Peter Sagan si aggiudica la prima tappa dell' Amgen Tour of California, il Campione del Mondo, vincitore della corsa a tappe lo scorso anno, in volata , a San Diego, ha preceduto Wouter Wippert ( Cannondale ) e Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto NL - Jumbo). L' undicesima edizione dell' Amgen Tour of California non poteva iniziare meglio per il Campione slovacco che indossa così la maglia gialla di leader della classifica generale.
VERSION EN FRANCAISE : Le champion du monde Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) abandonne sa tunique arc-en-ciel pour le maillot jaune de leader du classement général de l'Amgen Tour of California après avoir remporté au sprint la première étape, dimanche. Le Slovaque, vainqueur de l'épreuve en 2015, a dominé Wouter Wippert (Cannondale) et Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto NL - Jumbo) dans les rues de San Diego.
En habitué, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) n'a pas laissé passer la première ouverture qui s'est offerte à lui sur l'Amgen Tour of California. Le Slovaque a remporté dimanche la première étape de l'épreuve américaine, dépassant dans les tous derniers mètres Wouter Wippert (Cannondale) et Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto NL - Jumbo) lors de l'emballage final, après 188 kilomètres de course autour de San Diego pour lancer la 11e édition de la course à étapes californienne. "Je suis très heureux d'être de retour ici et de m'imposer dans la première étape", s'est réjoui Peter Sagan après son 14e succès sur les routes du Tour de Californie (un record). "Merci à tous mes coéquipiers." Les coureurs de la formation Tinkoff ont participé à la poursuite pour assurer une arrivée au sprint, imités par les membres du Team Sky, de la BMC Racing Team et surtout du Team KATUSHA, omniprésents en tête de peloton mais dont le leader Alexander Kristoff n'a pas su trouver l'ouverture (16e).
Dévorés par l'appétit des formations de sprinteurs, les échappés du jour ont tout juste connu une avance maximale de 4 minutes. Suffisant pour faire de Jacob Rathe le combatif du jour sur les terres de sa formation Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis, mais pas pour frustrer Peter Sagan. Son compatriote américain Oscar Clark (Holowesko | Citadel Racing Team p/b Hincapie Sportswear) portera le maillot à pois de leader du classement de la montagne. Vainqueur de l'épreuve en 2015, Sagan troque donc sa tunique arc-en-ciel pour le maillot jaune de leader du classement général, qu'il défendra lundi entre South Pasadena et Santa Clarita (148 km). "Le niveau de course est élevé et la météo permet de bien se préparer", se réjouit le Slovaque. "En ce moment, il y a le Giro et le Tour de Californie. Et je préfère venir ici. J'aime la Californie pour ses fans, je me suis souvent imposé ici et je suis toujours heureux de revenir."Après avoir découvert San Diego, l'Amgen Tour of California retrouve des routes bien connues vers Santa Clarita, ville qui a accueilli l'épreuve le plus de fois depuis sa création (12). Si l'arrivée semble taillée pour un sprint, le parcours offre de premières difficultés à même d'user les coureurs avant de voir la route s'élever sérieusement mardi lors de la troisième étape.
ENGLISH VERSION :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® Most Courageous 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.
Peter Sagan Win the First Stage - Amgen Tour of California Photogallery : Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Ezra Shaw/Getty Images - Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images Brian Hodes/Velo Images
