# 2016 Tour of California

The 2016 Amgen Tour of California was the eleventh edition of the Tour of California cycling stage race. It was held from May 15–22, and rated as a 2.HC event on the UCI America Tour. It began in San Diego and finished in Sacramento.

## Schedule

List of stages :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner |
| 1 | May 15 | San Diego | 108.7 mi (174.9 km) | | Hilly stage | Peter Sagan (SVK) |
| 2 | May 16 | South Pasadena to Santa Clarita | 92.3 mi (148.5 km) | | Medium-mountain stage | Ben King (USA) |
| 3 | May 17 | Thousand Oaks to Santa Barbara County (Gibraltar Road) | 104.1 mi (167.5 km) | | Mountain stage | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) |
| 4 | May 18 | Morro Bay to Monterey County (Laguna Seca) | 134.8 mi (216.9 km) | | Hilly stage | Peter Sagan (SVK) |
| 5 | May 19 | Lodi to South Lake Tahoe | 131.7 mi (212.0 km) | | Mountain stage | Toms Skujiņš (LAT) |
| 6 | May 20 | Folsom | 12.6 mi (20.3 km) | | Individual time trial | Rohan Dennis (AUS) |
| 7 | May 21 | Santa Rosa | 109.1 mi (175.6 km) | | Hilly stage | Alexander Kristoff (NOR) |
| 8 | May 22 | Sacramento | 85.7 mi (137.9 km) | | Flat stage | Mark Cavendish (GBR) |
| | Total | Total | 779 mi (1,254 km) | 779 mi (1,254 km) | 779 mi (1,254 km) | 779 mi (1,254 km) | 779 mi (1,254 km) |

## Teams

18 teams were selected to take part in the race. 10 UCI WorldTeams were invited, along with 3 Professional Continental teams and 5 Continental teams.
World Tour Teams
* BMC Racing Team
* Team Dimension Data
* Etixx–Quick-Step
* Team Giant–Alpecin
* Team Katusha
* LottoNL–Jumbo
* Team Sky
* Tinkoff
* Trek–Segafredo
* Cannondale
Professional Continental teams
* Direct Énergie
* Team Novo Nordisk
* UnitedHealthcare
Continental teams
* Axeon–Hagens Berman
* Holowesko Citadel Racing Team
* Jelly Belly–Maxxis
* Rally Cycling
* WIGGINS

## Stages
### Stage 1
#### 15 May 2016 — San Diego to San Diego, 175 km (108.7 mi)

Result of Stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Peter Sagan (SVK) | Tinkoff | 4h 20' 41" |
| 2 | Wouter Wippert (NED) | Cannondale | s.t. |
| 3 | Dylan Groenewegen (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | s.t. |
| 4 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | Direct Énergie | s.t. |
| 5 | Martijn Verschoor (NED) | Team Novo Nordisk | s.t. |
| 6 | Niccolo Bonifazio (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | s.t. |
| 7 | Ruben Guerreiro (POR) | Axeon–Hagens Berman | s.t. |
| 8 | Tom Boonen (BEL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | s.t. |
| 9 | Jempy Drucker (LUX) | BMC Racing Team | s.t. |
| 10 | John Murphy (USA) | UnitedHealthcare | s.t. |
General classification after Stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Peter Sagan (SVK) | Tinkoff | 4h 20' 31" |
| 2 | Wouter Wippert (NED) | Cannondale | + 4" |
| 3 | Michael Sheehan (USA) | Jelly Belly–Maxxis | + 4" |
| 4 | Dylan Groenewegen (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 6" |
| 5 | Daniel Eaton (USA) | UnitedHealthcare | + 7" |
| 6 | Joonas Henttala (FIN) | Team Novo Nordisk | + 8" |
| 7 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | Direct Énergie | + 10" |
| 8 | Martijn Verschoor (NED) | Team Novo Nordisk | + 10" |
| 9 | Niccolo Bonifazio (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 10" |
| 10 | Ruben Guerreiro (POR) | Axeon–Hagens Berman | + 10" |

