Escondido took center stage in the cycling world, and thousands of cycling fans watched as Levi Leipheimer won his third straight Tour of California. Leipheimer took over the lead in the nine-day race last Monday and never gave it up.
The 96.8 mile final stage of the fourth annual Amgen Tour of California began Sunday with riders, including U.S. cycling legend Lance Armstrong climbing a gut-busting 6,140 feet up the picturesque snowcapped Palomar Mountain.
Armstrong, who began a comeback last month, spent this race in support of Leipheimer, his Astana teammate. Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France winner, finished seventh overall.
Dozens of spectators tried to run alongside the riders near the top, including a man in a University of Montana jersey who wore a football helmet decorated with antlers.
The professional race made its first appearance in San Diego County this year. Read article "Race 'Felt like Europe'"
The field including Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France winner, and Murrieta-based Floyd Landis, whose own 2007 win in the Tour de France was stripped over allegations of doping. Landis won the Tour of California in 2006, and the race winding up Sunday is his first since his suspension.
Levi Leipheimer, a 35-year-old resident of Santa Rosa, entered the final stage wearing the leader's yellow jersey.
The 96.8-mile San Diego leg took riders from Rancho Bernardo along Highland Valley Road north along Valley Center Road toward Palomar Mountain and Lake Henshaw and back to a finish in downtown Escondido.
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The mountain section included an 11.7-mile climb of more than 4,000 feet with 21 switchbacks.
Frank Schleck of Luxembourg and American Jason McCartney were the leaders of the individual stage nearly two hours after the start.
Race fans lined up Palomar Mountain Sunday morning in anticipation, some people arrived seven hours early. One man said he parked his car on the mountain two days ago to ensure a spot.
Once the roads closed Sunday morning, hundreds of fans peddled their own bikes along the route to get to a place where they could see the racers come by. There is one name that kept popping up in conversation-- Lance Armstrong.
Signs and T-shirts were a common site along the mountain road. The more die hard fans seemed to know all the other racer's names as well.
"It’s just fun, it’s a subculture, it’s a whole life, it’s a world. It’s kinda cultish,” said Robin Kimball, a fan who made the drive up from downtown San Diego.
