The peloton splintered into groups as chasers began to work to pull back Storey, who despite being alone in tough conditions, was starting to look like a contender for the top step.

After over two hours of solo effort, Storey was brought back to the peloton, and the leaders began to prepare for the finale.

With the final climb ahead, Boels-Dolmans prepared their riders by taking to the head of the group, setting Guarnier up to sprint for the line.

Stage 1 results and highlights video

• 1. Megan GUARNIER, BOELS DOLMANS CYCLING TEAM, in 3:05:09
• 2. Emma JOHANSSON, WIGGLE HIGH5, at :04
• 3. Kristin ARMSTRONG, T16, at :10
• 4. Evelyn STEVENS, BOELS DOLMANS CYCLING TEAM, at :10
• 5. Marianne VOS, RABOLIV WOMEN CYCLING TEAM, at :10
• 6. Rossella RATTO, CYLANCE PRO CYCLING, at :16
• 7. Coryn RIVERA, UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM, at :16
• 8. Shara GILLOW, RABOLIV WOMEN CYCLING TEAM, at :18
• 9. Tayler WILES, USA, at :18
• 10. Katie HALL, UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM, at :18

Bag of Surprises at Stage Two TTT but Guarnier Retains Lead

Stage two of the Tour of California was a 20km Team Time Trial. TTT experts Canyon//SRAM were looking hopeful, and Boels-Dolmans were of course hoping to hold onto the Yellow Jersey with a strong performance.

In the end, however, it was US team Twenty16-Ridebiker who clinched the victory with a time of 27.33, six seconds ahead of Boels-Dolmans, with United Healthcare in third, RaboLiv in fourth and Canyon//SRAM fifth.

The win shouldn’t have been that much of a surprise, with the team hosting Kristin Armstrong, who was third in stage one and also won the 2012 Olympic Time Trial as well as the 2015 National title.

The TT was quite unique, in that organisers did not allow time trial bikes which would have thrown a lot of experienced riders off. Time trialling on a road bike is just… different.

Some argue that this is simply a way to keep the race fair for all teams – whilst others suggest that any team bike sponsor backing a UCI Women’s World Tour race should be able to provide time trial bikes and that questioning this implies a greater problem in the set up.

Speaking after the race, Lisa Brennauer of Canyon//SRAM said: “Of course this was not our best TTT and being on road bikes is quite different. But for sure we are not happy with the result and the outcome of the TTT. There were no major mistakes, although there was one corner we took too fast and we had to find each other again, but overall there were not obvious major mistakes. It’s just that as a group we weren’t strong enough so we couldn’t get any better than fifth place today.”

Megan Guarnier retains the GC and Sprint jerseys and gained the QOM jerseys.  Beols-Dolmans commented after the race saying: “We came into today’s stage really wanting to win the team time trial. With that goal in mind, that’s how we wanted to stay in yellow. We’re a little bit disappointed with second place, but we’re happy knowing we did our best. You can’t ask for more, and I know the girls had a really hard day yesterday having to chase. Their work yesterday put me in yellow, and the work today means we keep it.”

Chloe Dygert Twenty16-Ridebiker Cycling Team now wears the best young rider’s jersey and Dame Sarah Storey retains the Most Courageous.

The top ten results were:

• 1. Twenty16 – Ridebiker, in 27:33.8
• 2. Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam, at :.17
• 3. Unitedhealthcare Professional Women’S Cycling Team, at :4.16
• 4. Raboliv Womencyclingteam, at :3.39
• 5. Canyon Sram Racing, at :5.34
• 6. Team Tibco – Silicon Valley Bank, at :4.46
• 7. Wiggle High5, at :7.2
• 8. Hitec Products, at 1:07.77
• 9. Podium Ambition Pro Cycling P/b Club La Santa, at 1:11.23
• 10. Colavita/bianchi, at 1:50.96

Check out the video from the stage…

Vos Takes Biggest Win After Injury Lay-Off at Stage Three

Marianne Vos achieved her highest profile win yet since returning to racing after her extended lay-off, by claiming the third stage at the Tour of California.

With Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) still in Yellow and leading the GC, teams began to turn their focus to individual stage wins – and it was Vos who grabbed this one for Rabo Liv over the 111km course.

The win was far from effortless, however – Vos and her team mates had to work hard to claw back a break that formed after Wiggle High5’s climbing expert Mara Abbott broke away on the second QOM stretch on Coleman Road.

Abbott gained around 30 seconds on the peloton, and then she was joined by a select group of GC contenders. The key teams were represented in the break, except Rabo Liv – meaning that others within the rear bunch had little incentive to chase and the gap rose to 90 seconds.

However, Vos’ team mate Shara Gillow put herself into the pain cave pulling Vos back into contention. The peloton came back together with 20km to go, and Vos was able to recover and prepare for a bunch sprint.

Posting on Instagram after the race, Vos said: “When team mate @sharagillow rides her *** off for you to catch the lead group for the final sprint, all you can do is thank her with a win & a hug afterwards. Very happy to take stage 3 @amgentocwomen after a strong ride by the whole team. Tough day at the office, but ‘it ain’t over until it’s over.’”

One place behind Vos was United Healthcare rider Coryn Rivera, with Wiggle High5’s Emma Johannson in third.

With just one, shorter stage to go, Megan Guarnier remains in the GC jersey with a 15 second lead over Kristin Armstrong (Twenty16 – Ridebiker), also retaining the sprint jersey, whilst the climber’s jersey goes to Mara Abbott – as well as the most combatative. In the best young rider competition, Chloe Dygert of Twenty16 Ridebiker Cycling Team still leads.

Stage results:

Check out the video highlights….

Boels Dolmans had some hopes of setting up Chantal Blaak for a stage win, as well as protecting Guarnier to ensure her safe passage to the GC win. A hectic, fast paced final meant they weren’t able to achieve the first goal but of course Guarnier arrived at the finish still in the lead – winning a brand new Lexus car.

As well as winning the event (and the car), Guarnier also moves into first place in the UCI Women’s World Tour standings. She said: “This one is up there – being in America, winning a Women’s WorldTour event, taking the leader’s jersey. It’s definitely a career highlight. My standout moment was the stage one win because that’s what put us in a position to win the entire race. It was a beautiful team tactic.”

At the end of stage four, Chloe Dygert of Twenty16 Ridebiker Cycling Team retained the Young Rider jersey, Mara Abbott of Wiggle High 5 wore the QOM Jersey, and Shara Gallow of Rabo Liv had the Most Courageous jersey.  Guarnier had the sprint jersey, as well as the GC.

Here’s the top ten for the stage…

That’s all from California for now. The next race in the WWT series is the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic on June 5.