Santa Rosa, CA - With no major climbs, Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California was expected to be a day for the sprinters, with the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis looking to set up Canadian Gord Fraser for the finish. However, a puncture mid-way through the first of three 5 km finishing circuits in Santa Rosa took Fraser out of contention, despite the best efforts of teammate Mike Jones to pace him back to the fast-moving peloton.

Instead, with the first climbing stage looming on Tuesday, the team had to content itself with keeping overall race contenders Hayden Roulston (8th) and Nathan O'Neill (t-19th) out of trouble.

"Coming into the finish we had decided to set up Gord for the sprint," team Directeur Sportif Jeff Corbett said. "When he flatted, that pretty much took him out of it, and unfortunately, Greg Henderson wasn't on a good day.

"Guys like (Mike) Sayers and Roulston can try and have a go, but on a stage like today's, unless you're a pure sprinter it's hard to be successful."

The Amgen Tour of California continues Tuesday with an undulating 94.9-mile stage from Martinez, through the East Bay hills, down to San Jose.

Notes

Sayers was the highest finisher on the day for Health Net Presented by Maxxis in 11th. Fraser finished safely in the bunch to maintain his top 20 position in the overall.

The team remained 5th overall in the team classification.