Courtesy Zimbo|Malgorzata Jasinska

The eighth and concluding stage of the 10th anniversary Amgen Tour of California could not have been any closer, with Tinkoff-Saxo’s Peter Sagan (SVK) winning the race by two millimeters over 22-year-old SRAM Best Young Rider Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) of Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team.

After more than 700 miles and eight days of racing, the overall win came down to mere seconds, with the bonus time awarded at the finish line and one Sprint the deciding factors for the title. Sagan and Alaphilippe were separated by just two seconds when today’s 65.3-mile Stage 8, presented by Amgen, began at L.A. LIVE across from STAPLES Center.

Sagan took on Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team’s Mark Cavendish (GBR) for the Sprint at the start of nine Rose Bowl Stadium circuits, and the first photo finish of the day saw maximum points going to Cavendish, with Sagan pulling within one second of Alaphilippe. But the young Frenchman was not to be counted out and picked up one second of his own by coming over the line third.

To pull off the overall victory, Sagan had to finish the stage in the top-3 and in front of Alaphilippe. The yellow jersey changed hands five times in eight days.

Coming to the finish, he was challenged by a field of impressive sprinters, with Cavendish (GBR) again crossing in first place. Sagan rocketed over the line just behind Drapac Racing Team’s Wouter Wippert (NED) and neck and neck with MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung’s U.S. rider Tyler Farrar. Another photo finish decided the race – Sagan had claimed third for the day and the overall win by less than a tire rim. His overall time after eight days of racing was 28:13:12, just three seconds ahead of Alaphilippe.

“I believed about today, I can do it. I am very happy for this general classification victory today,” said 2015 Amgen Tour of California champion Sagan. “This year I lose the green jersey, and I had to do something to be on the podium!”

Sagan swaps the green jersey, which he has won for five years running, for yellow, with the Visit California Sprint Jersey going to Cavendish after his stage win today, his fourth of the week. Today’s win brings the 25-time Tour de France stage winner’s career California wins to nine, the second-most behind Sagan (13).

Today’s route wound from downtown Los Angeles’ famous sports and entertainment district L.A. LIVE to the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena where the riders completed nine 3.2-mile circuits at speeds nearing 40 mph. Last year’s race ended in Pasadena as well, with Sagan claiming the stage win.

Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team started the day at the front of the peloton. Belgian cyclist Yves Lampaert launched an early attack and was followed by four riders who gained :20 over the field in hopes of making Sagan’s team work hard to keep the overall contender in the game. Tinkoff-Saxo drove up the peloton’s pace to keep them in easy reach, bringing the field back together before the Sprint line.

Hincapie Racing Team’s Oscar Clark (USA) rode in a breakaway of four that formed entering the Pasadena circuits. He was the last standing when the peloton caught him with two laps left in the race, earning him the Amgen Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider Jersey.

Two Americans finished in the overall top-10, including 23-year-old Joseph Dombrowski (Charlottesville, Va.) of Team Cannondale-Garmin in fourth place and yesterday’s Queen Stage third-place finisher Ian Boswell (Bend, Oregon) in seventh for Team Sky. Robert Gesink (NED), the 2012 Amgen Tour of California champion, placed fifth for Team LottoNL-Jumbo.

STAGE 8 PODIUM
1. Mark Cavendish (GBR), Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team
2. Wouter Wippert (NED), Drapac Racing Team
3. Peter Sagan (SVK), Tinkoff-Saxo

2015 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA FINAL STANDINGS
1. 28:13:12 Peter Sagan (SVK), Tinkoff-Saxo
2. +:03 Julian Alaphilippe (FRA), Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team
3. +:37 Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (COL), Team Sky
4. +1:14 Joseph Dombrowski (USA), Team Cannondale-Garmin
5. +1:15 Robert Gesink (NED), Team LottoNL-Jumbo

2015 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA JERSEY WINNERS
Amgen Race Leader Jersey: Peter Sagan (SVK), Tinkoff-Saxo
Visit California Sprint Jersey: Mark Cavendish (GBR), Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team
Lexus King of the Mountain Jersey: Daniel Oss (ITA), BMC Racing Team
Amgen Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider Jersey: Oscar Clark (USA), Hincapie Racing Team
SRAM Best Young Rider Jersey: Julian Alaphilippe (FRA), Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team

Overall Team Classification – Team Sky (GBR)

Celebrating its 10th year, the Amgen Tour of California is the most esteemed stage race in the U.S.

