2009 Nevada City Classic:  Lance Armstrong's last race before the Tour de France.
Photos Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber and Carlos Rico/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Lance Armstrong's last race before the Tour de France.
Photos Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber and Carlos Rico/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Lance Armstrong, interviewed by the media before the start.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  The start line seen from above.  Laura Alber is down there getting the close-up photos.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Carlos Rico/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  And they're off!
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Levi Leipheimer has attacked early.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Lance Armstrong also goes.  Few can follow.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Armstrong looks to be enjoying this.  Game on.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Think he's ready for the Tour?
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  The chase is on.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Armstrong and Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell) have joined Leipheimer to form the day's main breakaway.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic: 
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Leipheimer and Armstrong take turns pushing the pace.  Jacques-Maynes smartly lets the two teammates do the work.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Chris Horner (Astana) has made a move of his own.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  The peloton continues to chase.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Another lap and it's still Leipheimer, Armstrong and Jacques-Maynes who perhaps provide
a little extra motivation for Scott Fonseca of Zenn Racing Team.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic: 
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  The intensity has increased.  Armstrong takes over for Leipheimer at the front.  They are trying to drop Jacques-Maynes.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Another lap and Jacques-Maynes hasn't gone anywhere.  A reported 30,000 fans are witnessing the show in the streets of Nevada City.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Leipheimer's turn to push the pace again.  It's crunch time.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Like a matador before a bull, a fan holds out a yellow Tour de France banner.....
Photo Copyright © 2009 Carlos Rico/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Things have come back together, but then Armstrong goes again.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  There he goes...and a small boy points as if to say "Look, it's Lance".
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Lance Armstrong wins.  Next stop: the Tour de France.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Riders including Armstrong and Leipheimer ride an extra lap for the fans.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Carlos Rico/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  The media finish the race where they began, cameras focused on 7-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com

2009 Nevada City Classic:  Armstrong and Leipheimer are interviewed post-race.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Laura Alber/www.cyclingfans.com