### Stage 2
#### 16 May 2016 — South Pasadena to Santa Clarita, 148.5 km (92.3 mi)

Result of Stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Ben King (USA) | Cannondale | 3h 52' 09" |
| 2 | Evan Huffman (USA) | Rally Cycling | s.t. |
| 3 | Alexander Kristoff (NOR) | Team Katusha | + 8" |
| 4 | Peter Sagan (SVK) | Tinkoff | + 8" |
| 5 | Niccolo Bonifazio (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 8" |
| 6 | Danny van Poppel (NED) | Team Sky | + 8" |
| 7 | Patrick Bevin (NZL) | Cannondale | + 8" |
| 8 | Nathan Haas (AUS) | Team Dimension Data | + 8" |
| 9 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | Direct Énergie | + 8" |
| 10 | Marco Canola (ITA) | UnitedHealthcare | + 8" |
General classification after Stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Ben King (USA) | Cannondale | 8h 12' 34" |
| 2 | Evan Huffman (USA) | Rally Cycling | + 8" |
| 3 | Peter Sagan (SVK) | Tinkoff | + 14" |
| 4 | Alexander Kristoff (NOR) | Team Katusha | + 20" |
| 5 | Daniel Eaton (USA) | UnitedHealthcare | + 21" |
| 6 | William Barta (USA) | Axeon–Hagens Berman | + 21" |
| 7 | Sindre Skjøstad Lunke (NOR) | Team Giant–Alpecin | + 23" |
| 8 | Niccolo Bonifazio (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 24" |
| 9 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | Direct Énergie | + 24" |
| 10 | Danny van Poppel (NED) | Team Sky | + 24" |

### Stage 3
#### 17 May 2016 — Thousand Oaks to Santa Barbara County (Gibraltar Road), 167.5 km (104.1 mi)

Result of Stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | 4h 36' 59" |
| 2 | Peter Stetina (USA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 15" |
| 3 | George Bennett (NZL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 25" |
| 4 | Brent Bookwalter (USA) | BMC Racing Team | + 27" |
| 5 | Neilson Powless (USA) | Axeon–Hagens Berman | + 30" |
| 6 | Laurens ten Dam (NED) | Team Giant–Alpecin | + 33" |
| 7 | Lachlan Morton (AUS) | Jelly Belly–Maxxis | + 35" |
| 8 | Rohan Dennis (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 48" |
| 9 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | BMC Racing Team | + 48" |
| 10 | Andrew Talansky (USA) | Cannondale | + 59" |
General classification after Stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | 12h 49' 47" |
| 2 | Peter Stetina (USA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 19" |
| 3 | George Bennett (NZL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 31" |
| 4 | Brent Bookwalter (USA) | BMC Racing Team | + 37" |
| 5 | Neilson Powless (USA) | Axeon–Hagens Berman | + 40" |
| 6 | Laurens ten Dam (NED) | Team Giant–Alpecin | + 43" |
| 7 | Lachlan Morton (AUS) | Jelly Belly–Maxxis | + 45" |
| 8 | Rohan Dennis (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 58" |
| 9 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | BMC Racing Team | + 58" |
| 10 | Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) | Trek–Segafredo | + 1' 09" |

### Stage 4
#### 18 May 2016 — Morro Bay to Monterey County (Laguna Seca), 216.9 km (134.8 mi)

Result of Stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Peter Sagan (SVK) | Tinkoff | 5h 16' 33" |
| 2 | Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) | BMC Racing Team | s.t. |
| 3 | Nathan Haas (AUS) | Team Dimension Data | s.t. |
| 4 | Brent Bookwalter (USA) | BMC Racing Team | s.t. |
| 5 | Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBR) | Axeon–Hagens Berman | s.t. |
| 6 | Neilson Powless (USA) | Axeon–Hagens Berman | s.t. |
| 7 | Rohan Dennis (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | s.t. |
| 8 | Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) | Team Katusha | s.t. |
| 9 | Rob Britton (CAN) | Rally Cycling | s.t. |
| 10 | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | s.t. |
General classification after Stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | 18h 06' 17" |
| 2 | Peter Stetina (USA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 22" |
| 3 | George Bennett (NZL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 37" |
| 4 | Brent Bookwalter (USA) | BMC Racing Team | + 40" |
| 5 | Neilson Powless (USA) | Axeon–Hagens Berman | + 43" |
| 6 | Laurens ten Dam (NED) | Team Giant–Alpecin | + 49" |
| 7 | Rohan Dennis (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 1' 01" |
| 8 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | BMC Racing Team | + 1' 01" |
| 9 | Rob Britton (CAN) | Rally Cycling | + 1' 12" |
| 10 | Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) | Trek–Segafredo | + 1' 15" |

