May 15, 2016 (San Diego,  CA) – The 2016 Amgen Tour of California came in like a lion with World Champion and reigning race champion Peter Sagan (SVK) of Tinkoff roaring to victory in a bunch sprint to the finish line in Mission Beach, San Diego, putting him back into the yellow leader jersey he wore at the race’s conclusion last year. Today’s stage kicked off the 11th annual 8-day stage race, which features some of the most accomplished riders in the sport competing across 782 miles before concluding in Sacramento next Sun., May 22.

“I’m very happy to be here again, to catch a first victory here, in the first stage. Thank you to all my teammates. Today was a good day,” said Sagan of his 14th Amgen Tour of California career victory (the race’s all-time record holder for stage wins). “I came here the first time in 2010…it was a very nice race, very good organization, very nice hotels, food… Also, the level of the race is very good, and it’s also very good for preparation because it’s good weather. Now it’s the Giro and Tour of California. And I prefer to come here to train and prepare. And also I like California for the fans, and I’ve won a lot of stages here, and I’m very happy always to return here.”

The picturesque 108-mile ride began with a breakaway group of seven riders who sprang out to take a 4+-minute lead over the peloton, which they held for much of the stage. Team KATUSHA rode at the front of the peloton for much of the stage, with Team Sky, Tinkoff and BMC Racing Team lending a hand to chase down the leaders in the final miles. For his part in the breakaway, Jacob Rathe (USA) of San Diego-based Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis, the 24 year-old rider who is coming back from artery surgery last season, was awarded the Amgen Breakaway from Cancer®MostCourageous Rider Jersey.

With about two miles left in the stage, Team Lotto NL – Jumbo leapt to the front of the pack with Tinkoff jockeying for position to bring Sagan to the front. The last mile and a half saw a chaotic peloton fighting for control, with Lotto NL – Jumbo seeming to take over but Tinkoff still in the mix. Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team’s

Tom Boonen (BEL) made a move toward the final meters which did not prove strong enough for the win today, turning in an 8th place finish. Nothing could hold back the explosive World Champion, with Sagan claiming the Amgen Race Leader Jersey as well as the prize for Sprint points today.

“The fans are very nice. Every year it’s more and more fans for me, and I’m very happy for that,” said Sagan,who spoke of his love for California in the days leading to the race. The fans loved him right back, erupting into roars when he catapulted over the finish first by the length of his handlebars.

Cannondale’s Wouter Wippert (NED) took second place (and will wear the Visit California Sprint Jersey tomorrow) with fellow countrymen Team Lotto NL – Jumbo’s 22 year-old Dylan Groenewegen (NED) earning third place on the stage as well as the SRAM Best Young Rider Jersey.

American rider Oscar Clark (USA) of Holowesko | Citadel Racing Team p/b Hincapie Sportswear will ride tomorrow in the Lexus King of the Mountain (KOM) jersey, which he earned in the one KOM climb today during his time in the breakaway. Speaking of the level of competition at the Amgen Tour of California, he commented:

“It’s great for us. It’s the biggest race we do all year, so to have the world champion and past world champions, and all the big name riders, it’s awesome for what we do,” said Clark. Alexander Kristoff’s (NOR) Team KATUSHA rode hard for him all day with the famed sprinter getting swallowed by the other teams and coming in 16th for the day.

