Chase Group at Top of Tunitas Road, 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Santa Cruz Mountains, California. February 16, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

The chase group, led by Rock Racing with Astana’s Lance Armstrong right behind, tops the Tunitas Road climb in rain during state 2 of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California.

The lead group had arrived at the top of Tunitas Road just ahead of this chase group led by Rock Racing (likely trying to protect their rider who started the stage in the yellow jersey) and including Lance Armstrong. The stage had begun on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge in heavy rain, travelled down the coast past Half Moon Bay, and then headed up this steep road through redwood forests to arrive at Skyline Road. Any cyclist who has ever done a long, hard ride in pouring rain can relate to the looks of the faces of these riders.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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