The Amgen Tour of California Women's Race empowered with SRAM starts in South Lake Tahoe Thursday filled with World Champions, Olympic medalists, and Olympic hopefuls. The field includes three time World Road Race champion Marianne Vos (Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team) whose last victory in the US was at the 2013 World Cyclocross Championships.
Despite an early season crash Vos said she felt recovered and ready to race this week. Vos' team arrived on Monday, earlier than they would for a European race, in order to adjust to altitude and the stress of intercontinental travel. American riders, like Evelyn Stevens who races frequently in Europe, shook their heads ruefully as Vos discussed the impact travel might play.
"We arrived one day earlier than we would usually do for a European race so that makes two days," Vos said. "That's probably not enough to get rid of the jet lag and get used to the altitude, but that counts for most of the girls here. I think it will be the same for everybody and we will be suffering tomorrow especially up the final hill but we'll make it."
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At Wednesday's press conference at Harvey's Lake Tahoe Casino in South Lake Tahoe, CA, Emma Johansson (Wiggle High5) speculated her status at the top of the UCI rankings could help draw attention away from teammates like Mara Abbott who excel in the mountains.
"That can open up doors for teammates who aren't watched," Johansson said of being a marked rider. "Maybe that opens up for a teammate to escape and make a nice result."
The Tour of California has kept its toe in the water with women's racing for several years putting on different variations of time trials and criteriums since 2008. Last year's stage race was a big leap forward and its place in the Women's WorldTour has further cemented its importance within the peloton.
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