Stage 1 in Lake Tahoe was cancelled. Stage 2 the shortened downhill stage into Sacramento and Stage 3 from Auburn to Modesto were both stages for sprinters. Wednesday’s Stage 4 is where the general classification contenders took over. Stage 4 from Livermore to San Jose at only 81 miles although one of the shorter stages was known since announced to be one of the three decisive stages of this year’s Amgen Tour of California. The other two are Stage 6, the Solvang Time Trial and Stage 7 the climb-fest from Claremont to Mount Baldy.
Stage 4 had two significant climbs. The first the two mile Mt. Hamilton the Tour’s first Hors Category climb which immediately after descending was followed by the Tour’s first true summit finish at the top of Sierra Road. Sierra Road is a 3.5 mile beast with a 10 per cent average gradient and 1700’ of climbing.
It is now apparent that Radio Shack, with its co-leaders Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner, had targeted Stage 4 to take control of the race. When a break was formed with Garmin riders in it the Radio Shack chased them down and set a blistering pace that whittled the lead group to only six riders, Andy Schleck of Leopard-Trek, Rory Sutherland of United Healthcare, Tom Danielson and Ryder Hesjedal both of Garmin and Radio Shack’s two co-leaders. Then on the steep Sierra Road Chris Horner attacked and left them all behind. The result was Chris Horner leads Andy Schleck, Rory Sutherland and his teammate Levi Leipheimer who followed in that order by 1 minute 15 seconds. Andy Schleck was given the same time as third and fourth place Sutherland and Leipheimer although it was apparent to me and others there that Andy had gapped them by a few seconds.
Here is a slide show from the start of the Stage and from the finish line at the top of Sierra Road. If you subscribe to this site (at no cost) you will receive emails when stories and photos are posted as coverage of the Amgen Tour continues.
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