Hundreds of the world's best cyclists are sprinting, climbing and coasting through Northern California this week in a "Tour de France" type race.

The eight-day, 650-mile Amgen Tour of California began in San Francisco Monday. Tuesday, racers head for Sacramento. After starting in Santa Rosa, riders will complete the 115.8-mile leg by whizzing across the Tower Bridge before crossing the finish line at 11th and L streets around 2 p.m. Tuesday.