Santa Rosa, CA (February 18, 2008) – The decision to stay in professional cycling must have been a difficult one for the owner of BMC Racing, Andy Rihs. His initial attempt in the professional peloton with Team Phonak took him to its very pinnacle [winning the Tour de France] to its subterranean depths [brow beat by synchronous waves of doping allegations, positives, and suspensions].
But like most of us in this profession, sport, lifestyle, it is mostly an all-in proposition. Rihs' statement on the BMC Racing website substantiates this sentiment,
“I love cycling, that is why I am back. It is my passion. The best ideas for my personal life and business come to me on a bike. Professional cycling offers a high quality of life and gives me much pleasure. The repercussions for Phonak as a brand at the time of sponsorship were huge. Of any hearing aid manufacturer out there, Phonak is the only name people recognize. BMC sees the US as the most important market to crack; consequently, we have christened this new team BMC Racing.”After Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California, Andy Rihs must surely be smiling as Jackson Stewart (BMC Racing) covered nearly all of the 155.7 km from Sausalito to Santa Rosa solo.
Although he once doubled for Lance Armstrong in some Nike commercials, by the time he hit the Coleman Valley Road climb he was no longer "dancing" on his pedals. Pedaling squares by the time he reached Santa Rosa's city limits, the newly animated peloton, looking to deliver their sprinters, easily overtook Stewart who would lay claim to the Most Aggressive Rider and King of the Mountains jerseys on the day for his efforts.
Once the peloton entered the finishing circuit, Team Slipstream/Chipotle and Team CSC came to the front in an effort to deliver the yellow jersey to Tyler Farrar (Slipstream/Chipotle) or a sprint victory for Juan Jose Haedo (CSC), respectively. With two [laps] to go, it looked as if the Quick-Step boys had organized well on the front for their leader Tom Boonen. But a touch of wheels, which would also bring down George Hincapie (Team High Road Sports), ended any chance of Tornado Tom from claiming the victory.
In the end it was JJ Haedo delivering a victory salute, with Gerald Ciolek (Team High Road) and Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner) close behind.
In working for his teammate, Fabian Cancellara retained his lead and remained in the yellow jersey.
Although hometown hero, Levi Leipheimer (Astana) was brought up to speak before the podium ceremony, Haedo may soon be considered a local favorite [despite his Argentinian roots] by adding another Santa Rosa victory to his already burgeoning Tour of California palmares.Photos: Leonard Basobas
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