Women’s WorldTour comes to California

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, California (VN) — Coryn Rivera was a 17-year-old junior in 2010 when a women’s race was hastily held for the first time in conjunction the men’s Amgen Tour of California. Despite riding with junior gearing, Rivera sprinted to the criterium win in downtown Sacramento.

Six years later, Rivera’s career is on the rise, and she’s now well-entrenched in the pro peloton. Women’s racing has also advanced, albeit on a slightly slower trajectory.

Its latest advancement in the United States starts Thursday when the women’s four-day Tour of California begins as part of the inaugural UCI Women’s WorldTour. It’s the first of two U.S. races on the new international circuit.

“It’s funny to think it was six years, and I was on junior gears,” said Rivera, who won the Joe Martin Stage Race on April 24, her first career UCI-rated stage race victory. “I was there with a couple of teammates. But junior gears or not, I always line up on the start line to do my best, and I naturally have a strong sprint. Lauren Tamayo was my lead-out girl and she still is.”

Rivera and Tamayo will be part of a stellar field. Kristin Armstrong (Twenty16 – RideBiker), a two-time Olympic time trial gold medalist and two-time TT world champion, Evelyn Stevens (Boels – Dolmans), the world hour record-holder, and teammate Megan Guarnier, the reigning national road champion, are among top entrants.

Mara Abbott (Wiggle – High5), who claimed the Tour of the Gila on May 8, and Marrianne Vos (Rabo – Liv) of the Netherlands, a three-time world road champion, are also …

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