Tour organizers estimate between 50 and 60 thousand people gathered downtown to watch the conclusion of the first leg of the Amgen Tour of California. And it was quite a scene as Ben Swift of Briton's Team Sky sprinted across the finish line for a close victory.
"Ben Swift Wins!" announcer audio.
Many people at the finish line were disappointed three-time tour champion Levi Leipheimer of Santa Rosa didn't win. But others, like Thomas Mendosa of Red Bluff California, says he was just happy to watch a good race.
"Sprint finishes are just about the most exciting thing that can happen. You know, the chance of wrecks and the rain was coming down, so yeah, it was very exciting."
The 76 mile stage from Nevada City to Sacramento took the
cyclists about two hours and forty five minutes to complete.
Today's 120 mile leg from Auburn to Modesto should take about six
hours.
