Tour of California
Where: USA
Rank: WorldTour (men) | WorldTour (women)
The Tour of California 2019 was made up of a seven-stage men's race and three-stage women's edition.
Since it started in 2006, the Tour of California has become a premier race not just in the US, but for many top riders from around the world. For 2019, the men's race ran from May 12-18, and the women's from May 16-18.
The Tour of California is a great race to watch on television, with the stunning backdrop of the Californian scenery shown off by aerial footage of the peloton snaking its way through the countryside.
The race is in both the UCI Men's WorldTour series and the UCI Women's WorldTour series and the sunny shores of the famous American state are attracting some of the biggest names as an alternative to the Giro d'Italia in Europe.
However, the weather can be as challenging as the race route, with both heavy snowfall and extremely high temperatures affecting various editions in recent years.
In October 2019, it was announced the race would be put on hiatus, with hopes that it will be re-launched for 2021. It was claimed the 'business fundamentals' of the race had changed.
Tour of California 2019 Stages: men's race
Stage 1 - Sun May 12 | Sacramento to Sacramento | 143km | Flat |
Stage 2 - Mon May 13 | Rancho Cordova to South Lake Tahoe | 194.5km | Mountain |
Stage 3 - Tues May 14 | Stockton to Morgan Hill | 207km | Mountain |
Stage 4 - Weds May 15 | Laguna Seca to Morro Bay | 212.5km | Hilly |
Stage 5 - Thurs May 16 | Pismo Beach to Ventura | 218.5km | Hilly |
Stage 6 - Fri May 17 | Ontario to Mount Baldy | 127.5km | Mountain |
Stage 7 - Sat May 18 | Santa Clarita to Pasadena | 141km | Mountain |
Tour of California 2019 Stages: women's race
Stage 1 - Thurs May 16 | Ventura to Ventura | 96.5km |
Stage 2 - Fri May 17 | Ontario to Mt Baldy | 74km |
Stage 3 - Sat May 18 | Santa Clarita to Pasadena | 126km |
Tour of California: Recent winners (men)
2019 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
2018 Egan Bernal (Col) Team Sky
2017 George Bennett (NZ) Team LottoNL-Jumbo
2016 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx-QuickStep
2015 Peter Sagan (Slv) Tinkoff
2014 Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Sky
2013 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC
2012 Robert Gesink (Hol) Rabobank
2011 Chris Horner (USA) RadioShack
2010 Michael Rogers (Aus) HTC-Columbia
2009 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
2008 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
Tour of California: Recent winners (women)
2019 Anna van der Breggen (Hol) Boels-Dolmans
2018 Katie Hall (USA) United Health Care
2017 Anna Van Der Breggen (Hol) Boels-Dolmans
2016 Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels-Dolmans
2015 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Velocio-SRAM
Info: Men's start list | TV guide
External links: Official website | Twitter - @AmgenTourofCali
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‘Like sitting on the indoor trainer for seven hours’: Mark Cavendish survives brutal day in Tour of California
Mark Cavendish survived a brutal day of climbing on stage two of the Tour of California that was “like sitting on the indoor trainer for seven hours.”
By Alex Ballinger Published
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Elisa Balsamo wins frantic stage three as Anna van der Breggen wraps up Tour of California GC
Italian rider Elisa Bolsamo continues her good form, while Anna van der Breggen repeats her 2017 triumph
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
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Greg Van Avermaet targeting Tour of California comeback
Greg Van Avermaet will not defend his Belgium Tour title in May, instead making his comeback at the Amgen Tour of California
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Tao Geoghegan Hart pays tribute to former team-mate Chad Young
Tao Geoghegan Hart remembers his old team-mate on the roads of Yorkshire and says ‘it serves as a reminder to make the most of every day’
By James Shrubsall Published
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Team Sky announce Tour of California line-up
British road race champion Peter Kennaugh in Sky's seven-man roster for 2016 Tour of California (May 15-22)
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Bradley Wiggins edges further ahead in Tour of California
Bradley Wiggins fends off rivals on mountain-top finish as Esteban Chaves wins stage for Orica-GreenEdge
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Julian Alaphilippe maintains overall lead as Tom Skujins wins Tour of California stage five
The Latvian Cannondale rider won after being in the breakaway for much of the 213km stage to Lake Tahoe
By Richard Windsor Published
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Tour of California won’t be held in 2020
The Tour of California will not be held in 2020, the race organiser has announced.
