The Tour of California is a professional cycling stage race on the UCI America Tour and USA Cycling Professional Tour that debuted on February 19, 2006. The annual eight-day race covers between 650-700 miles (1,045 - 1,126 km) throughout California — beginning in Nevada City, traveling through the redwoods, wine country and the Pacific Coast, finishing in Escondido. The route for the 2009 race traverses the Central Valley from Merced to Fresno, with an excursion through the Sierra Nevada foothills, before crossing over to the coast. The tour is currently sponsored by Amgen.
With eight to nine of the twenty UCI ProTour teams in attendance, the Tour of California has proven to be one of the largest cycling races in the United States along with the Tour de Georgia since the demise of the Coors Classic in 1988. The race is aired with daily coverage on Versus, much like the Tour de France.
On November 28, 2006, the UCI upgraded the multi-day event from 2.1 (category 1) to 2.HC (French: Hors categorie; English: beyond categorization), which is the highest rating and makes it one of only three 2.HC events in the United States along with the Tour de Georgia and the Tour of Missouri.
In 2010, the Tour of California will move from February to May, the same time of year as the Giro d'Italia.[1] It is considered likely that the number of American participants in the Giro and Italians in the Tour of California will decrease precipitously.[2] Tour of California organizers seek to make the race a preparatory event for the Tour de France, believing that few riders who seek a serious position in the Tour de France ride the Giro. Additionally, the Tour of California is set to become a UCI ProTour event in 2011.[3]
Results and Jerseys of the Tour of California
Most Stage Victories
General Classification
The current leader and overall winner by time after each stage and at the conclusion of the race is awarded the Yellow Jersey (previously gold). Gold was the chosen color due to the state's history in the California Gold Rush, but in 2009, the jersey was changed to yellow.
General Classification Winners
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Most Days in Leader's Jersey
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Sprints Classification
The current leader and overall winner by points awarded by his placing in intermediate and final sprints is awarded the Green Jersey.
Sprint Winners
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Most Days in Green Jersey
 Juan José Haedo (ARG), 6 days (2007: 4; 2006: 2) George Hincapie (USA), 4 days (2006) Dominique Rollin (CAN), 4 days (2008) Francisco Mancebo (ESP), 4 days (2009) Mark Cavendish (GBR), 4 days (2009) Allan Davis (AUS), 3 days (2007) Heinrich Haussler (GER), 2 days (2008)- Olaf Pollack (GER), 1 day (2006)
- Jackson Stewart (USA), 1 day (2008)
- Levi Leipheimer (USA), 1 day (2009)
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Mountains Classification
The current leader and overall winner by points awarded by his placing in mountain climbs is awarded the Red Jersey (Orange in the past, before 2009) and is known as the race's King of the Mountains or "KOM."
KOM Winners
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Most Days in Mountains Jersey
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Best Young Rider Classification
Before 2009 the leader and overall winner by time for riders under the age of 23 is awarded the Silver & Blue Jersey, in 2009 this jersey is white.
Best Young Rider Winners
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Most Days in Youth Jersey
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Most Courageous Rider Classification
The Blue Jersey is given to the most courageous rider at the end of each stage. An overall jersey at the end of the race is not awarded. It usually represents a rider who took an early breakaway or who attacks at key moments in the stage to press the action. In 2008, the jersey was red. Before 2009, this was known as the most "aggressive" rider. No one has ever won this jersey more than once.
References
External links
