GAVIRIA OUTSPRINTS THE PACK TO STAGE 1 VICTORY AS 2018 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA GETS UNDERWAY IN LONG BEACH
Ewan and ‘King of California’ Sagan Round out Podium
after 83.6-mile Circuit Race
Climbers Primed for Tomorrow’s Anticipated Queen Stage from
Ventura to the Top of Gibraltar Road
LONG BEACH, Calif. (May 13, 2018) – It was an all-star dash to the finish as the 2018 Amgen Tour of California got underway in Long Beach, with Quick-Step Floors’ Fernando Gaviria (COL) outsprinting the world-class lineup that included World Champion BORA-hansgrohe’s Peter Sagan (SVK), Team KATUSHA ALPECIN’s Marcel Kittel (GER) and Team Dimension Data’s Mark Cavendish (GBR). Young Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan of Mitchelton-SCOTT claimed second place and Sagan, who took second place on last year’s opening stage, ended today in third.
Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) celebrates his win on Men’s Stage One in Long Beach, 2018 Amgen Tour of California cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com)
Stage 1 presented by Breakaway from Cancer® featured 12 laps of a 7-mile circuit that showcased crowds lining downtown Long Beach iconic locations including the waterfront, Bixby Park and Retro Row. An early breakaway pulled away to a 2-minute lead at the midpoint of the stage, containing Holowesko|Citadel p/b Arapahoe Resources’ Andrei Krasilnikau (BLR) and United Healthcare Pro Cycling’s Tanner Putt (Utah native) (Boulder, Colo.) who was awarded the Breakaway from Cancer®Most Courageous Rider Jersey for his inspiring ride.
Photo gallery by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com:
TJ Eisenhart rolls in for the rider sign in at Men's Stage One in Long Beach, 2018 Amgen Tour of California cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com)
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TJ Eisenhart rolls in for the rider sign in at Men's Stage One in Long Beach, 2018 Amgen Tour of California cycling race (Photo by Dave Richards, daverphoto.com)
“My legs felt really good during the race. I’m happy to do a good job for my team, and we’re happy to win the stage,” said Gaviria. He added, “I don’t know if I’m surprised [about the win] as I’ve been training in my house….I tried to come back really strong in the (Tour de) Romandie, which is more difficult for the finished race because it’s solid climbs. After that I went to Frankfurt and there the legs were better, and now I come back to the win, and I’m really happy for this.”
Putt commented, “First move of the day at kilometer zero. It was just me and a rider from [HoloweskoICitadel p/b Arapahoe Resources] and the plan was just to get myself in the break and try to take some of the sprint points, and just give the guys in the bunch a free ride for the day, so it was a long day. Once the field never gave us over two minutes, we knew that it was just a matter of time until they brought us back.”
In addition to claiming the stage win, 23-year-old Gaviria, who is making a comeback from a hand injury earlier this season also closed today with the TAG Heuer Best Young Rider Jersey and the Visit California Sprint Jersey. Rounding out the top five for the stage were KATUSHA ALPECIN’s Marcel Kittel (GER) in fourth, and UAE Team Emirates’ Alexander Kristoff (NOR) in fifth.
Stage 1 Podium
Fernando Gaviria (COL), Quick-Step Floors (BEL) 3h02’23”
Caleb Ewan (AUS), Mitchelton-SCOTT (AUS) s.t
Peter Sagan (SVK), BORA-hansgrohe (GER) s.t
Stage 1 Jersey Winners:
Amgen Race Leader Jersey – Fernando Gaviria (COL), Quick-Step Floors (BEL)
Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider Jersey – Tanner Putt (USA), UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA)
Visit California Sprint Jersey – Fernando Gaviria (COL), Quick-Step Floors (BEL)
TAG Heuer Best Young Rider Jersey – Fernando Gaviria (COL), Quick-Step Floors (BEL)
The Queen Stage comes early this year with tomorrow’s Stage 2 presented by Lexus leading cyclists 96.3 miles from first-time host Ventura to a fan-favorite finish atop Gibraltar Road in Santa Barbara County. The stage features 7,700’ in elevation gain and a 3,100’ climb over the final eight miles.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with today’s kick-off of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California,” said Kristin Klein, President, Amgen Tour of California and Executive Vice President, AEG Sports. “The incredible crowds, which were nine or ten deep along some parts of the course, were certainly treated to international cycling at its best. Between today’s sprint to the finish in Long Beach and tomorrow’s epic climb up to the top of Gibraltar Road, our fans this week are certainly going to see the most talented athletes in cycling today.”
The 2018 edition of America’s premier cycling stage race will cover 645 miles of roadways, highways and coastlines during seven stages from Long Beach to Sacramento May 13-19, while the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Race empowered with SRAM, showcasing the world’s best women cyclists, will run concurrently May 17-19, covering upward of 187 miles over three stages. The annual professional cycling events are the only U.S. races on the UCI WorldTour calendar and continue to attract some of the most renowned cyclists and teams in the world.
Results:
STAGE CLASSIFICATION 1
LONG BEACH – LONG BEACH
SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2018
Pl Bib Name First Name Team Nat B P Split Pl Bib Name First Name Team Nat B P Split
