- By VeloNews.com
- Published May. 20, 2012
- Updated 2 hours ago
Peter Sagan of Liquigas-Cannondale made it an incredible five out of eight today, winning the final stage of the Amgen Tour of California, while Rabobank’s Robert Gesink finished safely in the pack to win the overall title.
“This is my best win,” Gesink said just after the finish. “I’ve done really good results in the past, but this is a whole new thing. This is the most special one I’ve ever had.
“It’s good to be back in California and be winning again,” he added. “I’m very happy for this tour of California. I’m feeling good.”
Sagan took advantage of a perfect leadout train by Tom Boonen’s Omega Pharma-Quick Step, and then sprinted past the big Belgian on the line.
“I’m very glad and thanks to my team,” said Sagan. “I like this country!”
“The last kilometer was very fast and the last turn was dangerous – its good we went by it six times. I went from 150 meters back and just finished first.”
There was no change in the top three on GC, as Gesink finished 46 seconds ahead of second place finisher David Zabriskie (Garmin-Barracuda) – his fourth runner-up finish in the Amgen Tour – with Zabriskie’s teammate Thomas Danielson in third, 54 seconds back.
“The time trial was a high point,” Zabriskie said. “Really, really good; really, really strong. I knew what I had to do on Baldy, and didn’t really have it.
“Last year, when they put the Baldy in, I really felt the chance of me doing well here was pretty slim. And then this year, I was able to get second with Baldy and Big Bear,” he said. “Definitely, I think I showed I can win this race if I continue with this sport,” he added to laughter.
Danielson shared his teammate’s enthusiasm. “Overall, the team rode a phenomenal race,” he said. “The young team had to support three guys, and they did a phenomenal job, they rode above themselves.”
Gesink pulled on the jersey after a thrilling victory in that Mt. Baldy stage – this year’s Queen stage, held
To read the whole story, visit here: http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/sagan-takes-fifth-stage-at-amgen-tour-gesink-wins-overall_220144
