# 2007 Tour of California

The Amgen Tour of California 2007 was the second edition of an eight-day, 650-mile (1,045 km) stage race that raced through the California redwoods, wine country and the Pacific Coast. The road bicycle racing event was held February 18, 2007. The 2007 Tour of California was part of the 2006–2007 UCI America Tour and the inaugural 2007 USA Cycling Professional Tour.
On November 28, 2006, the UCI upgraded the multi-day event from 2.1 (category 1) to 2.HC (French: Hors Categorie; English: beyond categorization).

## Stages and results
### Prologue: San Francisco

The Prologue was an individual time trial held Sunday, February 18, 2007, in San Francisco. Native Californian and last year's prologue champion Levi Leipheimer edged out Colorado's Jason Donald from Slipstream–Chipotle and former NCAA Road Champion Benjamin Jacques-Maynes.
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Discovery Channel | 4' 49" |
| 2 | Jason Donald (USA) | Slipstream–Chipotle | + 1" |
| 3 | Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (USA) | Priority Health–Bissell | + 5" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Discovery Channel | 4' 49" |
| 2 | Jason Donald (USA) | Slipstream–Chipotle | + 1" |
| 3 | Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (USA) | Priority Health–Bissell | + 5" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Brian Sheedy (USA) | Priority Health–Bissell | 4 pts |
| 2 | Tom Peterson (USA) | Slipstream–Chipotle | 3 pts |
| 3 | Michael Jones (USA) | Jelly Belly Cycling Team | 2 pts |

### Stage 1: Sausalito to Santa Rosa

Stage 1 was held Monday, February 19, 2007. A breakaway of four riders including Adam Hansen of T-Mobile Team was reeled in shortly before the finish in Santa Rosa. During the second of the three finishing laps in Santa Rosa, a crash took down most of the peloton, including leader Levi Leipheimer. Those not involved in the crash fought for the stage victory, taken by Graeme Brown by mere millimeters.
Riders involved in the crash lost several minutes, but the race officials decided to credit most of them with the winner's time, meaning that Leipheimer retained the leader's jersey. This decision, which meant extending the "safety zone" to 6 miles (10 km) before the end, was criticized by some riders and team staff.
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Graeme Brown (AUS) | Rabobank | 4h 17' 19" |
| 2 | Greg Henderson (NZL) | T-Mobile Team | + 0" |
| 3 | Allan Davis (AUS) | Discovery Channel | + 0" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Discovery Channel | 4h 22' 08" |
| 2 | Jason Donald (USA) | Slipstream–Chipotle | + 1" |
| 3 | Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (USA) | Priority Health–Bissell | + 5" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tom Peterson (USA) | Slipstream–Chipotle | 11 pts |
| 2 | Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | 10 pts |
| 3 | Theo Eltink (NED) | Rabobank | 4 pts |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Allan Davis (AUS) | Discovery Channel | 20 pts |
| 2 | Graeme Brown (AUS) | Rabobank | 15 pts |
| 3 | Greg Henderson (NZL) | T-Mobile Team | 12 pts |

### Stage 2: Santa Rosa to Sacramento

Held Tuesday, February 20, 2007.
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Juan José Haedo (ARG) | Team CSC | 4h 40' 39" |
| 2 | Luca Paolini (ITA) | Liquigas | + 0" |
| 3 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Crédit Agricole | + 0" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Discovery Channel | 9h 02' 47" |
| 2 | Jason Donald (USA) | Slipstream–Chipotle | + 1" |
| 3 | Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (USA) | Priority Health–Bissell | + 5" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tom Peterson (USA) | Slipstream–Chipotle | 16 pts |
| 2 | Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | 16 pts |
| 3 | Christophe Laurent (FRA) | Crédit Agricole | 13 pts |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Allan Davis (AUS) | Discovery Channel | 27 pts |
| 2 | Graeme Brown (AUS) | Rabobank | 20 pts |
| 3 | Juan José Haedo (ARG) | Team CSC | 18 pts |

