Race provided a platform to top stars like Sagan, Boonen, Cavendish
Jens being Jens
(Image credit: Jonathan Devich)
Jens Voigt is another rider who won the hearts of the American fans in California. Already popular for his German-accented quips of 'shut up legs' and masochistic attacks, Voigt lit up the Tour of California for each edition between 2006 until his retirement in 2014.
Voigt took his first and rather unlikely victory in a small sprint ahead of race leader Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner after hanging onto the pair up the steep Sierra Road ascent.
His will proved more effective in 2013 in the stage to Avila Beach, just when the race needed it most. Lance Armstrong had confessed to doping earlier in the season and despite Sagan's sterling form and a heart-warming Tyler Farrar stage victory in Santa Barbara, cycling fans were still in a funk.
Voigt made a critical split when his RadioShack team guttered the field in the crosswinds, then attacked with 5km to go. With several strong sprinters in the group behind and the race leader Tejay van Garderen happy to be distancing some climbing rivals, Voigt's teammates Matthew Busche and Markel Irizar only had to pull back any attempt to chase Voigt down to demoralize the chasing group.
It seemed like a suicide move destined to fail - the chasing group had Voigt in their sights several times – but Mr Shut-up-Legs held them off to take the stage win by six seconds.
Practically giggling, Voigt ebulliently described his feat, "Once I get 20 seconds, I'm gone. I looked back and said, 'I can't believe they're giving me 20 seconds, don't they know?'"
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Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.