Results

1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team 4:20:41
2. Wouter Wippert (Ned) Cannondale Pro Cycling
3. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
4. Bryan Coquard (Fra) Direct Energie
5. Martijn Verschoor (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk
6. Niccolo Bonifazio (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
7. Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Axeon Hagens Berman
8. Tom Boonen (Bel) Etixx-Quick-Step
9. Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing Team
10. John Murphy (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
11. Andrew Fenn (GBr) Team Sky
12. Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Team Sky
13. Neilson Powless (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
14. Tanner Putt (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
15. Owain Doull (GBr) Team Wiggins
16. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha
17. Marco Canola (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
18. Andrew Tennant (GBr) Team Wiggins
19. Jesse Anthony (USA) Rally Cycling
20. Andrea Peron (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk
21. Travis McCabe (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
22. Tao Geoghegan-Hart (GBr) Axeon Hagens Berman
23. Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing Team
24. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team
25. Logan Owen (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
26. Javier Megias (Spa) Team Novo Nordisk
27. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
28. Daniel Eaton (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
29. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data
30. Markel Irizar (Spa) Trek-Segafredo
31. Patrick Bevin (NZl) Cannondale Pro Cycling
32. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Dimension Data
33. Kiel Reijnen (USA) Trek-Segafredo
34. Krists Neilands (Lat) Axeon Hagens Berman
35. Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team
36. Jake Kelly (GBr) Team Wiggins
37. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Trek-Segafredo
38. Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
39. George Bennett (NZl) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
40. Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Sky
41. Pierrick Naud (Can) Rally Cycling
42. Peter Stetina (USA) Trek-Segafredo
43. Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team
44. Emerson Oronte (USA) Rally Cycling
45. Robin Carpenter (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
46. Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky
47. Laurens ten Dam (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin
48. Juraj Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team
49. Rob Britton (Can) Rally Cycling
50. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing Team
51. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Bel) Team Katusha
52. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Etixx-Quick-Step
53. Adam Blythe (GBr) Tinkoff Team
54. Lawson Craddock (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling
55. Tiago Machado (Por) Team Katusha
56. Ben King (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling
57. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
58. Andrew Talansky (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling
59. Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Team Sky
60. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team
61. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Team Katusha
62. Gregory Daniel (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
63. Petr Vakoc (Cze) Etixx-Quick-Step
64. Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
65. Romain Sicard (Fra) Direct Energie
66. Toms Skujins (Lat) Cannondale Pro Cycling
67. Evan Huffman (USA) Rally Cycling
68. Daniel Teklehaimanot (Eri) Dimension Data
69. Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
70. Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek-Segafredo
71. Tyler Farrar (USA) Dimension Data
72. Alex Peters (GBr) Team Sky
73. Martin Velits (Svk) Etixx-Quick-Step
74. Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (Rsa) Dimension Data
75. Michael Gogl (Aut) Tinkoff Team
76. Sindre Skjostad Lunke (Nor) Team Giant-Alpecin
77. Phillip Gaimon (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling
78. Angus Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
79. Adam De Vos (Can) Rally Cycling
80. Rob Squire (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
81. John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin
82. Koen De Kort (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin
83. William Barta (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
84. Charles Planet (Fra) Team Novo Nordisk
85. Daniel Jaramillo (Col) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
86. Nikolas Maes (Bel) Etixx-Quick-Step
87. Mark Christian (GBr) Team Wiggins
88. Taylor Sheldon (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
89. Caleb Fairly (USA) Team Giant-Alpecin
90. Joseph Lewis (Aus) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
91. Timo Roosen (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
92. Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team
93. Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Team Sky
94. Lachlan Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
95. Alexey Vermeulen (USA) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
96. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx-Quick-Step
97. Ryan Anderson (Can) Direct Energie
98. Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Direct Energie
99. Maxime Bouet (Fra) Etixx-Quick-Step
100. Stephen Clancy (Irl) Team Novo Nordisk
101. Danny Pate (USA) Rally Cycling
102. David Lozano Riba (Spa) Team Novo Nordisk
103. Michael Thompson (GBr) Team Wiggins
104. Christopher Williams (Aus) Team Novo Nordisk
105. Joonas Henttala (Fin) Team Novo Nordisk
106. Chris Putt (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
107. Jordan Cheyne (Can) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
108. Ben Wolfe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
109. John Hornbeck (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
110. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Wiggins
111. Christopher Latham (GBr) Team Wiggins
112. Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct Energie
113. Andrei Krasilnikau (Blr) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
114. Julian Arredondo (Col) Trek-Segafredo
115. Xabier Zandio (Spa) Team Sky
116. Michael Sheehan (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
117. Geoffrey Curran (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
118. Michael Morkov (Den) Team Katusha
119. Erik Baska (Svk) Tinkoff Team 00:15
120. Michael Kolar (Svk) Tinkoff Team 00:16
121. Angelo Tulik (Fra) Direct Energie
122. Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin 00:20
123. Robert Wagner (Ger) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 00:23
124. Daniel Patten (GBr) Team Wiggins 00:30
125. Andzs Flaksis (Lat) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
126. Nathan Haas (Aus) Dimension Data 00:34
127. Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin 00:39
128. Vladimir Isaychev (Rus) Team Katusha
129. Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Tinkoff Team
130. William Routley (Can) Rally Cycling
131. Jhonatan Restrepo (Col) Team Katusha
132. Maarten Wynants (Bel) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
133. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx-Quick-Step
134. Matthew Brammeier (Irl) Dimension Data 00:53
135. Oscar Clark (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team 00:56
136. Bryan Nauleau (Fra) Direct Energie 01:12
137. Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Dimension Data 01:14
138. Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 01:22
139. Marco Haller (Aut) Team Katusha 01:41
140. Oscar Gatto (Ita) Tinkoff Team 01:51
141. Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 01:56
142. Antoine Duchesne (Can) Direct Energie
143. Dennis van Winden (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 02:12
144. Soren Kragh Andersen (Den) Team Giant-Alpecin 03:57

