A day of firsts for Parbo and Stetson-Lee

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The opening race of the first Southern California UCI doubleheader in two years proved to be a day of firsts for Dane Joachim Parbo and Colorado native Teal Stetson-Lee. The pair claimed their first ever UCI race wins, and while Stetson-Lee's was in her first season as an elite rider, Parbo's came after a long history in the sport.

Parbo slipped away late in the race, leaving behind mountain bike legend Sid Taberlay to claim second ahead of Chris Jones (Rapha-Focus) with Tyler Wren (Boo Bicycles) and Danny Summerhill (Holowesko Partners/Felt/Garmin) rounding out the podium.

Parbo overcame a sore throat which he blames on the heat in California combined with the air conditioning inside. After being sick for three days, he said, "I was so amazed that I could get to the front - I thought for sure there were more guys ahead. I couldn't believe it.

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"It's just amazing - it's like a star dropping from the sky and drinks passed all around!"

The Rapha-Focus duo of Zach McDonald and Jones set out hard on the first lap, but Jones said he rolled a tire and spent much of the race chasing to get back on, leaving him lacking a bit in the sprint.

The lead changed hands several times during the first half, with Summerhill and Wren having some time at the front, but it was Canadian Chris Sheppard who spent the largest part of the race leading before fading back with four laps to go.

Parbo, who was in a second chase group for the mid-part of the race, made his way up to the lead group as Sheppard was reeled in, and then made his move on the penultimate lap.

"I developed a plan during the race where I would invest my power and not care about the others. I attacked at a point where the guys kind of slowed down," Parbo said. "Once you slow down on this grass you really slow down, so I attacked there, and I think Chris Jones went with me but he skidded out in a corner. When I heard that I said I should play it safe."

Parbo held onto just enough margin to take his first UCI victory, while Taberlay dispatched the chase group to solo in for second.

Taberlay had to fight his way through the field on the early laps from a poor starting position, bunny hopping the barriers to gain an advantage much to the thrill of the crowd.

"I'm not fit enough this time of year, that hurt," the Australian said. "I had fun in a couple sections but the rest of the time I was just hanging. When it actually got hard on the straights I was struggling and just getting back on in the corners."

Wren, who still has a stage race in China and the Tour of Japan on his road program, used the race as a way to stay fit and motivated late in the season, but said his technical skills were a bit lacking.

"It's hard to get away from them because every time I'd attack they'd come back to me on the corners," he said. Riding on a Boo Bicycles bamboo bike, Wren was excited to get in the race. "I've been excited and having insomnia thinking about setting up the bike and getting in the race. I was hoping for a top five so I'm happy with it."

Stetson-Lee powers to her first elite win

Teal Stetson-Lee (California Giant Berry/Specialized) claimed a commanding win in the women's race, soloing from the second lap to top Devon Haskell (Bike Station Aptos).

"It's kind of surreal. I've had dreams about this moment for a long time," said Stetson-Lee. "Even though it's a smaller UCI race, this is my first year racing elites, and it's my first UCI win. I've got a lot of work to do, but this is my dream and it's pretty exciting!"

Haskell took the hole shot and led for much of the first lap, but a minor crash saw her pulled back. Stetson-Lee didn't wait long to make her move, and by the second lap she was away solo and never looked back. She was briefly joined by Barb Howe (Ibis), but a bobble in the mud sent Howe into the tape, leaving Stetson-Lee to go it alone.

"I wasn't sure how fast the pace was going to be, so I sat in there to see what was going to happen. I'm from Colorado so I'm not used to the heat and humidity, so I didn't know how that would affect me. I thought I had the legs for it, so I attacked and I felt really good in the turny sections. So that was where I made up a lot of time, and I had enough energy to hold it."

"I tried to go out hard and not burn myself up," Haskell said. "Teal made a good move and I didn't have the punch for it. She's riding really well. I had to keep going strong because I had a couple chasers behind me."

Haskell held off the chase from Sarah Maile (Ventana Bikes), who took third over Carolyn Popovich (PAvalleys.com), while Howe rounded out the top five.

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