Mancebo Captures Yellow in a well-deserved stage win

Stage 1 Results | Video | Press Release 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.