Results Stage 8
The last and final stage of the Tour of California ended this past Sunday. Peter Sagan took the stage win securing his 4th green jersey win at the ATOC. Tejay van Garderen won the overall Leaders yellow jersey. There was little change in the general classification in the last stages of the tour this year, but the individual stage wins were still exciting, with a good variety of teams and countries represented:
2013 Stage winners:
Stage 1: Lieuwe Westra, (the Netherlands), Vancansoleil
Stage 2: Janier Acevedo (Columbia), Jamis
Stage 3: Peter Sagan, (Slovakia), Cannondale
Stage 4: Tyler Farrar (USA), Garmin-Sharp
Stage 5: Jens Voigt (Germany), RadioShack Leopard Trek
Stage 6: Tejay van Garderen (USA), BMC
Stage 7: Leopold König (Czechoslovakia), Net-App Endura
Stage 8: Peter Sagan, (Slovakia), Cannondale
This was the year of 8s at the Amgen Tour of California. The race's 8th year, 8 stages, 8 riders on each team, BMC won the best team classification by just over 8 minutes, and Jason McCartney was awarded the Most Courageous Rider jersey for being the only rider to have ridden in, and completed, all 8 previous Tour of California races.
Stage 8 winner
Peter Sagan (SVK), Cannondale Pro Cycling
Stage 8 Podium in San Jose
- Peter Sagan (SVK), Cannondale Pro Cycling
- Daniel Schorn (AUT), Team NetApp-Endura
- Tyler Farrar (USA), Team Garmin-Sharp
General Classification (yellow)
Tejay van Garderen (USA), BMC Racing Team
Sprint Classification (green)
Peter Sagan (SVK), Cannondale Pro Cycling
KOM Classification (polka dot)
Carter Jones (USA), BISSELL Pro Cycling - his 6th stage!
Best Young Rider (white)
Lawson Craddock (USA), Bontrager Cycling Team
Amgen Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Rider
Jason McCartney (USA), BISSELL Pro Cycling Team
Team Classification
BMC Racing Team - took over the lead in the Team Classification.
Top 10 General Classification Stage 8, final standings:
- Tejay van Garderen, BMC, USA,
- Michael Rogers, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff, Australia,
- Janier Acevedo Calle, Jamis, Columbia,
- Mathias Frank, BMC, Switzerland,
- Cameron Meyer, Orica-GreenEdge, Australia,
- Matthew Busche, RadioShack Leopard Trek, USA,
- Francisco Mancebo Perez, 5-Hour Energy, Spain,
- Lawson Craddock, Bontrager, Australia,
- Philip Deignan, United Healthcare, Ireland,
- Chad Haga, Optum, USA,
My top 10 from chasing the tour:
- Huge numbers of fans turned out in Santa Rosa for Stage 8 (there is hope for the sport).
- Old man Jens actually won a stage.
- There are some awesome photographers out there, and the best was a local photographer in Santa Barbara named Michael.
- I love California Mexican food.
- We need an ocean in Colorado.
- Tejay van Garderen is an impressive competitor.
- The Stone Brewery in Escondido is one of the most amazing concepts for enjoying a beer that I have seen. And a darn good Arrogant Bastard Ale.
- From beach cruisers to the best Cannondale EVO Supersix - as long as it has two wheels - ride it.
- Being among the mix of languages and cultures at an international bike race is a cool place to be.
- Cycling fans are the best!
*Also, if you want race analysis, just go straight to Joe Lindsey and Frankie Andreu. If you want to know who is going to win a race, go with whomever Tejay van Garderen picks.
Honorable mention:
I also hit an all time high this past week for my modest blog with 3,573 visitors in one day. My blog also sailed right by it's landmark 500,000th visit on the final day of ATOC coverage. Thank you! What an incredible 3 years it has been.
I preferred the southern to northern route of the tour this year
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| The 2013 ATOC went from southern California to norther California for the first time in it's 8-year history. |
PHOTOS
Recommended Viewing: Photo albums from team BMC (http://bit.ly/146NEaA)
Also read a blog post (with photos) by Michael Schaer (BMC)
in focus: Michael Schaer
More photos from the tour - from Willie Reichenstein
Looking back at a week of racing; tonight we are looking at the photography of Willie Reichenstein who helped me photograph the tour. Willie and I would sometimes be at the start together, then take off in different directions, Willie out on the route to key climbs or to the KOM points. I would be at the finish, or on one day at a sprint points location. Willie's hard work (and good mood) added much to my week. Willie also likes beer and took me to the Stone Brewery in Escondido (fantastic gardens and beer). I also enjoyed a beer tasting night with Willie and his wife at their home, at weeks end, to share stories and photos.
