Tejay van Garderen won the USA Pro Challenge on his own strength and more

Winner Tejay van Garderen thanks teammate Mathias Frank on the 2013 USA Pro Challenge podium in Denver, Colorado

From the time BMC Racing Team’s Tejay van Garderen eased into the leader’s jersey after the conclusion of Stage 4, the story of the 2013 USA Pro Challenge’s final days became the change in van Garderen that enabled him to win this race on his third attempt.

He was more relaxed. He had matured. Four Grand Tours had provided invaluable experience.

But something else aside from a change within helped him to finally take the yellow jersey home — his teammates, their hard work over seven days of racing, and quite simply their presence. In particular, that of Mathias Frank. During the post-race press conference van Garderen called him “one of my best friends.” Frank finished second overall which put him in close proximity for a big bear hug on the podium.

See the SBS Cycling Central website for my race wrap-up story which focuses on the aggressive Michael Rogers (Saxo-Tinkoff) and Tom Danielson’s (Garmin-Sharp) wish for the 2014 edition of the Pro Challenge.