Stage 1 Play by Play
17:14:39 History will be made on President's Day when Stage 2 departs Sausalito and rides across the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time. A pair of Herbalife Sprints and two California Travel & Tourism King of the Mountains climbs will test the riders over the 115.9 miles to Santa Cruz. Let's hope for better weather for the crown jewel stage of this year's Amgen Tour of California. Join us for coverage starting with our pre-show at 8 AM PT followed by the race live at 8:30 AM PT. Thanks for riding with us today. I'm Rick Scott sending you peace, love & cycling bliss from Santa Rosa.17:06:46 After the weather held for yesterday's Prologue, Stage 1 of the fourth Amgen Tour of California took place in nasty cold and rainy weather conditions. Shortly after the departure in Davis, Prologue winner Fabian Cancellara retired from the race suffering from a bout of fever. An early salvo fired by Spaniard Francisco Mancebo (Rock Racing) just 8 miles into the stage managed to survive through two Herbalife Sprints and three California Travel & Tourism King of the Mountains climbs. At times, Mancebo had a couple companions, but mostly he brazenly rode solo until he arrived on the finishing circuits in Santa Rosa where he was joined by Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) and Jurgen Van De Walle (Quick Step) on the last of three circuits. On the final rise before the line, Mancebo pulled away to take the well-deserved stage win more than two minutes ahead of a chase group containing many of the GC favorites, including defending Amgen Tour of California champion Levi Leipheimer, who resides in Santa Rosa. Mancebo's prize also includes the yellow leader's jersey.
16:54:36 Mancebo does take yellow as the new leader of the Amgen Tour of California.
16:53:22 It continues to pour down on the streets of Santa Rosa.
16:52:40 The field rolls under the 1 km to go banner.
16:50:24 Here comes the chase, which crosses the finish almost 2 minutes back.
16:49:34 Well-deserved win for Rock Racing's Francisco Mancebo, who made the break at 8 miles into the stage and managed to collect the stage win nearly 100 miles later in Santa Rosa.
16:48:27 The leaders are moving up the finale. Mancebo attacks the final rise and takes the win!
16:47:25 3 riders heading towards the finish.
16:47:04 Quick Step's Jurgen Van Der Walle has joined Mancebo and Nibali.
16:46:23 The field is getting the bell lap. 1 lap to go for them.
16:45:15 Astana has shut down the chase while Mancebo and Nibali will end up settling the day.
16:42:58 Lance is at the front of the chase group with Astana, who are now 2 minutes back of the leaders. He's wearing a visor on his helmet today as some protection from the rain.
16:41:23 Nibali catches Mancebo.
16:40:54 It's a it difficult to tell who is where on the finishing circuits at the moment, but Mancebo is clearly in the lead alone. He's being chased by Vincenzo Nibali from Liquigas.
16:38:51 The chase seems to have shut down the manic pace, which will allow Mancebo to take the win and GC lead forcing his Rock Racing team to do the work during a very difficult Stage 2 tomorrow.
16:37:19 Francisco Mancebo is trying to get the leader's yellow jersey by holding off the chase group on his last lap of the finishing circuit.
16:35:36 The main field has 2 laps to go, but Mancebo has incredibly added to his lead over the chase group.
16:33:56 Mancebo's gap is just over 1 minute.
16:32:55 Mancebo pounds the pedals through the cold rain in an attempt to win the stage. One lap to go!
16:31:28 The chase group is down to 17 as the pressure from Astana has shed riders, including Landis.
16:30:36 2 laps to go for Mancebo attempting to bum rush the sprinters in Santa Rosa.
16:28:39 What a courageous ride today from Francisco Mancebo for Rock Racing who started the break early on and has been away all day - either alone or with a couple riders (Tim Johnson from OUCH and David Kemp from Fly V Australia).
16:26:57 Here comes the chase. Mancebo's lead is down to 1:10. The sprinters will have their day!
16:26:12 Mancebo enters the finishing circuits in Santa Rosa as he crossed the finish line for the first time. Three laps with less than 10 miles to go.
16:25:57 Mancebo enters the finishing circuits in Santa Rosa as he crossed the finish line for the first time. Three laps with less than 10 miles to go.
16:24:35 Mancebo's gap is still 3 minutes.
