Women's Tour of California: Twenty16-Ridebiker win team time trial

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Kristin Armstrong (Twenty16-RideBiker) drove her team to a convincing victory over race favourite Boels-Dolmans in the team time trial, the second stage of the Women's Tour of California.

Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) retained her lead in the GC by 12 seconds over Armstrong who moved into second place, while Evelyn Stevens (Boels-Dolmans) slotted into third.

With Boels-Dolmans starting two place behind Twenty16 it took several minutes before Armstrong's team were told they had won. Despite the delay Twenty16 knew they had put in a special effort.

"Twenty16 came out on top, we came together as a team and worked really hard for the win," Armstrong said. "We prepared as a team just as I would as an individual."

Good pre-race preparation was helpful on the 20.3 km undulating course. The team event was further complicated by winds that blew steadily through the day at 20-30 kmph.

"We wanted to win and we didn't," Guarnier said immediately after the finish. "It was windy and we saw the course this morning. I know Twenty16 won and they've been out here practicing in the course. Today was the first time we saw it."

Riders lined up at the start on road bikes instead of time trial bikes, a modification intended to help international and small teams manage travel costs. Though the move creates a parity between teams it is greeted with mixed feelings across the peloton.

"We think it's a bit of a shame that we can't show off all of our cool aero equipment we have from our sponsors," TIBCO rider Joanne Kiesanowski said. "We have to bring everything over to Europe when we go. We pay a lot in baggage fees when we go over to Europe with all of the equipment as well."

Despite the attempt to level the playing field several early teams came to the starting gate with aero equipment. A gamble which appeared to contradict race communiques restricting the time trial to mass start legal equipment.

"I know several teams were allowed to start with disc wheels, and deep dish wheels that were in excess of 60 mm, which would not be mass start event," said TIBCO manager Ed Beamon. "I've lodged a protest and discussed it with the chief. I don't know how it's going to play out but it's clearly an incorrect situation."

Canyon-SRAM came in at 28:09 which held as the time to beat until Rabo-Liv crossed the line two seconds faster. UnitedHealthcare, led by Individual World Time Trial champion Linda Villumsen, was the next team to move into the hotseat and would hold the best time of the day until Twenty16 powered in with a winning time of 277:33.

"It was a really good course. The team today rode the best we have together ever," Villumsen said. "So that was a really, really big progression from us and a really good ride."

Rally Cycling suffered a setback 7 km into the race when a touch of wheels brought the team down. GC favourite Sara Poidevin lost several minutes and Kristi Lay was forced to abandon due to injuries.

"It was pretty windy and the girls were going flat out and crossed up wheels – it's just one of those things, just an accident," Rally Team Director Pat McCarty said. "Unfortunately most of the girls went down. Kirsti was the worst off. We are going to get her checked out by the team doctor and see if she needs an X-ray."

Twenty16, who placed fifth at the World Time Trial Championships in Richmond, benefitted from the extra horsepower provided by Armstrong and 19-year-old ingenue, Chloe Dygert.

"They are huge motors so it's nice," Allie Dragoo said. "It's nice when the extra motor is there. It was fun but it was very hard."

Boels-Dolmans director Danny Stam was disappointed to lose the stage by six seconds but was focused on defending Guarnier's yellow jersey in the upcoming stages.

"Tomorrow is an important day. Actually Sunday, the last day, I don't believe anything will happen that day. So tomorrow is the most important day," Stam said. "That is another goal for us, and then we will see how we stand in the GC."

Guarnier leads the race by 12 seconds over Kristin Armstrong as the race heads to stage 3 in Santa Rosa California.

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