The 2012 Tour of California gets underway on Sunday with Stage 1 covering 115.9 miles in and around Santa Rosa, California. The stage begins with a couple of laps throughout the city and then heads out through the mountains before returning.
Expect the action to start right away as riders try to get the jump on things before heading into the mountain climbs that are also included in the stage. None of the climbs are very severe but the winding descents will be fast and tricky when combined with the winds off the coast. The stage flattens out at the end which will provide another opportunity for riders to race for the stage win.
Here is a look at the route of Stage 1 of the 2012 Tour of California:
SB Nation's cycling blog Podium Cafe is your source for intelligent cycling news and analysis. For more news and notes on The Tour of California be sure to stay tuned to this storystream.