16:23:56 Just over 12 miles left. The day's final California Travel & Tourism KOM points went to Mancebo, Rubiera, Armstrong and Leipheimer.
16:21:23 Armstrong, Rubiera and Leipheimer are driving the chase with a little help from Team Columbia-Highroad.
16:19:31 The race has totally heated up. It's going to be a thrilling ride to the finish. Don't go anywhere! Can Mancebo hang on?
16:17:51 Mancebo is being chased by the Astana-led chase group.
16:15:59 Mancebo has a 3-minute lead. If he can pull this off, he'll take the yellow leader's jersey. But the elite chasers containing a host of GC favorites are riding single file in rapid pursuit.
16:12:57 Mancebo is standing out of the saddle trying to get everything out of his legs. Less than 25 km to the finish for the Spanish rider.
16:10:44 Past the 90-mile mark with less than 17 miles to go. Fans have braved the cold and rain as they are lining the course standing with umbrellas and raincoats and they are amassed here at the finish in downtown Santa Rosa.
16:08:29 Mancebo's advantage is down to just over 4 minutes on the chase. He's carefully picking his way round the treacherous wet corners.
16:05:38 Mancebo audaciously soldiers on alone well ahead of the elite 23-man chase followed by the peloton. He's conquering the two unrated climbs and will then drop into Santa Rosa for the 3.1-mile finishing circuit. Rick Scott banging out the words for you. Thanks for being with us today.
16:00:13 Over 83 miles ridden of the 107.6 miles of Stage 1 of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Thanks for joining us today. Weather has played havoc on the technical side of our coverage and we apologize for the lack of race images and race radio. Wait here comes our first images of the day. Thanks for your patience!
15:57:04 Mancebo is about to summit the day's final California Travel & Tourism KOM. His reward will be a pair of smaller unrated climbs to conquer before descending into Santa Rosa.
15:54:43 Remember the crashfest at the end of the stage into Santa Rosa a couple years ago? Officials have already announced that the peloton will all receive the same time once they enter the finishing circuit today. Smart move with the amount of water on the road awaiting the riders in Santa Rosa.
15:52:17 It's Franciso Mancebo (Rock Racing) riding solo 5:40 ahead of a stellar 23-man chase followed by the peloton, down 6:20.
15:49:53 Mancebo is powering up the final KOM of the day. Behind, Johnson & Kemp have been absorbed by the 21-man chase group.
15:47:50 Mancebo's lead is up to 5:40 on Johnson and Kemp, 5:50 on the 21-man chase group and 6:20 on the field.
15:45:27 Mancebo is up 5:20 on Kemp and Johnson and 7 minutes on the field.
15:42:30 After the sprint, the final California Travel & Tourism KOM of the day comes at mile 83.2 with the category 4 climb of Petrified Forest Road (1090 feet).
15:40:36 Mancebo is about to pocket a 3-second time bonus as first across the Herbalife Sprint at Calistoga at mile 80. 2nd place will gain 2 seconds and 3rd place will gain one second.
15:37:16 Rock Racing's Mancebo leads by 4:05 ahead of Johnson (OUCH) and Kemp (Fly V Australia). Further back about 20 seconds ahead of the field are Leipheimer, Armstrong, Horner and José Luis Rubiera (Astana), Andy Schleck and Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank), Thomas Lövkvist and Michael Rogers (Team Columbia-Highroad), David Zabriskie (Garmin-Slipstream), Kevin Seeldraeyers and Walle Jurgen Van De (Quick Step), Robert Gesink and Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), Ivan Basso and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas), Floyd Landis, Rory Sutherland and Pat McCarty (OUCH), and Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing).
15:32:28 Astana has four men in the 20-man chase - Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Jani Brajkovic and Chris Horner. Garmin-Slipstream and Saxo Bank are also represented.
15:29:16 It's 47 rainy degrees at the finish in Santa Rosa with winds hovering around 15 mph.
15:28:11 Kemp and Johnson have blown back over 4 minutes behind Mancebo. A 20-man chase group has departed the field in an effort to bring back Mancebo.
15:25:12 Stylin' Amgen Tour of California gear is a hot commodity along the tour route and you can get yours at www.amgentourofcaliforniastore.com. Today there is a special on hats. Enjoy a 25% discount by entering the code HATSOFF09 at checkout.
