Bridging The Gap With USCR's Jamie Naragon

This has been yet another busy week in cycling-action, with two major races going on between the Giro d’Italia and the AMGEN Tour of California.  Before re-capping those briefly, however, we must acknowledge a few other races in which US riders were active.

BMC Racing Team Wins Overall And Team Title At Amgen Tour

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.

A Week of Racing Draws To A Close In California

Text and Photos Rebecca Reza

Tejay van Garderen kept out of trouble, enjoying the finale of the eight-day journey to win his first stage race in BMC’s home of Santa Rosa, California. The climbing heavy route of the 2013 AMGEN Tour of California was near tailored for the young American, while challengers, Michael Rogers (TST) who finished second and Janier Acevedo (JSH) in third, tried but could not knock van Garderen from the top step.  “Everything finally came together, I’ve known for years that I’ve been capable of a ride like this so finally for it to all fall into place was really special,” the new father, van Garderen remarked. BMC racing team also won the Team Classification award.

Successful Week of Racing in California

After 8-days of racing in the Golden State, RADIOSHACK LEOPARD TREK riders have plenty to be proud of as they head into the heart of the stage racing season.

Michael Rogers Second Overall in Tour of California

The just 130 kilometer long final stage of Tour of California started out in San Francisco and took the peloton to Santa Rosa on relative flat stretch with only a single climb along the way halfway through the day.

Meersman 4th in Santa Rosa, Chavanel 9th

Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team wrapped up their AMGEN Tour of California with two riders in the top 10 on the 130.6km sprinter friendly Stage 8 on Sunday.

Saxo's young talent Rafal Majka has performed very strongly the pasts two days in the 2013 Giro d'Italia.

After two stages, Majka continues to climb high in the young riders classification.  He also feels he is learning a lot about the "tricks" of riding in a Grand Tour, especially with a variety of climate and terrain difficulties.