Amgen Women’s Tour of California Time Trial

photo credits @ Twitter 

Evelyn  Stevens scored her second Amgen Tour of California victory yesterday, after winning the 6.6-mile individual time trial event in a time of 14:12, to beat Lauren Stephens by 4.14 seconds.

Kristin Armstrong finished third, 6.37 seconds behind Stevens.

“It’s just a special race to win and to be able to win on my home soil is really great,” she said. “It was nice to see the top women out there for a really deep field. It was nice to win against top competition.”

The Boels-Dolmans team rider won the 2013 Amgen time trial in San Jose. She was the next-to-last rider to take to the course.

Armstrong, a 41-year-old mother from Memphis, Tenn., was making her first racing start since the 2012 London Olympics, where she won gold. The time was fast, but not fast enough.

After finishing, all Stevens had to do was wait out 2014 world champion Brennauer. But when the German failed to turn the final corner before Stevens’ time, Stevens knew she was the sixth Amgen women’s time trial champion. Brennauer finished eighth, 21.97 seconds off the lead.

Stevens said she was donating all of her winnings to World Bicycle Relief, which provides bicycles and support for those in need.

I’ve been bronze in the worlds,” she said. “I’ve been there knocking on the door for awhile. Time trials are my big goal for the (2016) Olympics.”

Stevens finished faster than 28 male riders.

Top 20 Finishers

1. Evelyn STEVENS, BOELS DOLMANS CYCLING TEAM, in 14:12
2. Lauren STEPHENS, TEAM TIBCO – SVB, at :04
3. Kristin ARMSTRONG, T16, at :07
4. Amber NEBEN, at :08
5. Tayler WILES, VELOCIO – SRAM, at :09
6. Tara WHITTEN, CAN, at :09
7. Linda Melanie VILLUMSEN, UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM, at :11
8. Lisa BRENNAUER, VELOCIO – SRAM, at :21
9. Jasmin GLAESSER, OPW, at :30
10. Megan GUARNIER, BOELS DOLMANS CYCLING TEAM, at :31
11. Allie DRAGOO, T16, at :33
12. Karol-Ann CANUEL, VELOCIO – SRAM, at :33
13. Sarah STOREY, at :34
14. Carmen SMALL, T16, at :45
15. Rhae-Christie SHAW, BMW, at :48
16. Alison TETRICK, OPW, at :51
17. Laura BROWN, UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM, at :59
18. Emma WHITE, USA, at 1:12
19. Madeleine BOUTET, USA, at 1:19
20. Ana Teresa CASAS BONILLA, MEX, at 1:19