15:23:38 71 miles into the stage, Mancebo is soloing with Johnson and Kemp in pursuit. There's an Herbalife Sprint coming up in Calistoga at mile 80 and I'm certain the peloton will want to shut down the break that is threatening to steal the day from the sprinters. Mancebo's gap over the field is more than 10 minutes.
15:18:32 The decent off Howell Mountain Road contains a section locals affectionately refer to as "Devil's Elbow." Nice...
15:15:53 Popped my head out of the trailer and saw Bob Roll working the crowd assembled here at the finish in Santa Rosa. The rain has temporarily halted, but doubt it will be for long. Plus the roads here downtown where the riders will complete circuits are already slick and muddled with puddles.
15:12:21 Mancebo, a stellar climber, dropped Kemp and Johnson on the climb. They'll try to get him back on the descent although the fog enveloping the plunge won't make the task any easier...nor will the slippery roads.
15:09:43 The climb is a steep one and gets twisty near the summit. No doubt Levi Leipheimer (Astana) and Scott Nydam (BMC), both who reside in Santa Rosa, know Howell Montain Road well. With Cancellara out of the race, Leipheimer is the virtual race leader.
15:05:33 The gap is 10:40 for the break. Rick Scott here manning the keyboard for you at the 4th Amgen Tour of California during Stage 1 from Davis to Santa Rosa in cold and rainy conditions. 107.6 miles total and the riders have covered over 62 miles thus far today. Great to have you with us for the ride.
15:01:53 The leaders are less than 5 km from the summit of Howell Mountain Road. The peloton will have to get serious about the chase if they want to save the day for their sprinters because Mancebo, Johnson and Kemp are a strong trio, which is capable of stealing the day.
14:55:00 The break has begun the category 2 California Travel & Tourism KOM climb. In the field, the rough road has claimed quite a few victims of flat tires including recent victims Brad White (OUCH) and BMC's Jeff Louder.
14:50:46 The three-man break gave back one minute to the peloton, which is down 11 minutes nearing the start of the day's second KOM.
14:45:48 Technical difficulties today courtesy of good ol' Mother Nature. Please hang in there with us, kids.
14:42:53 Meanwhile back at the ranch, the peloton is meandering through the Lake Berressa area nearing the start of the category 2 KOM climb of Howell Mountain. Rock Racing's Francisco Mancebo, OUCH's Tim Johnson and Fly V Australia's David Kemp are riding about a dozen minutes ahead of the field.
14:38:15 Nearly everyone has been touched by cancer, myself included as both of my parents beat the disease. Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer initiative strives to empower patients and their caregivers with education, resources and hope. Through Breakaway from Cancer, Amgen and their nonprofit partners aim to increase awareness of the important resources available to cancer patients from prevention to diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship. You don't have to go through it alone. Visit www.breakawayfromcancer.com to connect with a wide array of free services and programs to help people win their battle against cancer.
14:36:50 Just over 50 miles remain of the 107.6 to pedal during Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California. Got a question or comment for audio commentators Frankie Andreu and Broadway JoE Silva? Hit 'em up at atoc2009@yahoo.com.
14:33:44 Now comes word that Lance Armstrong has decked it. Thankfully he's back up and riding.
14:32:39 The yellow jersey, Fabian Cancellara, has abandoned! He dropped out in the feedzone complaining of a fever.
14:29:36 Stylin' Amgen Tour of California gear is a red hot commodity along the tour route, but you can get yours at www.amgentourofcaliforniastore.com. Today there is a special on hats. Enjoy a 25% discount by entering the code HATSOFF09 at checkout. Perfect hat weather here at the cold and rainy finish in Santa Rosa.
14:26:44 Lance Armstrong flatted and was paced back to the group after the change by his Astana teammates Chechu Rubiera and Gregory Rast.
14:22:34 Make that 50 miles of the 107.6 miles on tap for today. Three men - Mancebo, Kemp and Johnson - lead the field by 12 minutes. Johnson had to change bikes and his mates waited for him to complete the swap.
14:19:52 The race is about 48 km into the 173.1 km that Stage 1 will cover.
