Follow cyclingfans on Twitter and never miss a race. Cyclingfans.com: The #1 destination on the internet for live race coverage.

- Note:  High resolution versions of all photos can be viewed by clicking the "high resolution" link under each photo.

2010 Tour of California:  3-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer, center,
and the peloton await the start of Stage 1 in Nevada City.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

More photos below

Headphones, check.  Cool shades, check.  Phil Zajicek (Fly V Australia), ready for the Tour of California.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

Teams at breakfast before Stage 1.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia), coffee in hand, gets worked on before the stage.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

Fly V Australia staff members at the start.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

A woman wears a t-shirt advertising the upcoming 50th edition of the
Nevada City Classic...and distributes cowbells to spectators.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

RadioShack fans at the start.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

Photographers have found a good spot to shoot the peloton from above.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

Lance Armstrong (RadioShack) signs autographs...
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

...and more autographs.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

George Hincapie (BMC Racing Team) in stars and stripes kit at the start.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

BMC Racing Team riders.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) rides to the start line.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

Fly V Australia riders.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

Quick Step, ready to go.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

Armstrong talks with a race official.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

Armstrong and Leipheimer.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

The race is underway in the streets of Nevada City.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

Meanwhile....up ahead along the route, young fans use chalk to show their support for Lance and George.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

A helicopter hovers as the peloton crosses a river.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

The peloton on the finishing circuit in Sacramento.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) beats Juan Jose Haedo (Team Saxo Bank) to the line.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook

A Fly V Australia rider prepares to transfer data from the stage.
- Click for high resolution -
photo Copyright © 2010 Michael Crook