### Stage 3: Stockton to San Jose

Held Wednesday, February 21, 2007.
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jens Voigt (GER) | Team CSC | 3h 43' 44" |
| 2 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Discovery Channel | + 0" |
| 3 | Chris Horner (USA) | Predictor–Lotto | + 0" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Discovery Channel | 12h 46' 31" |
| 2 | Jens Voigt (GER) | Team CSC | + 3" |
| 3 | Rory Sutherland (AUS) | Health Net–Maxxis | + 15" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tom Peterson (USA) | Slipstream–Chipotle | 16 pts |
| 2 | Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | 16 pts |
| 3 | Christophe Laurent (FRA) | Crédit Agricole | 13 pts |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Allan Davis (AUS) | Discovery Channel | 27 pts |
| 2 | Jens Voigt (GER) | Team CSC | 20 pts |
| 3 | Graeme Brown (AUS) | Rabobank | 20 pts |

### Stage 4: Seaside to San Luis Obispo

Stage 4 was held Thursday, February 22, 2007. Reigning Olympic and World Champion Paolo Bettini captured Stage 4, the event's longest stage, edging Gerald Ciolek, Juan José Haedo, and Thor Hushovd in a sprint finish after the peloton reeled in a seven-man breakaway consisting of Hilton Clarke (Navigators Insurance), Aaron Olson (T-Mobile Team), Kirk O'Bee (Health Net–Maxxis), Alejandro Acton (Colavita–Sutter Home), Christophe Laurent (Crédit Agricole), Lucas Euser (Slipstream–Chipotle), and Sean Sullivan (Toyota–United).
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Paolo Bettini (ITA) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | 5h 05' 47" |
| 2 | Gerald Ciolek (GER) | T-Mobile Team | + 0" |
| 3 | Juan José Haedo (ARG) | Team CSC | + 0" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Discovery Channel | 17h 52' 12" |
| 2 | Jens Voigt (GER) | Team CSC | + 3" |
| 3 | Rory Sutherland (AUS) | Health Net–Maxxis | + 15" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Christophe Laurent (FRA) | Crédit Agricole | 26 pts |
| 2 | Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | 16 pts |
| 3 | Tom Peterson (USA) | Slipstream–Chipotle | 16 pts |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Juan José Haedo (ARG) | Team CSC | 28 pts |
| 2 | Graeme Brown (AUS) | Rabobank | 26 pts |
| 3 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Crédit Agricole | 24 pts |

### Stage 5: Solvang time trial

Held Friday, February 23, 2007, Stage 5 was an individual time trial. Yellow jersey holder Levi Leipheimer extended his lead over second place Jens Voigt and the rest of the field.
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Discovery Channel | 29' 41" |
| 2 | Jens Voigt (GER) | Team CSC | + 18" |
| 3 | Jason McCartney (USA) | Discovery Channel | + 25" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Discovery Channel | 17h 52' 12" |
| 2 | Jens Voigt (GER) | Team CSC | + 21" |
| 3 | Jason McCartney (USA) | Discovery Channel | + 54" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Christophe Laurent (FRA) | Crédit Agricole | 26 pts |
| 2 | Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | 16 pts |
| 3 | Tom Peterson (USA) | Slipstream–Chipotle | 16 pts |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Juan José Haedo (ARG) | Team CSC | 28 pts |
| 2 | Graeme Brown (AUS) | Rabobank | 26 pts |
| 3 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Crédit Agricole | 24 pts |

### Stage 6: Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita

| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Juan José Haedo (ARG) | Team CSC | 3h 56' 04" |
| 2 | Greg Henderson (NZL) | T-Mobile Team | + 0" |
| 3 | Paolo Bettini (ITA) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | + 0" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Discovery Channel | 22h 17' 56" |
| 2 | Jens Voigt (GER) | Team CSC | + 21" |
| 3 | Jason McCartney (USA) | Team CSC | + 54" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Christophe Laurent (FRA) | Crédit Agricole | 28 pts |
| 2 | Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | 25 pts |
| 3 | Tom Peterson (USA) | Slipstream–Chipotle | 16 pts |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Juan José Haedo (ARG) | Team CSC | 43 pts |
| 2 | Paolo Bettini (ITA) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | 32 pts |
| 3 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Crédit Agricole | 31 pts |

