A star studded field rolls out of Nevada City to start the first stage of the Amgen Tour of California.
ARMSTRONGAToCLEIPHEIMERPELOTONSCENERYSCHLECKStage 1VOIGTZabriskie
Tho it seems Tom Boonen had a problem in the neutral zone - a portent for his day ahead?
AToCBOONENStage 1
Zabriskie at the front at the start of the stage.
AToCGARMINStage 1Zabriskie
They've delayed the "start" beyond KM 0 to allow Boonen and a Cervelo rider to re-join the peloton.
AToCStage 1
The Timeboard has it right...
Fairly early, an attack has ben launched by Bissel's Mach, as United Helthcare's Marc De Maar pulls through...
...soon to be joined by BMC's Chad Beyer and Rabobank's Maarten Tjallingii.
Two young fans await the race near the bottom of the KOM climb
...and cheer with enthusiasm as the breakaway begins their climb.
The peloton snakes down Old Auburn Foresthill Road, keeping the break to under five minutes.
AToCStage 1scenery
Levi Leipheimer sits in the lead pack as the peloton climbs highway 49 towards the KOM.
AToCLEIPHEIMERRADIO SHACKStage 1
Cozza was ensuring Zabriskie a safe ride today...
AToCCOZZAGARMINStage 1Zabriskie
Danielson also was near the front of the pack at the base of the climb.
Lars Bak of HTC Columbia easily leads the peloton up towards the first KOM past Dore Holte.
AToCFANHolteHTC COLUMBIAStage 1
Cervelo and Jelly Belly have sent a few riders forward now that the peloton is holding the lead steady...
...which means a flat by Wilson doesn't worry him...
AToCGARMINMECHANICStage 1Wilsonflat
...and allows Voigt and Cavendish to take a natural break before the wind-up for the finish.
AToCStage 1voigt
It does mean that Wilson will be bringing some bottles back forward with him.
AToCGARMINStage 1Wilsonbottlesteam car
Nope - no urgency in the peloton...
AToCStage 1peloton
The break knows it is just a matter of time but they keep the pressure on...
HTC Columbia riders wonder if the Porsche Speedster might be a better way to catch the break.
AToCHTC COLUMBIAPORSCHEsceneryStage 1
Cancellara was most likely happy that the pace wasn't too demanding today as he's been a touch under the weather.
AToCStage 1CancellaraSaxo Bank
Lance also stayed well protected in the pack all day.
AToCStage 1ArmstrongRadioShack
A token Cervelo rider works with HTC.
AToCStage 1HTC Columbia
...while Levi shares a joke with Andy Schleck.
AToCStage 1LeipheimerSchleck
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.
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.
AToCBAKHTC COLUMBIAStage 1
Mark Cavendish wins the first stage of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California
ATOCCAVENDISHFINISHwinnerTOUR OF CALIFORNIA STAGE 1HAEDO
The circuits were not routine for Hincapie, he's showing some dirt and scrapes from a nasty fall...
AToCBMCHINCAPIEPOST CRASHStage 1
...which also caught out Tom Boonen.
AToCBOONENPOST CRASHQuick StepStage 1
Cavendish seems to enjoy the spoils of his victory, the leader's yellow jersey...
AToCCAVENDISHHTC COLUMBUIAPODIUMStage 1YELLOW JERSEY
and his favorite color - the green jersey too.
AToCCAVENDISHGreen JerseyHTC COLUMBIAPODIUMStage 1