Working along with another photographer gives life to my storytelling at the race and throughout the year. Many thanks to Willie for adding so much to Pedal Dancer® at the 2013 Amgen Tour of California. I am now looking for a sidekick for travel and chasing the race at the USA Pro Challenge. I have learned that it takes two to plan stage coverage and go over maps (and find the Media signs), to keep up with the race and news (and Social Media), to photograph so much activity (and upload photos), and to research the upcoming stage (even though it all changes anyway). Mostly it is just fun to be able to share the excitement of being at a bike race, play tourist, and meet lots of enthusiastic fans.
Anyone with me for Colorado - August 2013?
Stage 1
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| Peloton on the road during Stage 1. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| Jens Voigt wearing #1 had returned once again to California. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| The hawk that Jens Voigt frequently referred to which soared along with Jensie across the hills of San Diego county. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| The arid landscape of Southern California and the roads of Stage 1. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| Fans having fun with an original form of road chalk art. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| Orica Green Edge gives the thumbs up to fans even in the high heat of the day. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| The Pro Continental teams played a big roll in this years tour - Bissell, Net-App, Optum, and 5-Hour Energy. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| The peloton is coming... ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| The peloton has arrived. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| Chasing a champion. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| The many colors of Trek (and the fad for brightly colored frames). ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| The impressive expanding team bus of Garmin-Sharp. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| BMC team cars made a strong presence along the race route. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| It was a week of the best fastest bikes on the market. This is Sylvain Chavanel's bike. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
Stage 2
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| Carter Jones, (who stayed in the polka-dot jersey all week) signs in with his Bissell teammates. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| The typical high-activity on the sign-in stage at each stage start. Dave Towle the announcer, Patrick Demsey, podium girls, riders, and photographers. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| Two McDreamys: Actor Patrick Demsey and Sprinter Peter Sagan. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| Sylvain Chavanel ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| Brad Sohner interviewing James Stemper and Tejay waiting for his turn with Dave Towle. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| SRAM moto - a long way to travel with only a couple wheels, I guess they matter. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| Sometimes the peloton is just a blur of color, but look closely. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| Until the effortful breakaway stays clear. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| Stage 2 was a hot uzippered kind of day for the peloton. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
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| But an air conditioned kind of day for those inside the team cars. ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein at Pedal Dancer® |
Looking back at Pedal Dancer at the race
Pedal Dancer Cruisin' California fan travel series and daily Results from the 2013 Tour of California. A full week of covering the race is complete.
Pedal Dancer Stage 1 results: Amgen Tour of California - Stage 1 Results
Pedal Dancer Stage 1 highlights: California Cruisin' - Stage 1, Tour of California
Pedal Dancer Stage 2 results: Amgen Tour of California - Stage 2 Results
Pedal Dancer Stage 2 highlights: California Cruisin' - Stage 2, Tour of California
Pedal Dancer Stage 3 results: Amgen Tour of California - Stage 3 Results
Pedal Dancer Stage 3 highlights: California Cruisin' - Stage 3, Tour of California
Pedal Dancer Stage 4 results: Amgen Tour of California - Stage 4 Results
Pedal Dancer Stage 4 highlights: California Cruisin' - Stage 4, Tour of California
Pedal Dancer Stage 5 results: Amgen Tour of California - Stage 5 results
Pedal Dancer Stage 5 highlights: California Cruisin' - Stage 5, Tour of California
Pedal Dancer Stage 6 results: Amgen Tour of California - Stage 6 results
Pedal Dancer Stage 7 results: Amgen Tour of California - Stage 7 Results
Pedal Dancer Stage 8 results: Amgen Tour of California - Stage 8 Results, final
Interest topics are next, until coverage of the 2013 Tour de France commences. I will
be posting my annual Legs of the Tour post soon, one about young team Bontrager, another about the incredible volunteers, and one about who to select for your fantasy team for the 2013 Tour de France.
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