14:16:06 Never heard of women's winner Fahlin before? She's the 20-year-old Swedish champion. Yes, fellas, she's a looker. Blonde and beautiful...and obviously very talented to best the gifted international field assembled here today.
14:10:14 With the choppers grounded due to weather conditions, we're not getting images from the motos or receiving race radio. Flying in the dark, boys & girls...
14:05:08 Team Columbia-Highroad's Emilia Fahlin sprinted to victory in the second women's Amgen Tour of California criterium in Santa Rosa where it's a beautiful day for a bike race...um...not so much. I'm Rick Scott, your cruise director at the Amgen Tour of California. We're glad you're with us for Stage 1 from Davis to Santa Rosa (107.6 miles) despite the lack of images from the men's race due to uncooperative weather conditions. We're working on it and appreciate your patience.
13:54:14 Mancebo, Johnson and Kemp are up a healthy dozen minutes ahead of the peloton.
13:52:41 Two laps remain in the women's crit and attack after attack is being deployed in stormy conditions in Santa Rosa.
13:49:53 Team Columbia-Highroad is stacked at the front of the peloton, which is in a lazy Sunday mode on an ugly afternoon during Stage 1 of the 4th Amgen Tour of Califonia.
13:46:41 Less than 5 laps left in the women's criterium.
13:44:12 The huge gap for the three-man break was likely caused by the caution the field utilized on the treacherous descent along with the call of nature...
13:40:51 The break is up 9:10 on the slumbering field. The second KOM comes at mile 63.6, which is quite a long way off. Presently there is no sense of urgency from the field, which might want to narrow the advantage much closer to the category 2 climb on Howell Mountain (1796 feet).
13:34:35 Tim Johnson (OUCH) and David Kemp (Fly V Australia)have finally nailed back their prey, Francisco Mancebo (Rock Racing). The trio is about 6 minutes up on the peloton.
13:31:12 Mancebo has stretched his gap over Johnson and Kemp at the top of the KOM to 1:35, but now it's dropped back to 50 seconds with the field taking their good ol' time.
13:28:52 Hope you're enjoying the insightful audio commentary of Frankie Andreu and Boogiedown JoE Silva. We'd love to hear from you. Reach out at atoc2009@yahoo.com. Tell them Rick Scott sent you. Act like ya' know...
13:26:08 Nearly everyone has been touched by cancer, myself included as both of my parents beat the disease. Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer initiative strives to empower patients and their caregivers with education, resources and hope. Through Breakaway from Cancer, Amgen and their nonprofit partners aim to increase awareness of the important resources available to cancer patients from prevention to diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship. You don't have to go through it alone. Visit www.breakawayfromcancer.com to connect with a wide array of free services and programs to help people win their battle against cancer.
13:25:09 Mancebo takes maximum KOM points and has extended his lead over chasers Kemp and Johnson. The descent is a bit narly when slick so they'll probably descend gingerly.
13:21:42 Stylin' Amgen Tour of California gear is a red hot commodity along the tour route, but you can get yours at www.amgentourofcaliforniastore.com. Today there is a special on hats. Enjoy a 25% discount by entering the code HATSOFF09 at checkout.
13:17:19 Johnson and Kemp are inching closer to Mancebo. They are 40 seconds behind the Spaniard.
13:15:49 Mancebo and his chaser are on the rise to the KOM climb while the peloton languishes 6 minutes in arrears.
13:13:15 If you're following along on the video side, that's the women's criterium you're seeing now in Santa Rosa. Lovely weather to race a bike, eh?
13:11:26 The field is in Napa County, normally quite a beautiful and idyllic setting, but not in this atrocious weather.
13:09:20 The climb is category 4 with an elevation gain of 1,025 feet. Nothing too difficult, but it will help keep the riders warm.
13:06:29 They will soon be approaching the first California Travel & Tourism King of the Mountains climb of the day, which comes at the 26.9-mile mark.
13:05:01 Rick Scott here banging out the play by play for you with live coverage of Stage 1 of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. The riders are approximately 22 miles into the 107.6 miles they'll cover today from Davis to Santa Rosa.
13:02:41 The riders seem very unmotivated by the nasty weather conditions as Mancebo's lead has doubled to 6 minutes. Johnson and Kemp are still 50 seconds behind him.
