Tour of California - Stage 2

"Tornado" Touches Down In California Capital

Sacramento, CA (February, 19, 2008) - With rain the predominating weather condition, it only seemed appropriate that a rider nicknamed "Tornado" would win today's 116-mile Stage 2 of the Amgen Tour of California.


Coming off another successful Tour of Qatar, Tom Boonen [Quick Step], a former World Champion and last year's winner of the Maillot Vert, afterwards proclaimed today's sprint finish as "one of his best ever." Given the types and number of races Boonen has won over his career that statement may seem a bit erroneous, but given his positioning and the conditions it was hard to argue his point.

“Today was pretty hectic. It’s always hectic with weather like this, especially when you are doing circuits. During the last kilometer, I got in front and everything was a little bit of a mess, but then I saw everything open up so I started sprinting and got to the line just in time...Weather like this always affects the race. Nobody likes to race like this. It’s much more dangerous, which makes it more stressful. It doesn’t make it easy to stay safe. I like to win, but I don’t like the rain. I don’t like descending and I don’t like sprinting in it.”

The beginning of Stage 2 from Santa Rosa to Sacramento resembled the events of the previous day, with a BMC rider off the front. Scott Nydam attacked right out of the gate on the Trinity Road climb as the skies really began to open up. He was able to build up an 11 minute gap on the rain drenched and less than motivated peloton.


It looked like the perfect scenario for a break to stay away, but like his teammate, Jackson Stewart, the day before, Nydam was reeled back into the fold as the gruppo entered the finishing circuits.

On the circuits, it looked like yesterday's victor, Juan Jose Haedo (CSC) was going to be prevented from mixing it up with the other sprinters as he fell behind quickly after getting caught up in a mess of his own. But the CSC rider was able to come back from a distance to contest the finale. He ended up 5th on the day despite his travails.

Aside from Boonen's victory the highlight of the finale had to be the third place finish by Mario Cipollini (Rock Racing). It may seem particularly redundant, but the 41-year-old who was away from competion for three years managed to beat riders who Cipo proclaimed "could be my children." What is even more remarkable is the fact that during his retirement, Cipollini shattered a knee cap while skiing.


Since Rock Racing owner, Michael Ball, convinced Cipo to come out of retirement he has garnered a new perspective on the sport that he once viewed as a "profession." While training for his comeback with a local club in his native Italy, Cipo now considers cycling his "passion." Now there's scary thought for the sprinters across the professional peloton.

As a result of contesting the sprint time bonuses, Tyler Farrar (Team Slipstream/Chipotle) claimed the yellow jersey from Fabian Cancellara (CSC).


An ecstatic Farrar stated,
“This win probably tops any win I’ve ever had; it’s a pretty big deal for me. I’m ecstatic to be racing in America, and to be wearing the Amgen Leader Jersey is a big deal for me and for the team; everyone is really happy.”

Photos: Al Hernandez (Fox News; first through third), Leonard Basobas (bottom)