SANTA ROSA -- Juan Jose Haedo of Argentina emerged from a sprinting pack to take stage one of the Amgen Tour of California by more than two bike lengths Monday.

Defending champion Levi Leipheimer (Astana), a Santa Rosa native, held the lead the past two years when the race entered his hometown. But Leipheimer, who was fourth in the prologue, finished 20th in Monday's opening stage.

Leipheimer, the third-place finisher in last year's Tour de France, is fourth overall, trailing by six seconds.

While CSC teammate Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland maintained his overall lead, Haedo claimed his fifth stage in the history of the three-year-old race when he captured the 97-mile Sausalito to Santa Rosa road race in 4 hours, 3 minutes and 29 seconds.

"When you get to the final 100 meters, just go as fast as you can," said the 27-year-old Haedo, a sixth-year pro who recorded his third win of the season. "If you look back, you lose."

Gerald Ciolek (High Road) of Germany was second and Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner), also of Germany, third, both in the same time.

Cancellara, who won Sunday's prologue by more than 4 seconds, finished 15th in the main field, also in the same time as the winner.

The reigning and two-time world time trial titlist, Cancellara holds a 2-second margin over Tyler Farrar (Slipstream-Chipotle) of Wenatchee, Wash., and a 4-second advantage over Bradley Wiggins (High Rood) of Great Britain.

"Tomorrow? You can never say no," said Cancellara when asked about keeping his race lead. "I don't feel that well. Both my legs feel like two flat tires. For me, the major goal is for the team to win."

Haedo also captured the first stage into Santa Rosa two years ago. Monday's stage victory marked his fifth ever Amgen Tour of California stage win. He stayed behind teammates as the pace quickened in the final mile as the field approached the conclusion of three, three-mile circuits.

"I think like with any race, if you know the route, it's an advantage," said Haedo, whose team is the world's top-ranked squad. "But it was really, really fast the final 60 miles and I followed my teammates."

Jackson Stewart took the event's first sustained lead when he left the field about 10 miles into the stage.

Stewart built his lead to more than 12 minutes and rode alone for about three hours. But the field steadily reduced Stewart's cushion and he rejoined the group with about 18 miles left.

The 650-mile, eight-day event continues Tuesday with the 116-mile second stage from Santa Rosa to Sacramento.

The $150,000 event, which features 17 teams and cyclists from more than 25 countries, concludes Sunday in Pasadena, Calif.