Mancebo All Day - 2009 Amgen Tour of California Stage 1

Santa Rosa, CA – February 15, 2009 - Despite a constant rain and chilly conditions, record crowds were, once again, on hand for Stage 1 of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California to watch some of the world’s top cyclists travel from Davis to Santa Rosa, culminating with a climactic finish in downtown Santa Rosa.

Francisco Mancebo (ESP) of Rock Racing completed his improbable solo sojourn and ended up with the stage win ahead of Jurgen Van de Walle (BEL), of Quick Step, and Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) of Liquigas. With the victory, Rock Racing joined the now-defunct Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team as the only domestic teams to have captured a stage at North America's most prestigious race in the Tour of California's four-year
history.

"For me, this win is very important and of course for my team too," said Mancebo. "This is a home win and the most important one at the biggest race. We wanted to start off this stage race and this season by winning to keep the confidence high."

Mancebo attacked early during the 107.6-mile stage from Davis to Santa Rosa that traversed the scenic settings of Lake Berryessa and Napa Valley.

Aaron Kemp (AUS) of Fly V Australia powered by Successful Living Foundation and Tim Johnson (USA) of OUCH presented by Maxxis eventually joined Mancebo on the descent following the first King of the Mountain (KOM) competition of the stage on Highway 128.

With a highly unmotivated peloton behind, the trio used the less than stellar weather conditions to their tactical advantage and built up a substantial lead of more than 12 minutes. Mancebo continued his attack, this time out of the breakaway group on Howell Mountain, the second KOM, with only 44 miles to go.

With approximately 30 miles left in the stage, the ever dangerous cat-and mouse game to reel in a breakaway attempt began in earnest. Motivated to either bring Santa Rosa native, two-time defending race champion Levi Leipheimer (USA), a stage win or to minimalize the time gap in the overall standing, Astana led a chase group of more than 20 riders.

Despite the chase group’s concerted efforts, Mancebo held on to the lead to cross the line and take the stage win in Santa Rosa.


“When I attacked, I just wanted to keep going and stay ahead because the cold was hard for me, and slowly after I started speeding up, I started feeling more comfortable,” added Mancebo. “Five kilometers before the finish, I just wanted to keep going. I kept telling myself that I had to keep going and I was going to win.”

For his extraordinary effort, Mancebo claimed not only the Amgen Leader Jersey, but also the Herbalife Sprint Jersey and the California Travel & Tourism Commission King of the Mountain (KOM) Jersey.

Mancebo's win was his first as a member of Rock Racing. Over the course of his nine-year professional career, the 32-year-old has scored victories in more than two dozen races – most recently the overall title at the Vuelta Chihuahua Internacional last October.


Results
1. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Rock Racing
2. Jurgen van de Walle (Bel) Quick Step
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
4. Steve Morabito (Swi) Astana
5. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
6. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Astana
7. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quick Step
8. Christopher Horner (USA) Astana
9. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Rock Racing
10. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

General Clasification After Stage 1
1. Francisco Mancebo (ESP) Rock Racing
2. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
3. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin-Slipstream
4. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad
5. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 1.05
6. Christopher Horner (USA) Astana 1.09
7. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia - Highroad 1.13
8. José Luis Rubiera (Spa) Astana
9. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
10. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank

New and Noteworthy
- The tight Santa Rosa finishing circuits have gained a reputation in the short history of the Amgen Tour of California. This year, due to weather conditions and for the safety of the riders, officials decided to call the general classification time when the first rider crossed the finish line for the first time (before the first of three circuits).

“The decision was made about 80 miles into the race and was made solely for the safety of the riders,” said Jim Birrell, race director. “This will not be protocol for the rest of the race; if we have blue skies we will race as it’s written in the rule book.”

- After the first feed zone, Prologue winner and race leader Fabian Cancellara (SUI) of Saxo Bank had to abandon the race due to illness, leaving the Amgen Leader Jersey open for the taking.

- Lance Armstrong (Astana) completed an eventful day on an up-note as he helped bring team leader, Levi Leipheimer, to the line. It began with the news of his one-of-a-kind LIVESTRONG time trial bike being stolen from the Astana team truck. On the road, a mechanical and crash added to what he would later refer to as one of the hardest stages, due to the conditions, that he has completed.

- Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer™ Most Courageous Rider Jersey went to Ivan Basso (ITA) of Liquigas and the Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey was awarded to last year’s overall Best Young Rider Robert Gesink (NED) of Rabobank.

Next: Stage 2 - Sausalito to Santa Cruz (115.9 mi/186.6 km)
"To celebrate President’s Day, the Amgen Tour of California has a historic treat in-store for the cyclists and spectators alike on Stage 2. Rolling out from idyllic Sausalito, for the first time ever the peloton will ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the state’s and the nation’s most iconic structures. After pedaling through the streets of San Francisco, the route heads west down the picturesque California coastline on Highway 1. The coastal trek will find the riders flanked by the magnificent Pacific Ocean on one side and towering Redwood forests on the other. Along the way, they’ll encounter a couple of long, moderate climbs on Tunitas Creek Road and Bonny Doon Road followed by lengthy, rip-roaring descents. The finish in Santa Cruz is expected to be swift, with the day likely to be settled by the speedy sprinters."

Photos: Leonard Basobas (first, second, fifth & sixth); Vero Image (third & fourth)