12:58:59 Rock Racing's Mancebo is still a lone breakaway rider, who has a 3-minute advantage over the field. OUCH's Johnson and Fly V Australia's Kemp are chasing 50 seconds behind Mancebo.
12:54:51 Long way to go in Stage 1 and the conditions are downright miserable: cold and rainy. Meanwhile the women's race just started.
12:52:13 Mancebo collected maxiumum Herbalife Sprint points at the first sprint line in Winters. Johnson and Kemp took 2nd and 3rd.
12:50:02 Rain is coming down hard as the women are heading to the start line in Santa Rosa for the women's criterium.
12:48:06 Mancebo has amassed a 3-minute advantage while Johnson and Kemp are 50 seconds back followed by the field.
12:43:38 Mancebo still has a gap on the bunch. Pursuing are Tim Johnson (OUCH) and David Kemp of Fly V Australia. BMC's David Garcia attempted to join the chase, but was swiftly reabsorbed by the peloton.
12:37:07 The peloton is less than 5 km from today's first Herbalife Sprint.
12:36:01 Saxo Bank's Jason McCartney, Rock's Chris Baldwin and Colavita's Aaron Olsen are a few of the victims of early mechanicals.
12:32:15 We're barely underway and there have already been a ton of mechanicals.
12:31:04 The peloton reacts and a pair of riders are chasing Mancebo down.
12:29:40 The stage is past the neutral section and Rock's Francisco Mancebo has launched the first salvo.
12:22:16 Rick Scott coming to you from Santa Rosa where the 2nd Women's Amgen Tour of California criterium will take place using part of the finishing circuit the men will traverse. A stellar women's field is preparing to battle each other, the elements and a slick-cornered course.
12:18:30 For now the yellow jersey, Cancellara, is content to sit in the field. If you have questions for Frankie Andreu & Boogiedown JoE Silva, hit 'em up at atoc2009@yahoo.com.
12:10:03 A few Astana musclemen have already launched a break, including Leipheimer, Armstrong and Brajkovic.
12:08:00 The nasty weather has grounded the choppers so we're not receiving images or race radio. Please bare with us as we do some sweet talking to Mother Nature.
12:01:12 Today's stage begins in Davis with a 3.1-mile neutral section.
11:59:04 Nearly everyone has been touched by cancer, myself included as both of my parents beat the disease. Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer initiative strives to empower patients and their caregivers with education, resources and hope. Through Breakaway from Cancer, Amgen and their nonprofit partners aim to increase awareness of the important resources available to cancer patients from prevention to diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship. You don't have to go through it alone. Visit www.breakawayfromcancer.com to connect with a wide array of free services and programs to help people win their battle against cancer.
11:50:02 Stylin' Amgen Tour of California gear is a red hot commodity along the tour route, but you can get yours at www.amgentourofcaliforniastore.com. Today there is a special on hats. Enjoy a 25% discount by entering the code HATSOFF09 at checkout.
11:46:14 In addition to the finish in Santa Rosa, there are two Herbalife Sprints and three California Travel & Tourism King of the Mountains climbs en route.
11:29:25 Saxo Bank's Fabian Cancellara has the honor of starting Stage 1 in Davis wearing the first yellow jersey of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Two-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer will ride to the finish in his hometown of Santa Rosa in 2nd place only 2 seconds back. The first stage will be a new challenging and scenic route that departs Davis, the city Bicycling Magazine named the “Best Cycling Town in the United States.” Fast flat sections separated by three climbs will awaken the riders’ legs. The first climb is the short, steep trek up to Monticello Dam. After passing Lake Berryessa, the course will rise again on Howell Mountain Road before the peloton plummets quickly into Napa Valley. The riders will summit one more climb followed by the precipitous descent of Calistoga Road. The stage culminates with laps of a circuit in downtown Santa Rosa where the crowds have been amongst the largest and most boisterous of the entire tour.
11:19:22 Good Sunday morning to you from Santa Rosa where we await the start of the first stage of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, which starts in Davis 107.6 miles away from where I sit. I'm Rick Scott, your eyes and ears on the scene. Frankie Andreu and JoE Silva will be calling the action on the video side. Live coverage begins at 12 PM PT. Stick around.
