BMC Racing Team's Jempy Drucker finished third behind stage winner Mark Cavendish (Etixx-Quick Step) and runner-up Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) in Sunday's opening stage of the Amgen Tour of California.

Drucker's result was a season-best in his first time racing in the United States since turning professional in 2011.

"I am very happy and very satisfied," Drucker said. "The team had confidence in me and I gave them back with a result. I am maybe not the fastest sprinter, but I can still do some good placement and get some good results. So I will try to be up there again tomorrow."

Heading into the final kilometers of the 203.1-km race that started and finished in Sacramento,  Cavendish's Etixx-Quick Step squad was controlling the front. But inside of two kilometers to go, BMC Racing Team's Daniel Oss attacked, disrupting the lead-out trains of several teams that had massed at the front.

"Daniel kept me out of trouble and out of the wind and he is always good in front, like Danilo (Wyss) and Joey (Rosskopf)," Drucker said. "But for me, it was too early to be in his wheel. So I let him go and I let the Etixx-Quick Step guys close the gap. I was in good position and it was a high-speed sprint, so I was difficult to move up. But if you already in front, it is even easier to do a good result."

BMC Racing Team Sport Director Jackson Stewart said Drucker's result was better than anticipated.

"We were not expecting a podium, but it is really nice to see to see Jempy sprint that well," Stewart said. "With this level of field, Jempy was really good by himself at staying in position. He knows the teams that are going to control and he was just watching to be there. He doesn't need a whole train to lead him out because he is not a pure sprinter."

The BMC Racing Team's protected rider for the overall standings, Ben Hermans, finished 16th and in the same time as the stage winner.