Photos from a beautiful and punishing Amgen Tour of California.
Men’s Race
Richie Porte finished in fifth place in arguably the hardest edition of the Amgen Tour of California. After a difficult spring where illness continuously set him back, he has finally shown hints of the form he already displayed in January at the Tour Down Under. With his biggest goal still a month and a half away, the week in California was exactly what he needed.
We caught up with team director Steven de Jongh after the race ended, to find out his thoughts on the week:
It was very hard this year, very long days for the riders, four stages over 200kms, so yes, it was a very difficult race. And closing gaps at altitude is not that easy.
The bunch climbs to South Lake Tahoe.
There were little opportunities for John Degenkolb with all the climbing in this year's race.
Stage seven was shorter, but it was very intense and you could see [the fatigue]; a lot of guys got dropped on the category-three climb.
Niklas Eg and Toms Skujins working in stage 4.
The peloton crosses over the Bixby Bridge during stage 4.
For Richie coming back after his illness, he did a really good job. Unfortunately, with a mechanical in the queen stage, he was unlucky.
A healthy Richie Porte was relaxed and overall satisfied with his race.
Mads Pedersen pulls the bunch on the way to Mt.Baldy.
To come back here, in such a hard stage race, and super hard last day, Richie can be happy with his result. I think he's in a place where he can look with good ambition to Dauphine and the Tour de France.
Toms Skujins was next to put in a big effort ahead of the Mt. Baldy finish.
Mads Pedersen joined the early breakaway in stage 2 to South Lake Tahoe.
Women’s Race
It was not the first year for a women’s race at the Amgen Tour of California, that started in 2008 with a criterium, growing to a four-day race in 2015, and gaining WorldTour status a year later, but it was the inaugural start for the Trek-Segafredo women’s team.
High expectations were placed on the women with Tayler Wiles, second overall in 2018, and former World Champion Lizzie Deignan’s return to racing this spring. However, when the team lost sprinter Lotta Lepisto to stomach cramps the first day, and Mt. Baldy deciding the GC with the team unable to finish in the top 10 positions the second day, Trek-Segafredo was left with a few top 10 stage finishes, but no high GC and no podiums.
Director Ina Teutenberg pulled no punches when she gave her overview of the three-day race:
We were lacking a sprinter, and that didn't help. Aside from that, it was a mountain top finish and we weren't strong enough. There was no bad luck and nothing that we can say that didn't work out, we just weren't strong enough. That's just how it is.
Lizzie Deignan finished 7th in the final sprint.
The leaders weave through the California countryside during stage 3.
Lizzie Deignan follows overall winner Anna van der Breggen during stage 3.
Trixi Worrack was a workhorse during stage 2 to Mount Baldy.
It's a little disappointing, we wanted to go home with a stage win and a better position in GC, and both didn't work out. We didn't even have a podium on a stage so we cannot say it was a great three days.
Lizzie Deignan in the group of the main GC contenders in stage 3.
It was a beautiful but punishing race.
Ruth Winder in the breakaway during stage 3. The effort was there, the results did not follow.
Tayler Wiles at the finish of Mt. Baldy.
Ruth Winder helps Coryn Rivera across the line in stage 3.
