Tejay van Garderen earned the first stage race victory of his professional career Sunday at the Amgen Tour of California while the BMC Racing Team was victorious in the team classification of the eight-day race that finished in its headquarters city of Santa Rosa.

“Everything just finally came together,” van Garderen said. “I’ve known for years that I’ve been capable of a ride like this. It's all fallen into place, it's really special, especially with everything that’s happened in the last month and half for me [the birth of his first daughter, Rylan], it’s really special.”

Van Garderen, who turned professional in 2008, took the lead after helping split the peloton in strong crosswinds on Stage 5. He then increased it the next day by winning the Stage 6 individual time trial. His winning margin was 1’47” over runner-up Michael Rogers (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) and 3’26” over third-placed Janier Acevedo (Jamis-Hagens-Berman). "This will be a big change in Tejay's life as a cyclist," BMC Racing Team Directeur Sportif John Lelangue said. "It was difficult, with mountains, a long and hilly time trial, and even one stage with echelons. So it was a complete race. Once you have done this, you are ready for all the one-week stage races."

BMC Racing Team President/General Manager Jim Ochowicz said van Garderen is making his mark on the sport. "We're really proud of him because he's learned to manage a team and a high profile event for a week and I think – pretty obviously – a strong team," Ochowicz said. "So that's a big accomplishment for him. But we're taking it one race at a time. He will have a lot more opportunities to lead the team in various races this year, next year and in the years to come." In addition to van Garderen winning the overall, the BMC Racing Team also placed Mathias Frank in fourth overall, six seconds from a podium spot. It was Frank's best finish at a stage race since he placed sixth at the Tour de Suisse in 2011.

Team Title a Bonus
In addition to van Garderen's overall victory and stage win, the BMC's team title was its fourth title of the season, adding to ones won at the Tour de San Luis, the Tour of Qatar and the Tour of Oman. Brent Bookwalter, who has been part of three of the four, said it makes van Garderen's victory all the more satisfying, particularly after defending the lead on the final two stages. "It's nice to win the team GC – It's a good feeling," Bookwalter said. "The key word being 'team', which we had on display on the climb up Mt. Diablo and in riding the front on the last stage." Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) won the last stage in a bunch sprint as BMC's Thor Hushovd earned his fourth top 10 finish of the race.