05.16-Tour of California: Stage 1

A star studded field rolls out of Nevada City to start the first stage of the Amgen Tour of California.

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Tho it seems Tom Boonen had a problem in the neutral zone - a portent for his day ahead?

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Zabriskie at the front at the start of the stage.

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They've delayed the "start" beyond KM 0 to allow Boonen and a Cervelo rider to re-join the peloton.

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The Timeboard has it right...

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Fairly early, an attack has ben launched by Bissel's Mach, as United Helthcare's Marc De Maar pulls through...

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...soon to be joined by BMC's Chad Beyer and Rabobank's Maarten Tjallingii.

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Two young fans await the race near the bottom of the KOM climb

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...and cheer with enthusiasm as the breakaway begins their climb.

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The peloton snakes down Old Auburn Foresthill Road, keeping the break to under five minutes.

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Levi Leipheimer sits in the lead pack as the peloton climbs highway 49 towards the KOM.

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Cozza was ensuring Zabriskie a safe ride today...

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Danielson also was near the front of the pack at the base of the climb.

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Lars Bak of HTC Columbia easily leads the peloton up towards the first KOM past Dore Holte.

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Cervelo and Jelly Belly have sent a few riders forward now that the peloton is holding the lead steady...

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...which means a flat by Wilson doesn't worry him...

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...and allows Voigt and Cavendish to take a natural break before the wind-up for the finish.

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It does mean that Wilson will be bringing some bottles back forward with him.

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Nope - no urgency in the peloton...

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The break knows it is just a matter of time but they keep the pressure on...

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HTC Columbia riders wonder if the Porsche Speedster might be a better way to catch the break.

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Cancellara was most likely happy that the pace wasn't too demanding today as he's been a touch under the weather.

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Lance also stayed well protected in the pack all day.

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A token Cervelo rider works with HTC.

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...while Levi shares a joke with Andy Schleck.

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The break was caught about 12 miles from the finish, but two riders ended up in leaders jerseys at the end of their hard days work.

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Entering Sacramento's city center, Lars Bak sets a blistering pace as the peloton nears the finish line start the first of three finishing circuits.

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Mark Cavendish wins the first stage of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California

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The circuits were not routine for Hincapie, he's showing some dirt and scrapes from a nasty fall...

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...which also caught out Tom Boonen.

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Cavendish seems to enjoy the spoils of his victory, the leader's yellow jersey...

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and his favorite color - the green jersey too.

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