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2016 Amgen Tour of California: Stage 8/ Final Results

  • Ron 

A year after finishing the Amgen Tour of California as runner-up, Etixx-QuickStep’s Julian Alaphilippe triumphs in this year’s edition with a mere 21 second advantage over second place.

It was a victory forged on Gibraltar Road, a new addition to the race, where Alaphilippe attacked with 1500 meters to go and destroyed the opposition, notching his maiden win of the year in the process, but also in the 20-km long Folsom individual time trial, during which the Frenchman had the ride of his life in an ITT and went full gas on his way to defending the coveted yellow jersey. It also was a victory of a fantastic and hard-working squad, which protected Julian at all times and made sure of controlling its rivals, this impressive display coming as proof of the unique team spirit that is a defining characteristic of Etixx – Quick-Step.

Less than three weeks shy of his 24th birthday, Julian Alaphilippe put the regrets of last year’s Tour of California to rest on Sunday, and sealed his first career GC triumph, one which comes as further evidence of his potential which seems to know no limits: “It’s really incredible. I took the yellow jersey at the end of stage 3 and that acted as a morale booster; then, after the individual time trial, I was more and more confident. For sure, it’s the most beautiful day of my career and I must thank my teammates for this special moment and for believing in me.”

Coming into the last day of the event (Sacramento – Sacramento, 138 kilometers) with a 16-second cushion over his closest rival in the overall standings, Julian – the first Frenchman to win the GC in the 11 years since it was created – admitted of being nervous in the first part of the stage, before eventually relaxing once the race came into its final kilometers.

“It was stressful today, because everyone wanted to stay at the front and fought for a better position. Usually, I’m not nervous, but today things were different, as the victory was closer and closer. Thankfully, I had a powerful team around me, which was always in charge, and as soon as Tom Boonen hit the front with me safely tucked behind him, it was like being on a holiday. Now, we’ll celebrate the win, but once we will return home, I’ll be back on my bike, training and looking to further improve”, concluded Julian, the youngest ever winner in the history of the Tour of California.

Stage 8 Brief Results:

  1. Mark CAVENDISH, Team Dimension Data, 03:01:12
  2. Peter SAGAN, Tinkoff Credit Systems, s.t.
  3. Alexander KRISTOFF, Katusha, s.t.
  4. Danny VAN POPPEL, Team Sky, s.t.
  5. John DEGENKOLB, Giant-Alpecin, s.t.

Final General Classification:

1. Julian ALAPHILIPPE, Etixx-Quickstep at 31:47:50
2. Rohan DENNIS, BMC Racing Team at 21″
3. Brent BOOKWALTER, BMC Racing Team at 43″
4. Andrew TALANSKY, Cannondale Pro Cycling at 52″
5. Lawson CRADDOCK, Cannondale Pro Cycling, at 01′ 22″
6. Samuel SANCHEZ, BMC Racing Team, at 1’22”
7. George BENNETT, Trek Segafredo at 1’50”
8. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, Katusha at 1’53”
9. Neilson POWLESS, Axeon Hagens Berman at 1’57”
10. Laurens TEN DAM, Giant Alpecin at 2’13”

2016 Jersey Winners:

  • Amgen Leader Jersey – Julian Alaphilippe (FRA), Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (BEL)
  • Lexus King of the Mountain (KOM) Jersey – Evan Huffman (USA), Rally Cycling Team (USA)
  • Visit California Sprint Jersey – Peter Sagan (SVK), Tinkoff (RUS)
  • SRAM Best Young Rider Jersey – Neilson Powless (USA), Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team (USA)
  • Breakaway from Cancer®  Most Courageous Rider Jersey – Toms Skujins ( LAT), Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (USA)
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