Colombian Leads Amgen Tour Of California After Long Beach Leg

LONG BEACH, CA – After an absence of more than a decade, the Amgen Tour of California returned to Long Beach Sunday featuring a 12-lap, 7-mile course.

Colombian Fernando Gaviria Rendon led the pack after Sunday's race, finishing the course in 3 hours, 2 minutes and 13 seconds just seconds before second-place finisher Caleb Ewan, an Australian, and third-place finisher Tanner Putt, of the United States. Both Ewan and Putt finished at the same time: 3 hours, 2 minutes and 17 seconds.

"It was really nice for me and a really good job for my team," Gaviria, 23, told Southern California News Group.

Seventeen teams made up of 117 riders lined up at Sunday's starting line.

The course began on scenic Shoreline Drive and continued for 2 miles along Ocean Boulevard, which hugs the coast. Riders then passed various restaurants and eateries before speeding past several parks and finally through the arts district.

Long Beach was only Stage 1 of seven that will traverse 645 miles of roadways, highways and coastlines, culminating May 19 in Sacramento. The next stage will begin in Ventura on Monday.

Gaviria said he will enjoy his victory and is focusing on the next leg.

"I will enjoy today, but there*s a lot of really good riders and you never know," he said.

City News Service; Image via Shutterstock / Pavel1964