### Stage 5
#### 19 May 2016 — Lodi to South Lake Tahoe, 212 km (131.7 mi)

Result of Stage 5 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Toms Skujiņš (LAT) | Cannondale | 5h 54' 45" |
| 2 | Adam de Vos (CAN) | Rally Cycling | s.t. |
| 3 | Xabier Zandio (ESP) | Team Sky | + 8" |
| 4 | Jasper Stuyven (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | + 28" |
| 5 | Jhonatan Restrepo (COL) | Team Katusha | + 43" |
| 6 | Rob Squire (USA) | Holowesko Citadel Racing Team | + 43" |
| 7 | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 43" |
| 8 | Travis McCabe (USA) | Holowesko Citadel Racing Team | + 43" |
| 9 | Rohan Dennis (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 43" |
| 10 | Lawson Craddock (USA) | Cannondale | + 43" |
General classification after Stage 5 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | 24h 01' 45" |
| 2 | Peter Stetina (USA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 22" |
| 3 | George Bennett (NZL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 37" |
| 4 | Brent Bookwalter (USA) | BMC Racing Team | + 40" |
| 5 | Laurens ten Dam (NED) | Team Giant–Alpecin | + 49" |
| 6 | Neilson Powless (USA) | Axeon–Hagens Berman | + 1' 01" |
| 7 | Rohan Dennis (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 1' 01" |
| 8 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | BMC Racing Team | + 1' 01" |
| 9 | Rob Britton (CAN) | Rally Cycling | + 1' 12" |
| 10 | Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) | Trek–Segafredo | + 1' 15" |

### Stage 6
#### 20 May 2016 — Folsom, 20.3 km (12.6 mi) Individual time trial

Result of Stage 6 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Rohan Dennis (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | 24' 16" |
| 2 | Andrew Talansky (USA) | Cannondale | + 17" |
| 3 | Taylor Phinney (USA) | BMC Racing Team | + 20" |
| 4 | Søren Kragh Andersen (DEN) | Team Giant–Alpecin | + 33" |
| 5 | Brent Bookwalter (USA) | BMC Racing Team | + 43" |
| 6 | Vasil Kiryienka (BLR) | Team Sky | + 44" |
| 7 | Lawson Craddock (USA) | Cannondale | + 44" |
| 8 | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 45" |
| 9 | Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) | Team Katusha | + 49" |
| 10 | Neilson Powless (USA) | Axeon–Hagens Berman | + 52" |
General classification after Stage 6 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | 24h 26' 46" |
| 2 | Rohan Dennis (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 16" |
| 3 | Brent Bookwalter (USA) | BMC Racing Team | + 38" |
| 4 | Andrew Talansky (USA) | Cannondale | + 47" |
| 5 | Neilson Powless (USA) | Axeon–Hagens Berman | + 1' 08" |
| 6 | Lawson Craddock (USA) | Cannondale | + 1' 17" |
| 7 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | BMC Racing Team | + 1' 17" |
| 8 | Laurens ten Dam (NED) | Team Giant–Alpecin | + 1' 24" |
| 9 | George Bennett (NZL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 1' 45" |
| 10 | Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) | Team Katusha | + 1' 48" |

### Stage 7
#### 21 May 2016 — Santa Rosa to Santa Rosa, 175 km (108.7 mi)

Result of Stage 7 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alexander Kristoff (NOR) | Team Katusha | 4h 19' 52" |
| 2 | Peter Sagan (SVK) | Tinkoff | s.t. |
| 3 | Danny van Poppel (NED) | Team Sky | s.t. |
| 4 | Mike Teunissen (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | s.t. |
| 5 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | Direct Énergie | s.t. |
| 6 | Jasper Stuyven (BEL) | Trek–Segafredo | s.t. |
| 7 | Travis McCabe (USA) | Holowesko Citadel Racing Team | s.t. |
| 8 | John Degenkolb (GER) | Team Giant–Alpecin | s.t. |
| 9 | Timo Roosen (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | s.t. |
| 10 | Ruben Guerreiro (POR) | Axeon–Hagens Berman | s.t. |
General classification after Stage 7 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | 28h 46' 38" |
| 2 | Rohan Dennis (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 16" |
| 3 | Brent Bookwalter (USA) | BMC Racing Team | + 38" |
| 4 | Andrew Talansky (USA) | Cannondale | + 47" |
| 5 | Neilson Powless (USA) | Axeon–Hagens Berman | + 1' 08" |
| 6 | Lawson Craddock (USA) | Cannondale | + 1' 17" |
| 7 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | BMC Racing Team | + 1' 17" |
| 8 | Laurens ten Dam (NED) | Team Giant–Alpecin | + 1' 24" |
| 9 | George Bennett (NZL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 1' 45" |
| 10 | Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) | Team Katusha | + 1' 48" |

