The race started off fast with no moves getting more than 5 seconds off the front for the first 20 minutes. I was able to attack at the first lull and get away with 3 other guys for 3 laps and picked up the first prime of the day. We were reeled in shortly after and I just decided to bide my time. That was until they rang the bell for a $100 prime. My old team mate Jesse Anthony heard the bell as well, and we step back into our old routine of him leading me out. He did the perfect hit-out and I was able to scoop up the $100 with no problems.

With about 15 laps left a move of 8 or so guys got off with a 10 second gap. I saw that most of the teams were up there in the move, so I hit out on the opposite side of the field and bridged up to the break. We all rolled through in the break and things looked good until 3 to go. The field was cruising in on us and I attacked with 2 to go to try and split the break and keep us away. Well, that didn’t work and we got caught with 600 meters to go. I was able to grab a good wheel into the last corner in the midst of some craziness and followed Cody O’Reileiy in the sprint. Cody took it strong to the line for the win and I ended up a close third place.

I was pretty happy for the first race of the season and know that if I hadn’t attacked with 2 to go I might have pulled off a better sprint. The first race on the Orbea was great, the bike was stiff and fast with the Rol wheels feeling smooth. As always, the SRAM work perfect and I never missed a shift. I look forward to Valley of the Sun with some stiffer competition doing some racing with my new team mates.