Stage 1 of the race both started and finished in Sacramento. This Stage was a flat-land race, first going south through the Central Valley to the small community of Isleton where it turned north. The race then made its way to Davis and continied north for a while before heading east and back to Sacramento, where it did three short circuits around the State Capitol before a mass sprint finish.

While there were no mountain climbs in this Stage the King of the Mountain Jersey was cerimonially gifted to William Clarke (Drapac Professional Cycling) during the Awards Ceremony, Willian won the Most Courageous Rider Jersey for his work in a break-away, and winning the three circuit Sprints, before the break-away was caught as the race approached downtown Sacramento for the finish. The KOM Jersey was then gifted to Peter Sagan (Tinkoff - Saxo) to wear in Stage 2, Peter came in second in Stage 1 and has won the most Stages in the Tour's history.

The Stage from Nevada City to Lodi was a fast 120 mile race. It was mainly downhill, but had one climb worthy of being classified a category 4, and being the first such climb in the Tour set the official King of the Mountain status.

The Racers made it to the finish in 4 hours and 47 minutes, averaging just over 25mph, and finished the race with a mass sprint in Lodi. Mark Cavendish (Etixx - Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team) won the race over Peter Sagan (Tinkoff - Saxo) in a photo finish, winning by about one inch.

Stage 3, which started and ended in San Jose, was the first major moutain Stage in the 2015 Tour. After leaving San Jose the course went north to Livermore with two mild un-rated climbs along the way. From Livermore the Racers headed south and into the moutainous part of the Stage. There were a total of 5 rated climbs, including HC rated Mount Hamilton.

After the start there were several break-away attempts, and one with seven Racers finally worked and gained time on the Peloton. This break-away included Daniell Oss (BMC Racing Team) who swept the initial three rated climbs and Toms Skujins (Hincapie Racing Team). On the HC climb up Mount Hamilton the break-away fell apart, and Toms Skujins was able to solo to the top of Hamilton for the King of the Mountain win. Toms then kept up the pace and succeeded in racing solo all the way to the finish where he won the Stage 30 seconds ahead of second place Peter Sagan (Tinkoff - Saxo).

Stage 4 of the 2015 Tour was a unique course in that while the finish was just 7.7 miles north of the start, the Racers were directed south along the coast and then east into the coastal hills where they then looped back to the Santa Maria River Valley and made their way north before heading south-west to Avila Beach. It was mainly flat or gentile terrain with only one Category 3 rated climb.

There was an initial four man break-away that grew to five Racers. They were able to hold their lead for about 100 miles in the 107 mile Stage before they were caught by the Peloton. The Teams with the fastest sprinters then worked their way to the front of the Peloton, getting ready for a 'shoot out' final sprint as in the first two Stages. The finish in Avila Beach, however, was not the typical sprint finish, for the last one hundred yards or so were up a steep hill.

As the Peloton neared the finish Daniel Oss (BMC Racing Team) made a last minute dash for the win which saw Wouter Wippert (Drapac Professional Cycling) take chase which Mark Cavendish (Etixx - Quick-Step) and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff - Saxo) joined. In the final yards Peter Sagan showed the Peloton just who had the most power and made an amazing move that left the other contenders behind as he passed them all and took the Stage.

The weather made Stage 5 a very difficult race. It was cold and overcast in Santa Barbara. Shortly after the start a soft rain started. It then turned into a solid rain, and it just got worse as the day went on. By the time they arrived in Santa Clarita it was a very cold downpour. Mark Cavendish, who won the race, stated he was "freezing to absolute bone".

The Time Trial in Santa Clarita was designed and implemented 'at the last minute'. An unexcpeted snow storm had resulted in Big Bear, the planned host, being covered in snow. The Tour organizers decided this would be un-safe for the Racers and worked out the Santa Clarita location just the day before the Stage. The result was a flat and fast 6.6 mile course.

Going into the Stage the General Classification was very close with several of the Racers being previous National Time Trial Champions. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff - Saxo) was in 2nd place in the Points (Sprint) competition which probably gave him a strong incentive to do well in this Stage. Peter was also in 2nd in the General Classification and Mark Cavendish (Etixx - Quick-Step), who was 1st in the Points (Sprint) competiton, was in 62nd place in the General Classification.

