Paso Robles, CA - February 19, 2009 - For the first time in the race's short but storied history, the Amgen Tour of California welcomed the city of Paso Robles as a host city. Situated halfway between the Golden States' two main metropolises, San Francisco and Los Angeles, Paso Robles is the home to more than 200 wineries.
On another pristine day, the exuberant crowd was treated to vintage Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia-HighRoad), who roared across the line for his second consecutive stage win of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Tom Boonen (Quick Step) finished in second, and Rabobank's Pedro Horrillo took third.
The victory was especially satisfying for Team Columbia-High Road, which is based out of nearby San Luis Obispo.
“This stage win is massively important. Any stage in the Amgen Tour of California is big. It’s big for the team and it’s big for the sponsors, but it’s a bit more personal when it’s close to home. Every other stage is important, but this one is a bit more personal,” said Cavendish.
Although he won going away, it was a long, hard stage for Cavendish and the rest of the field. At approximately the 7-mile marker of the 134.3 mile route from Visalia to Paso Robles, a six-man break developed. The group, which included Jelly Belly's Matthew Crane (USA), Jeff Louder (USA) of Team BMC, Robert Gunn (AUS) of Fly V Australia Powered by Successful Living, Glen Chadwick (NZL) of Rock Racing and Cameron Evans (CAN) Ouch presented by Maxxis, steadily opened up a gap that extended out to 8 minutes midway through the race.
The Astana led peloton; however, kept the escapees at a manageable distance and the sprinters' teams made sure that the fast and flat finish in the San Joaquin Valley didn't go to waste. At about 50 miles to go, Quick Step, Team Columbia-HighRoad and Saxo Bank took over the front. The catch was finally made with less than three miles to go.
In the end, the Team Columbia-High Road lead-out train proved too much and Cavendish's accelerations too many.
“This was the day that I was planning on winning this year,” said Cavendish. “It was a hard day; harder than expected. It seems like they’ve replicated the Tour de France with the speed and the par course. It has been incredibly hard.”
It's a scary proposition, but one can't help but wonder just how good a vintage Mark Cavendish will be once the 23-year-old has had time to mature in this barrel called the professional peloton.
Results
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - High Road
2. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step
3. Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank
4. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas
5. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervélo TestTeam
6. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
7. Freddy Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing
8. Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
9. Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Fly V Australia
10. Karl Menzies (Aus) OUCH presented By Maxxis
General Classification After Stage 5
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
2. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad
3. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
4. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
5. Christopher Horner (USA) Astana
6. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana
7. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia - Highroad
8. José Luis Rubiera (Spa) Astana
9. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
10. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank
News and Noteworthy
- Heading into what will most likely be the decisive stage of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, 15 riders sit within 1 minute of race leader Levi Leipheimer.
It’s going to be a big showdown tomorrow,” said two-time defending champion and overall leader Leipheimer. “You have the three-time World Champion Michael Rogers and Dave Zabriskie, the National Champion, so it will be special. I’m actually really looking forward to it. I feel good; I’ve felt great throughout the whole race. I feel pretty awesome about keeping the lead.”
- As violently as the world's top sprinters launch themselves toward the finish line, any rivalry between sprinters, Mark Cavendish and Tom Boonen, would be completely contrived. At the post-race press conference, it was evident that each has a healthy respect for what each other does and the two seemed more than just fast friends (yes, a horrible pun I'll admit).
- Though he has won the Maillot Vert at the Tour de France and is regarded as one of the world's top sprinters, Tom Boonen doesn't work on his sprint. He is a man for the Classics first and foremost.
- The recipient of the Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer™ Most Courageous Rider Jersey was Matthew Crane (USA) of Jelly Belly Pro Cycling
Next: Solvang (15 miles/24 km) - Individual Time Trial
"While cycling is a team sport, the time trial is an individual race against the clock. Stage races are won and lost in the time trial, thus Stage 6 will be a crucial test for the true contenders for overall victory at the Amgen Tour of California. The drama shall once again take place in Solvang, the idyllic Danish enclave that hosts training camps for ProTour teams and some of the largest cycling events in the U.S. The fast and primarily flat course that includes the short, steep Ballard Canyon climb showcases the beauty of the Santa Ynez Valley as it unfolds through quaint towns, vineyards and farms. With the start and finish located only one block apart, it’s an ideal stage for spectators to watch the best cyclists in the world rise to the challenge."
Photos: Leonard Basobas
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