Taylor Phinney sprinted from a long way out to win the first stage of the USA Pro Challenge on Monday – his first win since coming back from a 14-month layoff with injury.
The BMC rider missed the second half of the 2014 season and most of the 2015 season as he rehabilitated from a horrific broken leg suffered at the USA National Championships last year.
He made his comeback at the Tour of Utah earlier in August, finishing third on stage one, but went a couple better in Steamboat Springs to take the win.
Winding up his sprint from a long way out, the 25-year-old American sped past everyone and out the front of the peloton, crossing the line ahead of Keil Reijnen (UnitedHealthcare) and teammate Brent Bookwalter.
“I was pretty much blown away crossing the finish line,” he said in the post-race press conference. “I think it’s going to take a little while to process fully the whole day. I can tell you the feeling crossing the finish line and the roar of the crowd was really special and really emotional. It was kind of that electric moment we all live for.”
Taylor Phinney wins Stage 1 of the USA Pro Challenge in Steamboat Springs, CO (Casey B Gibson)
