The best bike riders in the world - along with their Lycra-and-logo-covered torsos - are back, and they've learned a few things since last year. For one thing, they've had enough of the hills of San Francisco, which are sufficient to scare off any cyclist, even world-class ones.

After several days in Northern California including a spectacular day on the Big Sur coast, the racers spend the final three days meandering through Southern California, sensibly avoiding Los Angeles, before ending up in Pasadena next Sunday.

More here: San Francisco Chronicle