The opening stage of USA Pro Challenge challenged the riders with demanding racing at altitude. Only a decimated group of 43 riders made it to the finish line in Steamboat Springs after 156km of racing above 2,000m, where Ivan Rovny finished 8th behind Taylor Phinney, who proved the fastest in the sprint.

Tinkoff-Saxo’s sports director Lars Michaelsen declares himself satisfied with the team effort and result after five of the squad’s seven riders finished among the first in the decimated main group.

“We haven’t brought any sprinters to this race, so I’m satisfied with the results on the stage. Taylor Phinney surprised everybody with a long sprint, while we know that riders like Kiel Reijnen and Bookwalter are fast in these kinds of finales. We had five riders among the first 43 so I am very pleased with day”, says Lars Michaelsen.

Tinkoff-Saxo took an active approach during the first part of the stage, as Edward Beltran covered the early breakaway attempts. Michaelsen notes that Chris Anker Sørensen tried to hinder a bunch sprint by launching an attack into the final part of the stage.

“We were there in the right attacks and Chris Anker joined forces with Jack Bobridge, as they made an attack in the final part of the stage. United Healtcare, however, was eager to ensure a bunch sprint and they used their team to bring it all back together ahead of the sprint”, comments Michaelsen before adding:

“Our guys rode well and they’ve acclimatized so far, which is very important ahead of the tougher stages that commence already tomorrow. There, we have to finish at nearly 3,400 meters above sea level after a final six-kilometer climb. However, the first trial of the day, the Rabbit Ears Pass, starts just after some eight kilometers of riding – it will indeed be very demanding and the first 19.5km are essentially all uphill towards the KOM. It’s on a six-lane wide road and although it has some bends, it will make for a mentally hard beginning of the stage”.