Photo gallery: 2018 Amgen Tour of California
The Amgen Tour of California has settled comfortably into its place on the calendar, used by classics men as a sunny, warm return to racing and by GC riders as an early test before their final run into the Tour de France.
This year’s edition was dominated by Colombians as Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) and Egan Bernal (Team Sky) took home five of the seven stages between them, as well as three leader’s jerseys — Bernal winning the General Classification and Best Young Rider competition, and Gaviria winning the Points Classification. There were also two Colombians on the final GC podium, with Daniel Martinez (EF Education First-Drapac) finishing third overall.
The other storyline in California was the youth movement. Four riders in the top seven overall were 23 or younger: Bernal is 21, Martinez is 22, Tao Geoghegan Hart (Team Sky), who finished fifth overall, is 23, and Brandon McNulty (Rally Cycling), who finished seventh overall, is just 20. Also, the top two riders in the Points Classification, Gaviria and Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott) are both only 23 years old.
Along with Colombian cyclists, Team Sky was the big winner on the week, taking the overall victory, placing two riders in the top five on GC, and taking the Best Young Rider and Team Classification.
Meanwhile WorldTour teams like LottoNL-Jumbo, Ag2r La Mondiale, Katusha-Alpecin, Bora-Hansgrohe, Dimension Data, UAE Team Emirates, Sunweb all left empty-handed. Because Gaviria was so dominant, top sprinters such as Ewan, Marcel Kittel, Mark Cavendish, Alexander Kristoff, and Peter Sagan, all left California without a win — marking the first year in Sagan’s career he did not win at least one stage in California.
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- Peter Sagan (Bora – Hansgrohe) has become a mainstay at the Amgen Tour of California, having raced it every year of his pro career. He also holds the record for stage wins, at 16. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- Max Richeze (Quick-Step Floors) is skilled as a lead-out man for Fernando Gaviria; he’s also handy with a roller bag. Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- The biggest crowds in the start town of Long Beach where for Sagan. Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Long Beach was the start and finish town for Stage 1. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- EF Education First-Drapac on the front during Stage 1 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- The peloton rides during Stage 1 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California in Long Beach. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- The peloton rides during Stage 1 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California in Long Beach. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- The peloton rides during Stage 1 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California in Long Beach. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Gaviria won the Stage 1 field sprint ahead of Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott) and Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) on Stage 1 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- Fernando Gaviria (Quick – Step Floors) wore the leader’s jersey and took the stuffed California Golden Bear in Long Beach. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- Stage 2 began on the beach in Ventura and finished atop Gibraltar Road in Santa Barbara. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- The peloton traveled past Lake Casitas and through Ojai — areas devastated by 2017 wildfires — on Stage 2 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- The peloton rode through the countryside during Stage 2 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California, a 157km stage from Ventura to Gibraltar Road. Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Ian Stannard (Team Sky) led the peloton into the base of the Gibraltar Road climb. Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Colombian Sebastian Henao (Team Sky) at the front of the peloton past former pro Phil Gaimon’s Cookie Corner on Gibraltar Road. Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- This year, one of the most important stages in the Amgen Tour of California came early in the week, with the second stage ending atop Gibraltar Road above Santa Barbara. Here Egan Bernal (Team Sky) showed he’s all business, launching a solo attack at 3km to the finish. At 2km to go, he had a 21-second lead. Photo: Wil Matthews.
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- No one else in the picture: Bernal took the stage win and leader’s jersey on Gibraltar Road. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- A detailed view of the Cannondale bicycles used by EF Education First-Drapac before Stage 3 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California, a 197km stage from King City to Laguna Seca. Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- A detailed view of the Specialized bike used by world champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) on Stage 3 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California. Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- A detailed view of the bicycle used by European champion Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) during Stage 3 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California. Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- A scenic shot along the route of Stage 3 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California from King City to Laguna Seca Recreation Area. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- A scenic shot along the route of Stage 3 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California from King City to Laguna Seca Recreation Area. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Landscapes in a state as expansive as California can change every day. Stage 3 featured a tour of the rolling hills of central California featured in much of John Steinbeck’s writings.
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- A scenic shot along the route of Stage 3 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California from King City to Laguna Seca Recreation Area. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- A scenic shot along the route of Stage 3 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California from King City to Laguna Seca Recreation Area. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- A scenic shot along the route of Stage 3 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California from King City to Laguna Seca Recreation Area. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Simon Clarke (EF Education First-Drapac) on Stage 3 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images.
