Petaluma’s Cozza battles back to finish 65th in Tour of California

VERONIKA LENZI Petaluma’s Steven Cozzi, riding for Slipstream Sports Powered by Chipotle, finished 65th in the Tour of California. Zoom Photo

Petaluma’s Steven Cozza overcame pre-race illness and a crash in Stage 1 to finish 65th overall in the Amgen Tour of California bicycle race.

Cozza, who was 10th overall in the prologue, became ill the night before the start of Stage 1 from Sausalito to Santa Rosa, then crashed when another racer pulled in front of him.

He managed to get back into the competition and finished 100th for the stage. He battled back to end 65th. His overall time was 30:03.24.

Santa Rosa’s Levi Leipheimer won the Tour of California for the second straight year, completing the race in 29:34:32.

Cozza’s Team Slipstream Sports powered by Chipotle was the team winner, led by David Miller who was second to Leipheimer overall.

Leipheimer’s Astana team finished second behind Slipstream.