### Stage 8
#### 22 May 2016 — Sacramento to Sacramento, 85 km (52.8 mi)

Result of Stage 8 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Mark Cavendish (GBR) | Team Dimension Data | 3h 1' 12" |
| 2 | Peter Sagan (SVK) | Tinkoff | s.t. |
| 3 | Alexander Kristoff (NOR) | Team Katusha | s.t. |
| 4 | Danny van Poppel (NED) | Team Sky | s.t. |
| 5 | John Degenkolb (GER) | Team Giant–Alpecin | s.t. |
| 6 | Niccolo Bonifazio (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | s.t. |
| 7 | Jean-Pierre Drucker (LUX) | BMC Racing Team | s.t. |
| 8 | Maximiliano Richeze (ARG) | Etixx–Quick-Step | s.t. |
| 9 | Dylan Groenewegen (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | s.t. |
| 10 | Travis McCabe (USA) | Holowesko Citadel Racing Team | s.t. |
General classification after Stage 8 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | 28h 46' 38" |
| 2 | Rohan Dennis (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 21" |
| 3 | Brent Bookwalter (USA) | BMC Racing Team | + 43" |
| 4 | Andrew Talansky (USA) | Cannondale | + 52" |
| 6 | Lawson Craddock (USA) | Cannondale | + 1' 22" |
| 7 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | BMC Racing Team | + 1' 22" |
| 9 | George Bennett (NZL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 1' 50" |
| 10 | Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) | Team Katusha | + 1' 53" |
| 5 | Neilson Powless (USA) | Axeon–Hagens Berman | + 1' 57" |
| 8 | Laurens ten Dam (NED) | Team Giant–Alpecin | + 2' 13" |

## Classification leadership

In the 2016 Tour of California, 5 jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding the finishing times of the stages per cyclist, the leader received a yellow jersey (Amgen Race Leader Jersey). Time bonuses were awarded for the first three finishers on mass-start stages (10, 6 and 4 seconds respectively) and on intermediate sprints (3, 2 and 1 seconds respectively). This classification was considered the most important of the Tour of California, and the winner of the general classification was considered the winner of the Tour of California.
Additionally, there was also a sprints classification, akin to what is called the points classification in other races, which awards a green jersey (Visit California Sprint Jersey). In the sprints classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. In addition, some points could be won in intermediate sprints as well as bonus seconds in the overall classification. The first across the line got 3 seconds, the second two and the third rider, one.
There was also a mountains classification, which awarded a Polka dots jersey (Lexus King of the Mountain Jersey). In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a mountain before other cyclists. Each climb was categorized, either first, second, third, or fourth category, with more points available for the harder climbs.
There was also a youth classification. This classification was calculated the same way as the general classification, but only young cyclists (under 23) were included. The leader of the young rider classification received a white and green jersey (SRAM Best Young Rider Jersey).
The last jersey was awarded to the most combative rider of a stage for him to wear on the next stage. It was generally awarded to a rider who attacks constantly or spent a lot of time in the breakaways. This jersey was blue, white and yellow (Amgen Breakaway from Cancer© Most Courageous Rider Jersey).
There was also a classification for teams. In this classification, the times of the best three cyclists per stage were added, and the team with the lowest time was the leader.
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Youth classification | Mountains classification | Sprint classification | Most courageous | Team classification |
| 1 | Peter Sagan | Peter Sagan | Dylan Groenewegen | Oscar Clark | Peter Sagan | Jacob Rathe | UnitedHealthcare |
| 2 | Ben King | Ben King | Daniel Eaton | Evan Huffman | Peter Sagan | Will Barta | Cannondale |
| 3 | Julian Alaphilippe | Julian Alaphilippe | Neilson Powless | Evan Huffman | Peter Sagan | Gregory Daniel | BMC Racing Team |
| 4 | Peter Sagan | Julian Alaphilippe | Neilson Powless | Evan Huffman | Peter Sagan | Mark Cavendish | BMC Racing Team |
| 5 | Toms Skujiņš | Julian Alaphilippe | Neilson Powless | Evan Huffman | Peter Sagan | Toms Skujiņš | BMC Racing Team |
| 6 | Rohan Dennis | Julian Alaphilippe | Neilson Powless | Evan Huffman | Peter Sagan | not awarded | BMC Racing Team |
| 7 | Alexander Kristoff | Julian Alaphilippe | Neilson Powless | Evan Huffman | Peter Sagan | Peter Sagan | BMC Racing Team |
| 8 | Mark Cavendish | Julian Alaphilippe | Neilson Powless | Evan Huffman | Peter Sagan | Toms Skujiņš | BMC Racing Team |
| Final | Final | Julian Alaphilippe | Neilson Powless | Evan Huffman | Peter Sagan | not awarded | BMC Racing Team |

### Notes

* In stage 2, Wouter Wippert, who was second in the sprint classification, wore the green jersey, because Peter Sagan (in first place) wore the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification during that stage.