Peter Sagan's drive to do well paid off. In the end this drive coupled with his incredible strength paid off. He not only beat all the National Time Trial Champions, but he won the Stage by 15 seconds which is a huge margin on such a short course, 2nd and 10th place were separated by only 13 seconds.

These photographs were taken just after the Start House for the Stage. Only the top ten finishers are displayed on this page, they are shown in the order they started the Stage. The full collection does have photographs of every Racer that was in Stage 6. If you would like to see the photographs of any other Racers just send a request.

The 2015 Edition of the Tour of California was arguably the closest Tour yet run. With eight riders less than one minute from the lead, the Queen Stage couldn't have been more significant. In that group were Robert Gesink (Team Lotto ND Jumbo) who won the Tour in 2012, Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx - Quick-Step) in the Best Young Rider Jersey, and Toms Skujins (Hincapie Racing Team) who had an amazing solo breakaway win in Stage 3 that went over Mount Hamilton.

The weather was cold and threatning to be wet, as it had been the day before. The tops of the climbs were in the clouds at the beginning of the day. As the race progressed the clouds managed to rise just fast enough that the Racers could always see the road. Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx - Quick-Step) managed a solo win, with Peter Sagan (Tinkoff - Saxo) finishing 6th, 45 seconds back. This gave Julian Alaphilippe a two second lead thanks to time bonuses. Stage 8 wouldn't be a 'show case' Stage, it would be a day of hard racing and all bets were off.

Stage 8 was a short, fast, course. After the start at LA Live, the route did a five 4.4 mile (7km) circuits around downtown LA. The course then went on a direct 10.6 mile (17km) route to the Rose Bowl area in Pasadena, where it did nine circuits around the Rose Bowl area on a 3.1 mile (5km) course.

There were no King of the Mountain climbs on the course, and only one Points Sprint, the first time they crossed the Finish line on the circuits around the Rose Bowl. The complete course was 65.4 miles (105km)long. Even though the Racers were, as sevearl stated, very tired and sore from the previous Stages, especially the Queen Stage up Mount Baldy the day before, Mark Cavendish (Etixx - Quick-Step) won the Stage in 2 hours, 14 minutes, 55 seconds. An average speed of 29.1 mph (46.6kph).

Going into the Stage, the General Classification was very close. Julian Alaphillipe (Etixx - Quick-Step) had a 2 second lead for fisrt place over Peter Sagan (Tinkoff - Saxo). This was the closest race in the history of the Tour. At the only Points Sprint Peter Sagan (Tinkoff - Saxo) came in second and Julian Alaphillipe (Etixx - Quick-Step). Peter gained a 3 second bonus and Julian gained a 1 second bonus, they were now tied for First Place. At the Finish Peter came in third and the bomus points gave him a 3 second lead which made him the Champion of the 2015 Tour.

Stage 8 was a short, fast, course. After the start at LA Live, the route did a five 4.4 mile (7km) circuits around downtown LA. The course then went on a direct 10.6 mile (17km) route to the Rose Bowl area in Pasadena, where it did nine circuits around the Rose Bowl area on a 3.1 mile (5km) course.

There were no King of the Mountain climbs on the course, and only one Points Sprint, the first time they crossed the Finish line on the circuits around the Rose Bowl. The complete course was 65.4 miles (105km)long. Even though the Racers were, as sevearl stated, very tired and sore from the previous Stages, especially the Queen Stage up Mount Baldy the day before, Mark Cavendish (Etixx - Quick-Step) won the Stage in 2 hours, 14 minutes, 55 seconds. An average speed of 29.1 mph (46.6kph).

Going into the Stage, the General Classification was very close. Julian Alaphillipe (Etixx - Quick-Step) had a 2 second lead for fisrt place over Peter Sagan (Tinkoff - Saxo). This was the closest race in the history of the Tour. At the only Points Sprint Peter Sagan (Tinkoff - Saxo) came in second and Julian Alaphillipe (Etixx - Quick-Step). Peter gained a 3 second bonus and Julian gained a 1 second bonus, they were now tied for First Place. At the Finish Peter came in third and the bomus points gave him a 3 second lead which made him the Champion of the 2015 Tour.