By Alex Ballinger Published
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On-bike footage of Peter Sagan's blistering win at the Tour of California (video)
A camera attached to a Drapac Pro Cycling bike records Peter Sagan's win at the Tour of California
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Peter Sagan confirmed to return to racing at Tour of California
Peter Sagan will return to racing for the first time since finishing his spring Classics campaign, lining up at the Tour of California.
By Henry Robertshaw Published
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Rafal Majka takes overall lead of Tour of California after winning thrilling stage two
Rafal Majka beat George Bennett to the line for the stage honours as a breakaway made it to the finish of stage two of the Tour of California
By Richard Windsor Published
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Hannah Barnes crowned best young rider at Women's Tour of California
Video highlights for the three stages of the inaugural Women's Tour of California
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Bradley Wiggins extends lead in Tour of California
Bradley Wiggins capitalises on split in peloton to gain time on Rohan Dennis as William Routley wins stage from escape
By Nigel Wynn Published
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'I would have been happy with top 20': Team Sky's Jon Dibben reflects on his first pro win
Jon Dibben was understandably delighted to take his first pro win at the Tour of California, revealing that a top 20 finish would have been good enough.
By Henry Robertshaw Published
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Mark Cavendish faces tough sprint opposition in Tour of California
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Mark Cavendish wins opening stage of Tour of California
Manx Missile Mark Cavendish claims his 10th victory of the season, winning stage one of the Amgen Tour of California
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Peter Sagan wins Tour of California time trial; takes overall lead
Tinkoff-Saxo's Peter Sagan took victory in the 10.6km time trial by 15 seconds, moving him into the leader's yellow jersey
By Stuart Clarke Published
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'We are willing to sacrifice ourselves': Deceuninck - Quick-Step dominant with three stages in a row at Tour of California 2019
The Tour of California has proved fertile ground for super-team Deceuninck - Quick-Step, as the Belgian outfit racked up its 29th win of the season on stage four.
By Cycling Weekly Published
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Marcel Kittel will not ride Tour of California as struggles continue
German sprinter Marcel Kittel admits he is still short of condition after a long-running virus and will not race at the Tour of California
By Stuart Clarke Published
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Peter Sagan wins stage one of Tour of California 2019
Sagan beat Travis McCabe and Max Walscheid to the line in Sacramento
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
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Mark Cavendish wins stage eight of the Tour of California as Alaphilippe wraps up overall title
Mark Cavendish wins the final stage of the Tour of California, denying double stage winner Peter Sagan in the sprint in state capital Sacramento
By Stuart Clarke Published
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These are the seven riders who will support Peter Sagan at the Tour of California
Bora-Hansgrohe have revealed their line-up for the Tour of California, with a strong team travelling to America to support world champion Peter Sagan.
By Henry Robertshaw Published
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Tour of California 2019 live TV guide
Schedule of live television coverage of the 2017 Amgen Tour of California from May 14 to 20, with every stage live on Eurosport and on the official app.
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan Published
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Dominant Boels-Dolmans score one-two as Anna van der Breggen closes in on Women's Tour of California victory
Katie Hall won stage two of the Women's Tour of California, with her Boels-Dolmans team-mate Anna van der Breggen finishing second to maintain her lead in yellow
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
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Peter Kennaugh breaks collarbone in Tour of California crash
British road race champion Peter Kennaugh forced to quit Tour of California after breaking collarbone in crash on stage three
By Nigel Wynn Published
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Watch: Katusha-Alpecin staff suspended after emptying septic tank in lay-by at Tour of California
Two Katusha-Alpecin staff members have been suspended after being filmed emptying a septic tank at the side of the road at the Tour of California.
By Henry Robertshaw Published
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Peter Kennaugh relishing prospect of racing Tour of California after illness
Team Sky's Peter Kennaugh ready to race at the Tour of California this weekend, after overcoming sickness this spring
By Sophie Hurcom Published
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Tour of California 2019 route guide
Stage-by-stage guide to the Amgen Tour of California in the USA
By Jonny Long Published
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Bahrain-Merida's Iván Cortina wins Tour of California stage five
Tejay van Garderen (EF-Education First) maintains his lead in the general classification, though it has been cut to four seconds
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published