LOS ANGELES, California, May 16, 2010 – Britain’s Mark Cavendish used a finishing sprint in the first stage of the 2010 Tour of California to seize the leader’s yellow jersey on Sunday.

The 10-time Tour de France stage winner edged out second place finisher Juan Jose Haedo (Saxo Bank) of Argentina while Norway’s Alexander Kristoff
(BMC) was third in the 168 kilometre road stage from Nevada City, California to Sacramento.

The second phase takes place Monday on 176 km course between Davis and Santa Rosa, in the northern half of the state. There are eight stages in the Tour of California which finishes Sunday in the hills above Los Angeles.

Cavendish who rides for the American HTC-Columbia team, was timed in four hours, four minutes and 46 seconds.

“It’s seven weeks to go for the Tour de France and it gave the team confidence,” said Cavendish. “We should get the same results as we did last year at the Tour de France.”

With a 10-second bonus time for his win, Cavendish will benefit from a four-second race lead over Haedo and a six-second margin over Kristoff for the second stage.

Three-time defending race winner Levi Leiphiemer and RadioShack teammate Lance Armstrong finished in the main field in the same time as the winner.

Five riders, including former world titlists Tom Boonen (Quick Step) of Belgium and Stuart O’Grady of Australia crashed on the final circuit. The fallen riders finished and were given the same time as the winner.

Cavendish earned his third career stage win in the five year history of the race.

He remained behind several teammates as the field of 128 riders approached the beginning of the three final circuits around Sacramento. He then moved to the front inside the final kilometres and was briefly challenged by Haedo.

Maarten Tjallingii (Rabobank), Marc De Maar (United Healthcare) both of the Netherlands and Americans Chad Beyer (BMC), Paul Mach (Bissell) emerged from the field after about 16 kilometres. The foursome built more than a five-minute lead and rode at the front for nearly four hours before being caught about 16 kilometres from the finish.

Stage one
1. Mark Cavendish (GBR), 168 km in four hours, four minutes, 46 seconds
2. Juan Jose Haedo (ARG) same time
3. Alexander Kristoff (NOR) s.t.
4. Robert Hunter (RSA) s.t.
5. Jonathan Cantwell (AUS) s.t.
6. Marcus Burghardt (GER) s.t.
7. Guillaume Boivin (CAN) s.t.
8. Andreas Stauff (GER) s.t.
9. Nikolas Maes (BEL) s.t.
10. Thomas Leezer (NED) s.t.
…

Overall standings after stage one
1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) in four hours, four minutes, 36 seconds (10
second bonus)
2. Juan Jose Haedo (ARG) at 04secs.
3. Alexander Kristoff (NOR) 06.
4. Maarten Tjallingii (NED) 06.
5. Marc De Maar (NED) 07.
6. Chad Beyer (USA) 07.
7. Paul Mach (USA) 08.
8. Robert Hunter (RSA) 10.
9. Jonathan Cantwell (AUS) 10.
10. Marcus Burghardt (GER) 10.
…
42. Levi Leipheimer (USA) 10.
69. Lance Armstrong (USA) 10.
74. Andy Schleck (LUX) 10.
110. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) 10.

Story by: AFP
Feature Image by: VeloImages.com