SACRAMENTO--Sky Procycling's team surged to the front with one two-mile circuit left in Monday's second stage of the Amgen Tour of California, then delivered sprinter Ben Swift to a narrow victory.
"It was my opportunity to go for the win," the 23-year-old British cyclist said after donning the leader's yellow jersey. "Everybody did their job 100 percent."
Swift grabbed his fifth stage victory of the year in a stage shortened from 133.2 miles to 76.3 miles. The start was moved from Squaw Valley to Nevada City because of concerns over potential bad weather and road conditions on Donner Summit.
The stage served as the start of the sixth annual pro cycling race after the opening stage from South Lake Tahoe to Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort was cancelled because of snow, wind and cold temperatures. ( 33 images)
"It was my opportunity to go for the win," the 23-year-old British cyclist said after donning the leader's yellow jersey. "Everybody did their job 100 percent."
Swift grabbed his fifth stage victory of the year in a stage shortened from 133.2 miles to 76.3 miles. The start was moved from Squaw Valley to Nevada City because of concerns over potential bad weather and road conditions on Donner Summit.
The stage served as the start of the sixth annual pro cycling race after the opening stage from South Lake Tahoe to Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort was cancelled because of snow, wind and cold temperatures. ( 33 images)
Follow The Frame on Twitter at sacbee_theframe
The peloton stretches out on Highway 20 near Rough and Ready during stage two of the Amgen Tour of California on Monday. rpench@sacbee.com / Randy Pench
Riders start stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Nevada City Monday morning. pkitagaki@sacbee.com / Paul Kitagaki Jr.
George Roberts watches from the window of his office that overlooks the start line of stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Nevada City Monday morning. pkitagaki@sacbee.com / Paul Kitagaki Jr.
Levi Leipheimer and Andy Schleck talk before the start of stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Nevada City Monday morning. pkitagaki@sacbee.com / Paul Kitagaki Jr.
Andy Schleck and Levi Leipheimer chat before the start of the race in Nevada City on Monday. bpatrick@sacbee.com / Bryan Patrick
Levi Leipheimer rides at the start during stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Nevada City on Monday. bpatrick@sacbee.com / Bryan Patrick
Fans line the barriers waiting for the start of stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Nevada City on Monday morning. bpatrick@sacbee.com / Bryan Patrick
Fans line the barriers as a sign on the back of a motorcycle escort announces the race begins in Nevada City on Monday morning at the start of stage two of the Amgen Tour of California. bpatrick@sacbee.com / Bryan Patrick
Elizabeth Hale and her dog, Angel, wait for the start of stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Nevada City on Monday morning. bpatrick@sacbee.com / Bryan Patrick
Tip Ruth, 79, keeps covered from the sun at the start of stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Nevada City Monday morning. pkitagaki@sacbee.com / Paul Kitagaki Jr.
Fans in Nevada City applaud and take pictures during the start of stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Nevada City on Monday. bpatrick@sacbee.com / Bryan Patrick
Riders cross a bridge west of downtown Nevada City at the start of the race during stage two of the Amgen Tour of Californiaon Monday. rpench@sacbee.com / Randy Pench
Racers make their way down Levee Road during stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento on Monday. bpatrick@sacbee.com / Bryan Patrick
Chuldren scream and wave at passing racers inside Beale Air Force Base during stage two of the Amgen Tour of California on Monday. rpench@sacbee.com / Randy Pench
The peloton heads south on Northgate Blvd. at the Garden Highway as they close in on the finish line during stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento on Monday. rpench@sacbee.com / Randy Pench
A fan dressed in ram's horns sprints next to riders on East Levee Road during stage two of the Amgen Tour of California on Monday. rpench@sacbee.com / Randy Pench
Fans Mario Schiltz and his son, Matthew, wearing red t-shirts, cheer the riders at 18th and L Streets in Sacramento during stage two of the Amgen Tour of California on Monday.
pkitagaki@sacbee.com / Paul Kitagaki Jr.
The peloton turns the corner at 18th Street during stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento on Monday. pkitagaki@sacbee.com / Paul Kitagaki Jr.
Riders take the corner at 18th and L Streets in Sacramento during stage two of the Amgen Tour of California on Monday.
pkitagaki@sacbee.com / Paul Kitagaki Jr.
Fans stand in the rain and watch the peloton ride around the turn at 18th Street onto L Street during stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento on Monday. pkitagaki@sacbee.com / Paul Kitagaki Jr.
Riders taking a turn during stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento on Monday.
pkitagaki@sacbee.com / Paul Kitagaki Jr.
The peloton passes by the Capitol on N Steet during stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento on Monday. rpench@sacbee.com / Randy Pench
Fans watch the racers make a turn on 15th Street from N Street during stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento on Monday. bpatrick@sacbee.com / Bryan Patrick
Bike fans watch as riders ride around the state Capitol during stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento on Monday. The Sacramento Bee / Jose Luis Villegas
Riders cross the finish line on the second lap around the state Capitol during stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento on Monday. The Sacramento Bee / Jose Luis Villegas
Ben Swift of Team Sky reacts as he wins stage two of the Amgen Tour of California in Sacramento on Monday. May 16, 2011. The Sacramento Bee / José Luis Villegas
Linus Gerdemann from the Leopard Trek team waits for the start of stage one of the Amgen Tour of California on Monday in South Lake Tahoe. A few minutes later, officials canceled the stage. bpatrick@sacbee.com / Bryan Patrick
Levi Leipheimer talks with race director Jim Burrell, left, moments before they canceled stage on of the Amgen Tour of California on Sunday. bpatrick@sacbee.com / Bryan Patrick
Standing on Highway 50, race fans get their picture taken with Javier Megias Leal of team Sanofi-Aventis after stage one of the Amgen Tour of California was canceled on Sunday. bpatrick@sacbee.com / Bryan Patrick
A rider talks to a race fan at the start of the Amgen Tour of California in South Lake Tahoe before the stage was canceled because of bad weather. bpatrick@sacbee.com / Bryan Patrick
Fans snap pictures of a Jelly Belly team members after news that stage one was cancelled due to snowy weather. rpench@sacbee.com / Randy Pench
Fans deal with the cold weather and blowing snow at the start line of the Tour of California in South Lake Tahoe. Stage one was cancelled on Sunday afternoon due to the snowy conditions. rpench@sacbee.com / Randy Pench
Riders form up at the start line as the snow falls at stage one of the Amgen Tour of California. Ten minutes later, the stage was canceled because of weather. bpatrick@sacbee.com / Bryan Patrick
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.