#### Young Rider Classification

* Robert Gesink (NED), Rabobank, 22.20.46

#### Most Aggressive Rider

* Stuart O'Grady (AUS), Team CSC

#### Team classification

* Team CSC, 66.56.17
* Discovery Channel, +2.19
* T-Mobile Team, +3.20

### Stage 7: Long Beach circuit race

Held Sunday, February 25, 2007.
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Ivan Dominguez (CUB) | Toyota–United | 2h 39' 28" |
| 2 | Graeme Brown (AUS) | Rabobank | + 0" |
| 3 | Gerald Ciolek (GER) | T-Mobile Team | + 0" |

## Final results

General Classification after Stage 7 (Final results)
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Discovery Channel | 24h 57' 24" |
| 2 | Jens Voigt (GER) | Team CSC | + 21" |
| 3 | Jason McCartney (USA) | Discovery Channel | + 54" |
| 4 | Bobby Julich (USA) | Team CSC | + 1' 06" |
| 5 | Stuart O'Grady (AUS) | Team CSC | + 1' 16" |
| 6 | Christian Vande Velde (USA) | Team CSC | + 1' 24" |
| 7 | Michael Rogers (AUS) | T-Mobile Team | + 1' 32" |
| 8 | Ben Day (AUS) | Navigators Insurance | + 1' 38" |
| 9 | Franco Pellizotti (ITA) | Liquigas | + 1' 41" |
| 10 | Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) | Health Net–Maxxis | + 1' 57" |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Christophe Laurent (FRA) | Crédit Agricole | 28 pts |
| 2 | Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL) | Quick-Step–Innergetic | 25 pts |
| 3 | Tom Peterson (USA) | Slipstream–Chipotle | 16 pts |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Juan José Haedo (ARG) | Team CSC | 44 pts |
| 2 | Graeme Brown (AUS) | Rabobank | 41 pts |
| 3 | Thor Hushovd (NOR) | Crédit Agricole | 36 pts |
| | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Robert Gesink (NED) | Rabobank | 25h 00' 14" |
| 2 | Matthew Lloyd (AUS) | Predictor–Lotto | + 41" |
| 3 | Tom Peterson (USA) | Slipstream–Chipotle | + 53" |
| | Team | Time |
| 1 | Team CSC | 74h 54' 41" |
| 2 | Discovery Channel | + 2' 19" |
| 3 | T-Mobile Team | + 3' 20" |

## Jersey progress

| Stage (Winner) | General Classification | Sprint Classification | Mountains Classification | Youth Classification | Team Classification | Most Aggressive |
| 0Prologue (Levi Leipheimer) | Levi Leipheimer | no award | Brian Sheedy | Taylor Tolleson | Discovery Channel | no award |
| 0Stage 1 (Graeme Brown) | Levi Leipheimer | Allan Davis | Tom Peterson | Taylor Tolleson | Discovery Channel | Jurgen Van de Walle |
| 0Stage 2 (Juan José Haedo) | Levi Leipheimer | Allan Davis | Tom Peterson | Taylor Tolleson | Discovery Channel | Christophe Laurent |
| 0Stage 3 (Jens Voigt) | Levi Leipheimer | Allan Davis | Tom Peterson | Matthew Lloyd | Team CSC | Jens Voigt |
| 0Stage 4 (Paolo Bettini) | Levi Leipheimer | Juan José Haedo | Christophe Laurent | Matthew Lloyd | Team CSC | Alejandro Acton |
| 0Stage 5 (Levi Leipheimer) | Levi Leipheimer | Juan José Haedo | Christophe Laurent | Robert Gesink | Team CSC | no award |
| 0Stage 6 (Juan José Haedo) | Levi Leipheimer | Juan José Haedo | Christophe Laurent | Robert Gesink | Team CSC | Stuart O'Grady |
| 0Stage 7 (Ivan Dominguez) | Levi Leipheimer | Juan José Haedo | Christophe Laurent | Robert Gesink | Team CSC | Danny Pate |
| 0Final | Levi Leipheimer | Juan José Haedo | Christophe Laurent | Robert Gesink | Team CSC |