Phinney, 18, becomes the first American to win the race for riders under 23. The 170km race has been held since 1967 and has been won by budding professionals including Yaroslav Popovych, Thor Hushovd, Stephen Roche and Frederic Moncassin.
The group of 11 that came into the velodrome contained three riders from the Capinordic team, who massed at the front as they came on the track, said Chris De Vos, the head soigneur for the U.S. national team.
De Vos said Phinney attacked with a half lap to go. “Taylor started sprinting and damn he was so strong, nobody could follow him.”
I vaguely remember that the original logic behind scheduling the Tour of California at this time of year was that the weather would be better than racing in, say, Belgium this time of year. The grimacing faces of the riders today looked as dismal as at any early-season European race, and remarkably like the faces during a typical ride here…
Great story about the Phinney-Carpenter family and prodigy Taylor Phinney as he prepares to compete in the individual pursuit at the world championships in Manchester, England.
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