GC after Stage 1

1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team 4:20:31
2. Wouter Wippert (Ned) Cannondale Pro Cycling
3. Michael Sheehan (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
4. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
5. Daniel Eaton (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
6. Joonas Henttala (Fin) Team Novo Nordisk
7. Bryan Coquard (Fra) Direct Energie
8. Martijn Verschoor (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk
9. Niccolo Bonifazio (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
10. Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Axeon Hagens Berman
11. Tom Boonen (Bel) Etixx-Quick-Step
12. Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing Team
13. John Murphy (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
14. Andrew Fenn (GBr) Team Sky
15. Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Team Sky
16. Neilson Powless (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
17. Tanner Putt (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
18. Owain Doull (GBr) Team Wiggins
19. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha
20. Marco Canola (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
21. Andrew Tennant (GBr) Team Wiggins
22. Jesse Anthony (USA) Rally Cycling
23. Andrea Peron (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk
24. Travis McCabe (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
25. Tao Geoghegan-Hart (GBr) Axeon Hagens Berman
26. Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing Team
27. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team
28. Logan Owen (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
29. Javier Megias (Spa) Team Novo Nordisk
30. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
31. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data
32. Markel Irizar (Spa) Trek-Segafredo
33. Patrick Bevin (NZl) Cannondale Pro Cycling
34. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Dimension Data
35. Kiel Reijnen (USA) Trek-Segafredo
36. Krists Neilands (Lat) Axeon Hagens Berman
37. Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team
38. Jake Kelly (GBr) Team Wiggins
39. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Trek-Segafredo
40. Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
41. George Bennett (NZl) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
42. Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Sky
43. Pierrick Naud (Can) Rally Cycling
44. Peter Stetina (USA) Trek-Segafredo
45. Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team
46. Emerson Oronte (USA) Rally Cycling
47. Robin Carpenter (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
48. Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky
49. Laurens ten Dam (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin
50. Juraj Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team
51. Rob Britton (Can) Rally Cycling
52. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing Team
53. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Bel) Team Katusha
54. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Etixx-Quick-Step
55. Adam Blythe (GBr) Tinkoff Team
56. Lawson Craddock (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling
57. Tiago Machado (Por) Team Katusha
58. Ben King (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling
59. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
60. Andrew Talansky (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling
61. Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Team Sky
62. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team
63. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Team Katusha
64. Gregory Daniel (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
65. Petr Vakoc (Cze) Etixx-Quick-Step
66. Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
67. Romain Sicard (Fra) Direct Energie
68. Toms Skujins (Lat) Cannondale Pro Cycling
69. Evan Huffman (USA) Rally Cycling
70. Daniel Teklehaimanot (Eri) Dimension Data
71. Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
72. Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek-Segafredo
73. Tyler Farrar (USA) Dimension Data
74. Alex Peters (GBr) Team Sky
75. Martin Velits (Svk) Etixx-Quick-Step
76. Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (Rsa) Dimension Data
77. Michael Gogl (Aut) Tinkoff Team
78. Sindre Skjostad Lunke (Nor) Team Giant-Alpecin
79. Phillip Gaimon (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling
80. Angus Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
81. Adam de Vos (Can) Rally Cycling
82. Rob Squire (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
83. John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin
84. Koen De Kort (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin
85. William Barta (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
86. Charles Planet (Fra) Team Novo Nordisk
87. Daniel Jaramillo (Col) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
88. Nikolas Maes (Bel) Etixx-Quick-Step
89. Mark Christian (GBr) Team Wiggins
90. Taylor Sheldon (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
91. Caleb Fairly (USA) Team Giant-Alpecin
92. Joseph Lewis (Aus) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
93. Timo Roosen (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
94. Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team
95. Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Team Sky
96. Lachlan Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
97. Alexey Vermeulen (USA) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
98. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx-Quick-Step
99. Ryan Anderson (Can) Direct Energie
100. Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Direct Energie
101. Maxime Bouet (Fra) Etixx-Quick-Step
102. Stephen Clancy (Irl) Team Novo Nordisk
103. Danny Pate (USA) Rally Cycling
104. David Lozano Riba (Spa) Team Novo Nordisk
105. Michael Thompson (GBr) Team Wiggins
106. Christopher Williams (Aus) Team Novo Nordisk
107. Chris Putt (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
108. Jordan Cheyne (Can) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
109. Ben Wolfe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
110. John Hornbeck (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
111. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Wiggins
112. Christopher Latham (GBr) Team Wiggins
113. Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct Energie
114. Andrei Krasilnikau (Blr) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
115. Julian Arredondo (Col) Trek-Segafredo
116. Xabier Zandio (Spa) Team Sky
117. Geoffrey Curran (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
118. Michael Morkov (Den) Team Katusha
119. Erik Baska (Svk) Tinkoff Team
120. Michael Kolar (Svk) Tinkoff Team
121. Angelo Tulik (Fra) Direct Energie
122. Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin
123. Robert Wagner (Ger) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
124. Daniel Patten (GBr) Team Wiggins
125. Andzs Flaksis (Lat) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
126. Nathan Haas (Aus) Dimension Data
127. Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin
128. Vladimir Isaychev (Rus) Team Katusha
129. Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Tinkoff Team
130. William Routley (Can) Rally Cycling
131. Jhonatan Restrepo (Col) Team Katusha
132. Maarten Wynants (Bel) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
133. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx-Quick-Step
134. Matthew Brammeier (Irl) Dimension Data 1:03
135. Oscar Clark (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team 1:06
136. Bryan Nauleau (Fra) Direct Energie 1:22
137. Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Dimension Data 1:24
138. Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 1:32
139. Marco Haller (Aut) Team Katusha 1:51
140. Oscar Gatto (Ita) Tinkoff Team 2:01
141. Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 2:05
142. Antoine Duchesne (Can) Direct Energie 2:06
143. Dennis van Winden (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 2:22
144. Soren Kragh Andersen (Den) Team Giant-Alpecin 4:07