The 2009 Tour of California was the fourth edition of the Tour of California, a professional road cycling stage race held in the U.S. state of California. The race formed part of the 2009 UCI America Tour and was classified as a 2.HC (hors catégorie) event, indicating a high ranking just below the WorldTour level.
Overview
- Dates: 15–22 February 2009
- Stages: Seven stages (including a pro‑logue time trial)
- Total distance: Approximately 750 km (466 mi)
- UCI rating: 2.HC, contributing points toward the UCI America Tour rankings
Route
The 2009 edition began in the state's capital, Sacramento, and concluded in the coastal city of Santa Barbara. The race incorporated a mix of flat, rolling, and mountainous terrain, featuring a summit finish on a California mountain pass and a final individual time trial.
Classification winners
- General classification (overall winner): Levi Leipheimer (United States) – riding for the Team Astana squad, he secured the yellow jersey with the lowest cumulative time across all stages.
- Points classification: Jens Voigt (Germany) – awarded the green jersey for consistently high finishes in stage sprints.
- Mountains classification: Jürgen Roelandts (Belgium) – earned the polka‑dot jersey for accumulating the most points on designated climbs.
- Young rider classification: Taylor Phinney (United States) – recognized with the white jersey as the best‑placed rider under 25 years of age.
Participating teams
A total of 20 UCI ProTeams, Professional Continental teams, and Continental squads took part, including prominent WorldTour outfits such as Team Astana, Team High Road, Garmin‑Slipstream, and CSC Saxo Bank, alongside American domestic teams.
Notable aspects
- The 2009 race marked the first time the Tour of California included a dedicated individual time trial as its final stage, emphasizing all‑round rider abilities.
- Levi Leipheimer’s victory represented his second consecutive overall win in the event, underscoring his dominance in early‑season North American stage races.
- The event continued to grow in prominence, attracting heightened international media coverage and serving as a preparatory race for European spring classics and Grand Tours.
References
- Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) archives, 2009 America Tour Calendar.
- Official Tour of California race reports, 2009 edition.
All information presented is based on documented race results and official UCI classifications.