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- Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) won in Laguna Seca in 2016, and hoped for another stage win at the 2018 Amgen Tour of California. Photo Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- When the last 25km of Stage 3 arrived, the roads became narrow and twisty as they snaked through the wrinkled watershed of east Carmel Valley. That’s where Daniel Oss took to the front to reel in the breakaway and attempt to set up Bora teammate Peter Sagan for a potential repeat win at Laguna Seca Raceway. Photo: Wil Matthews.
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- Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo) rides down the corkscrew at Laguna Seca raceway on Stage 3 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images.
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- Antwan Tolhoek (LottoNL-Jumbo) rode the Stage 4 34km time trial in Morgan Hill wearing the TAG Heuer Best Young Rider jersey. Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Egan Bernal (Team Sky) started Stage 4 in the race leader’s jersey, but would cede it to Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing). Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Just one second from crossing the finish line and winning the Stage 4 time trial around Morgan Hill, Tejay van Garderen was still all intent and effort. Photo: Wil Matthews.
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- Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) crosses the finish of the Stage 4 time trial. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- With a towel around his neck, Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) celebrated with fans after winning the Stage 4 time trial. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- The top three in the Morgan Hill time trial: Patrick Bevin (BMC Racing), Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing), and Tao Geoghegan Hart (Team Sky). Photo: Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) prepares his kit before Stage 5 from Stockton to Elk Grove. With strong climbing and a better-than-expected time trial, Yates was in reach of the GC podium. On another continent, his twin brother Simon was leading the Giro d’Italia. Photo: Wil Matthews.
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- Lawson Craddock (EF Education First-Drapac) greeted fans in Stockton at the start of Stage 5. Photo Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- Silvan Dillier (Ag2r La Mondiale) at the start of Stage 5, a 176km ride from Stockton to Elk Grove. Photo Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) and teammates defended the yellow jersey on Stage 5 from Stockton to Elk Grove. Photo Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- Reto Hollenstein (Katusha Alpecin) leads the peloton during Stage 5 from Stockton to Elk Grove. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- American flags along the route of Stage 5 from Stockton to Elk Grove. Photo Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- The peloton rides across Pardee Dam during Stage 5 from Stockton to Elk Grove. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) in the yellow jersey leads a group of riders across Pardee Dam. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Stage 6, a 196.5 route from Folsom to South Lake Tahoe, featured 5,000 metres of elevation gain. Photo Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- The peloton rides past a man in costume in Folsom. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- The peloton rides past Lake Tahoe on Stage 6 from Folsom to South Lake Tahoe. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- The peloton rides past Lake Tahoe on Stage 6 from Folsom to South Lake Tahoe. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- The peloton rides past snow on Carson Pass, the highest point of the stage and the weeklong race, at 8,600 feet (2,621 metres) above sea level. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- The Stage 6 breakaway. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) in yellow and Egan Bernal (Team Sky) in the King of the Mountains jersey knew they would soon be battling one another for the overall victory. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo), Floris De Tier (LottoNL-Jumbo) and Lawson Craddock (EF Education First-Drapac) at the front of the race. Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Egan Bernal (Team Sky) attacked on the penultimate climb of Kingsbury Grade to Daggett Summit. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- With Bernal’s teammate Tao Geoghegan Hart marking him, Tejay van Garderen was in a difficult position he was in on Kingsbury Grade. Photo: Wil Matthews.
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- When it came to the climbs, Bernal was in a class of his own in California. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Bernal won Stage 6, and the overall, in South Lake Tahoe. Photo: Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- Matteo Fabbro (Katusha Alpecin) led the peloton during Stage 7, a circuit around Sacramento. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Bernal was back in yellow in Sacramento — a day for the sprinters. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Caleb Ewan and Tao Geoghegan Hart jostled for position with one lap to go in the finishing circuits of stage 7 in Sacramento. Photo: Wil Matthews.
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- Tower Bridge in Sacramento is the usual route away from — and back to — the finishing circuits around the state capitol. Photo: Wil Matthews.
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- Gaviria won his third stage in a photo finish ahead of Max Walscheid (Sunweb). Photo Brian Hodes/Cor Vos.
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- The final GC podium, from left: Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing), Egan Bernal (Team Sky), and Daniel Martinez (EF Education First-Drapac. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for AEG.
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- Overall winner Egan Bernal in the yellow Amgen Race Leader jersey poses in the Lexus SUV he was awarded. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for AEG.
