Levi Leipheimer (Astana) claimed his third consecutive Amgen Tour of California in front of huge crowds that gathered to cheer on the world-class field of riders. The President of the International Cycling Union (UCI) Mr Pat McQuaid also attended this year’s edition.

With more than two million spectators lining the roads over the nine days of racing it was difficult for the winner to believe it was just the beginning of the season: "I had to remind myself it was February in California and not July in the Alps."

Leipheimer was supported in his winning effort by none other than seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, who followed up his return to racing with the Amgen Tour of California, having already competed in the Australian ProTour race, the Tour Down Under. Armstrong was easily the star of the race, cheered from the roadside and mobbed by fans at every start and finish.

After a prologue in the state capital of Sacramento that saw Olympic Time Trial Champion Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) become the first to don the yellow jersey, the riders began a trip south through California to finish on the outskirts of San Diego.

Cancellara pulls out due to illness

Unfortunately, Cancellara would only wear the jersey for half a day before dropping out due to illness, exacerbated by the cold and rain which made the race even harder for the peloton in the first three stages.

Spanish star Francisco Mancebo (Rock Racing) took over the lead on stage one from Sacramento to Santa Rosa after an incredible day-long effort in the wind and rain; the last 80 kilometres in a solo ride. In addition to the yellow jersey, Mancebo also took both the climber's and points jerseys.

Mancebo's time in yellow would last only one stage, because Leipheimer attacked on the final climb into the new finishing city of Santa Cruz on stage two, allowing breakaway companion Thomas Peterson (Garmin-Slipstream) to take the stage win while he slipped on the yellow jersey.

From that point on, Team Astana took complete control of the race, never allowing dangerous rivals such as David Zabriskie (Garmin-Slipstream) or Michael Rogers (Team Columbia-Highroad) a chance to gain time on Leipheimer.

Battle of the sprinters

Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) won the first battle of the sprinters on stage three, but Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia-High Road) answered quickly and decisively by taking back-to-back victories in the next two stages, plus the points jersey. Leipheimer cemented his lead on stage six in the Solvang time trial, with an eight second victory over Zabriskie, putting him 36 seconds ahead of the U.S. time trial champion Zabriskie and 46 seconds in front of three times World Champion in the speciality Rogers.

There were still two stages of hard climbing remaining, but his rivals had virtually conceded victory to Leipheimer. "They are so strong that it will take a huge screw up by Astana [to lose]," admitted Zabriskie.

Astana did not make any mistakes in the final two days, allowing a small break to stay away in stage seven, with Ag2r La Mondiale's Rinaldo Nocentini taking the stage win, and then doing the same on the final stage into Escondido. Luxembourg Champion Frank Schleck gave Team Saxo Bank a final victory after an aggressive day in the mountains, where tens of thousands of fans lined the main Palomar Mountain climb after camping out overnight. The only remaining change in the standings was for the climber's jersey, after Mancebo crashed and dropped out of the race on stage seven, enabling Jason McCartney (Team Saxo Bank) to take over the lead in that category.

"We are looking forward to designing the 2010 course," said Andrew Messick, President of AEG, the race organizer. "We were treated this week to a race that felt like Europe, with a world-class international peloton. Cycling needs to have great races outside of Europe and it felt like that this week."

Vuelta a Cuba

Arnold Alcolea, of the Cuban National team, won the 13-stage Vuelta a Cuba, succeeding his compatriot Pedro Pablo Perez Marquez, who retired in 2008. However, the victory was strongly challenged by François Parisien, of the Canadian team, Planet Energy. It was the first event for this new Canadian team, managed by former Tour de France rider and Olympic Games medalist Steve Bauer. In an extremely successful debut, his team ended up with six stage victories, second position in the individual classification and the green jersey for the points classification with Kevin Lacambe. This all-Canadian team has certainly demonstrated its quality.

Teams from Germany, Venezuela and Mexico also competed in the Vuelta a Cuba, and it was the Venezuelan climber Manuel Medina who took third place overall.

Alcolea’s victory moves him to the top of the UCI America Tour standings. He takes the lead from Columbia’s Gregorio Ladino Vega, who is targeting the next event on the UCI America Tour calendar, the Vuelta Mexico Telmex from March 1st – 8th.