2009 Tour of California
| UCI America Tour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dates | February 14–22, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stages | 8+Prologue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 780.44 mi (1,256 km) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Winning time | 31h 28' 21" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
Winner |
 Levi Leipheimer (USA)
|
(Astana) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second |
David Zabriskie (USA)
|
(Garmin–Slipstream) | |
| Third |
 Michael Rogers (AUS)
|
(Team Columbia–High Road) | |
|
|
|||
 |
Mountains |
Jason McCartney (USA)
|
(Team Saxo Bank) |
 |
Youth |
 Robert Gesink (NED)
|
(Rabobank) |
 |
Sprints |
 Mark Cavendish (GBR)
|
(Team Columbia–High Road) |
| Team | Astana | ||
The 2009 Amgen Tour of California was the 4th running of an annual cycling race contained within the state of California. The event was staged February 14–22 and began with a prologue in the state capital of Sacramento. The event was held as part of the schedule of both the UCI America Tour and USA Cycling Professional Tour. The race was won by Levi Leipheimer for the third consecutive year.
The Fourth Tour of California covered nine days and 780.44 miles (1,256.00 km), starting with a flat 2.4 miles (3.9 km) prologue near the California State Capitol in Sacramento on February 14, 2009. Drawing many of the top cyclists from around the world, the Tour of California generated an estimated revenue of $100 million for the state of California.
The Astana team included two-time returning champion Levi Leipheimer, and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. The 2006 champion, Floyd Landis returned, riding for OUCH–Maxxis.
Tour organizers have switched the route from year to year, hoping to reach out to fans in different parts of the state and maintain the challenge of the race. Santa Cruz, one of the cities added for the 2009 running, expected added costs of $100,000 to cover public services and accommodations for lodging and meals for the cycling teams, and was expecting 250,000 fans to attend the end of Stage 2. The sales and hotel taxes generated by drawing tourists at a traditionally slow time of the year were expected to help recover the costs of hosting the event. Stage 2 also took the peloton across the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time in the tour's history.
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