Tour of California: 5 riders to watch

The first WorldTour edition of the Amgen Tour of California is ready to roll out of Sacramento on Sunday, and we've put together a brief list of some of the more interesting riders to watch through to the finish in Pasadena on May 20.

Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe)

The world champion is worth watching in every race he enters, and California is no different. Sagan scored his first stage win in the race in 2010 and has since added 14 more to hold the record of 15. His feats in the Golden State, including an overall win in 2015, have earned him the nickname 'King of California.' The Slovakian is certainly treated like royalty here by race organisers and by fans alike.

Sagan took his improbable overall victory in 2015 after winning a weather-shortened, flat and technical 10km time trial and then limiting his losses to Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors) on the climb to Mt. Baldy, where Sagan lost just 47 seconds. He started the final day two seconds behind Alaphilippe and was able to take the lead with a time bonus in the final sprint.

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Although the 2017 course is similar to 2015, it's hard to see Sagan winning the overall again. Look for Sagan and his flowing locks to be hunting stage wins in the flat days and especially on days where there could be a selection before the bunch kick.

Brent Bookwalter (BMC Racing)

Despite finishing third last year behind Alaphilippe and teammate Rohan Dennis, and coming into the race off the back of solid results at the Tour of the Alps and Tour de Yorkshire, where he was second on the queen stage and fourth overall, respectively, Bookwalter is not BMC's declared leader in California. In the team's roster announcement, director Jackson Stewart laid BMC's GC hopes on 39-year-old Sammy Sanchez, the 2008 Olympic champion who was sixth last year.

Nevertheless, Bookwalter, 33, is riding well and will come into the race highly motivated for a possible stage win or high overall finish. Bookwalter, Miles Scotson and Sanchez are coming off an altitude training block at Big Bear Lake and should be well prepped when the race rolls out of Sacramento on Sunday.

Ian Boswell (Team Sky)

Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin)

Andrew Talansky (Cannondale-Drapac)

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