Cancellara abandons Tour of California

Race leader Fabian Cancellara has abandoned the Tour of California

The Saxo Bank rider climbed off his bike at the feed zone on stage one, suffering from a fever. Cancellara won the prologue by two seconds from American Levi Leipheimer in Sacramento yesterday, but said he had already been feeling off colour for several days.

The Swiss rider took to the start after waking up and feeling sick during the night, but decided to call it a day soon in to the stage in what were terrible conditions in northern California. Heavy rain has fallen pretty much throughout the day with temperatures low to boot.

Levi Leipheimer becomes the virtual race leader on the road but that that is likely to change by the time the sprint bonuses are won on the finish line.

The stage finishes in Leipheimer's home town of Santa Rosa today.

2009 TOUR OF CALIFORNIA: LINKS

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Prologue: Cancellara Express derails the Armstrong show

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2009 TOUR OF CALIFORNIA PREVIEW

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2009 TOUR OF CALIFORNIA STAGES

Saturday, February 14 Prologue details

Sunday, February 15 Stage one details

Monday, February 16 Stage two details

Tuesday, February 17 Stage three details

Wednesday, February 18 Stage four details

Thursday February 19 Stage five details

Friday, February 20 Stage six details

Saturday, February 21 Stage seven details

Sunday, February 22 Stage eight details

EXTERNAL LINKS

Tour of California official website