), Gerolsteiner, s.t.
7. Luca Paolini (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, s.t.
8. Alexander Candelario (USA), Jelly Belly, s.t.
9. Alejandro Acton (ARG), Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home, s.t.
10. Russell Downing (GB), Health Net-Maxxis, s.t.

General Classification

1. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Discovery Channel, 22:17:56
2. Jens Voigt (G), CSC, at 0:21
3. Jason McCartney (USA), Discovery Channel, at 0:54
4. Bobby Julich (USA), CSC, at 1:06
5. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), CSC, at 1:16
6. Christian Vande Velde (USA), CSC, at 1:24
7. Michael Rogers (Aus), T-Mobile, at 1:32
8. Ben Day (Aus), Navigators Insurance, at 1:38
9. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 1:41
10. Ryder Hesjedal (Can), Health Net-Maxxis, at 1:57