Levi Leipheimer (Santa Rosa, California) General Classification Leader
Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
Stage 1 Post-Race Comments

On the dash into Santa Rosa
“What an honor to have Ivan Basso put the throttle down today… I know those roads out near Occidental, and he was ripping it up!  I’m very honored and very proud to have him lead me into my hometown… The team rode perfect today, it went the perfect speed, covered all the breakaways.  We had a great day out there, climbing up the Coleman Valley with all the people that came out to see the race, it was spectacular…  Today was another career moment, as last year was.  It was every bit as sweet this year.  I was happy that I had the experience. These are the roads I train on all year, and to be here with the world’s best, in the Amgen Tour of California, was amazing.”

On the route and stage in general
“Today was, man that was what bike racing is all about.  It was war out there. A lot of the time it was a headwind, so everybody was hanging back, but there were moments when it was a crosswind and everybody got on their toes and there were attacks and the group split up… The group split and reformed about four or five times and that makes for good racing.  I was really looking forward to the climbs.”
 
On the crowds
“The crowd that came out was amazing.  I knew that when we came into Santa Rosa it would be crowded, but I didn’t know it would be that big…it was amazing. Today was fantastic.  For the crowd to come out like that in the US is really special.  The amount of people I saw in Coleman Valley was phenomenal.  I really appreciate it because these people really had to make a day out of it and all the riders appreciate it.”
 
On the coming stages
“All I can do is my best.  We have three more stages that are coming up (before the time trial) that are just as phenomenal as today.”
 
On recovering from the crash
“One of the riders lost his hand and went over the bars and brought half the peloton down, and I was in there.  But that’s bike racing… I was trying to motivate them (other riders) to get off the ground.  I tried to get on my bike right away, but I could see that wasn’t possible.  I finally got my bike going, but it felt like forever.  George (Hincapie) and Ivan (Basso) really started to ride hard to bring me back.  I’m honored to have (Ivan) Basso and (George) Hincapie sacrificing everything they have for me today.  (Although I knew) it would be impossible to come back to the leaders when they’re riding that hard.”
 
Graeme Brown (AUS) Stage 1 Winner
Rabobank
Stage 1 Post-Race Comments

On the photo finish
“It was pretty much like a track finish I guess.  Circuit racing always is nerves.  (The photo finish) was great.  I had my teammates looking after me, and I steered clear of problems.  My team did a great job.  Matt Hayman did exactly what I asked of him, but not only at the finish, they looked after me all day and made sure I didn’t have to ride in the wind, so hats off to the guys, they did a good job.”
 
How does this result compare with your other wins? (twice World champion, twice Olympic champion, stage wins Tour of Germany, Tour of Langkawi)
“This is definitely one of the bigger ones.  It’s great to start off the year with a win, and there are lots of great teams here, so it’s a really good win.” 

Did you see anything of the crash?

“I was just a few riders across.  One of the riders, his hand slipped off the bars – he hit a small bump – but he was near the front and it was a chain reaction…. It’s always a bit hectic when you’re on a circuit…  I really enjoy racing on circuits, the crowd gives quite a boost.”

What do you think of this race?

“It’s good, we get to stay in really nice hotels, I don’t have any problems with it at all, it’s a really good race.  The crowds are great. There are a lot of spectators here and it makes a difference when the crowd is yelling at you, so it’s a good boost.  It’s really good.”

Greg Henderson (NZL) Second place Stage 1
T-Mobile Team
Stage 1 Post-Race Comments

On the crash
“There was 400m to go, I had Mick Rogers (leading me out) in front of me, then Rabobank came around the outside of us and I managed to jump on Brownie’s wheel.  Then he stepped off (sprinted for the line) with about 250m to go and I got clipped on the left side so lost a bit of momentum, and I took a run at his wheel and I was coming and coming and coming.  I don’t know which way the wind was going, but I had a lot of it in my face!  And I was coming and then just, I don’t know if I got it or not, it was a bike throw on the line, but we’ll see.  It was close.”
 
On the route
“It was very tough.  I’m surprised it all came back together.  They stepped on it up the climbs and it just blew to bits, then it all came back together.  It was hard.  Good stage.”

Tom Peterson (USA)  leader,  King of the Mountain Classification
Team Slipstream Powered by Chipotle
Stage 1 Post-Race Comments

“The hill kind of rolls over the top and there were definitely various types of winds.  I think that disc was pulling pretty hard in the back and we were probably going to be caught anyway.  I think the hardest part of the climb is when it rolls after the KOM.  I went a little hard and a couple of guys came with me and that’s how the break started.”

 Jim Birrell
Amgen Tour of California Race Director
Stage 1 Post-Race Comments

“Due to the crash and the large number of riders that went down, the commissaries’ panel made the decision to neutralize the finishing circuits and award all the riders the same time as the winner. Because of the size of the crash, I think they made the right decision and a justifiable decision.  Five jurors make the decision.”
 
Ramin Modabber
Chief medical officer for the Amgen Tour of California
Stage 1 Post-Race Comments

“70 miles into the race (Dave Zabriskie) had a moderate speed accident and hit his head.  He was a little bit foggy and decided it was best not to continue on, and he’s out of the race.  This is one of the more difficult things about working in a race like this. In this situation if he has an intact neurological exam, you can continue to let him ride.  It’s almost like a “stress” test when you get back on your bike.  The decision was fairly straightforward when he got back on his bike.  He had a mild concussion.”
*Dave Zabriskie was taken to a local hospital for tests and has been released in good condition with a mild concussion and no fractures or other injuries.

“(Nick Gates) was the most severely injured of the riders involved in the crash.  (After finishing the race) he was tender in his abdomen and his neck.  It was felt best by our team that he be evaluated.  Tests are going on as we speak.”