SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Juan Jose Haedo of Argentina emerged from a massive sprinting pack to claim the first stage of the Amgen Tour of California by more than two bike lengths Monday.
Defending champion Levi Leipheimer (Astana), a Santa Rosa native, held the lead the past two years when the race entered his hometown. But Leipheimer, who placed fourth in the prologue, placed 20th in Monday's opening stage.
Leipheimer, the third-place finisher in last year's Tour de France, was fourth overall, trailing by six seconds.
While CSC teammate Fabian Cancellara Switzerland maintained his overall lead, Haedo claimed his fifth stage in the history of the 3-year-old race when he captured the 97-mile Sausalito to Santa Rosa road race in 4 hours 3 minutes 29 seconds.
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