RALLYING TO THE CAUSE

Rally Cycling wasn’t even supposed to be in the Tour of California for the race’s first year on the World-Tour. But an exception from the UCI allowed the race to invite two US Continental teams this year, opening the door for Rally and Jelly Belly-Maxxis.

The invitations caused no small amount of angst, but it’s safe to say Rally silenced any debate with its performance. After a disappointing stage 2 that saw sprinter Eric Young abandon and the GC hopes of Evan Huffman and Rob Britton vanish, the team had to reshuffle the deck.

Huffman and Britton powered a stage 4 breakaway into Santa Clarita, where Huffman led a onetwo finish. Britton picked up the banner again the following day after he and Huffman infiltrated a large breakaway that got away on the first of three queen stage climbs. Britton went solo for the final 35 kilometres, succumbing to the GC group with just five kilometres to go.

Huffman and Britton were back at it again on the final day, riding the breakaway all the way into Pasadena, where Huffman beat Team Sky’s David López to take his second stage win of the race.