“When we first set out to build America’s Greatest Race, we could only imagine being here 10 years later with the most thrilling race yet. Not only has the Amgen Tour of California become the largest sporting event in California, but it’s one of the most respected races in the world,” said Kristin Bachochin Klein, executive director of the race and senior vice president of AEG Sports. “Our thanks to everyone who has cheered, watched and worked alongside us this year, and over the past 10. Until next year!”

For further information about the Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

Amgen has been the title sponsor of the race since its first year.

Today, at the final stage of the 10th annual Amgen Tour of California, in addition to crowning the winner of the race, Amgen and Honorary Breakaway from Cancer® Champion Joan Lunden celebrated ten extraordinary Champions in the fight against cancer.

Selected from a nationwide search, the 2015 Breakaway from Cancer Champions are: Shelby Marie Adams (Reno, Nev.), Karen Borges (San Luis Obispo, Calif.), Mary Carrillo (Irvine, Calif.), Donna Deegan (Jacksonville, Fla.), Elaine Eckert (Jacksonville, Fla.), Shawn Gardner (Alexandria, Va.), Nick Gleissner (Hemet, Calif.), Robert Hess (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Debra Katzenberger (Glen Burnie, Md.), and William Kenny (Los Angeles).

These inspirational men and women have made a true impact. They have turned a cancer diagnosis into an opportunity to change the lives of others. They have raised millions of dollars towards cancer research and treatments. They serve as mentors to newly diagnosed cancer patients. They have started their own non-profit organizations. They inspire others to action. They are survivors. They are caregivers. They are advocates. They are Champions.

“We are extremely proud of the fact that over the past 10 years the Amgen Tour of California has become synonymous with celebrating cancer survivors, thanks to Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer initiative,” said Raymond C. Jordan, senior vice president of Corporate Affairs at Amgen. “Amgen’s hope is that by sharing the stories of the ten Breakaway from Cancer Champions, we will in turn inspire others facing similar situations.”

For access to resources or to learn more, visit breakawayfromcancer.com.

About the Amgen Tour of California
The Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race created and presented by AEG that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course that traverses hundreds of miles of California’s iconic highways, byways and coastlines each spring. The teams chosen to participate have included Olympic medalists, Tour de France contenders and World Champions. Amgen Tour of California is listed on the international professional cycling calendar (2 HC, meaning “beyond category”), awarding important, world-ranking points to the top finishers. More information is available at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

This year, the men’s course will traverse more than 700 miles and wind through 12 host cities, including Sacramento, Nevada City, Lodi, San Jose, Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, Santa Barbara, Santa Clarita, Ontario, Mt. Baldy, L.A. LIVE (Downtown Los Angeles) and Pasadena. The women’s three-day stage race traveled more than 150 miles through South Lake Tahoe and Sacramento, followed by the 6.6-mile Invitational Time Trial in Santa Clarita.

About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.

Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its biologics manufacturing expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people’s lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world’s leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.

About AEG
AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Company, owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, StubHub Center, Sprint Center, The O2, Mercedes-Benz Arena, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE and Best Buy Theater Times Square; sports franchises including the LA Kings (NHL), two Major League Soccer franchises, two hockey franchises operated in Europe, management of privately held shares of the Los Angeles Lakers; the Amgen Tour of California cycling road race; AEG Live, the organization’s live-entertainment division, is a collection of companies dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring and a variety of programming and multi-media production. For more information, visit AEG today at www.aegworldwide.com.