Bissell Pro Cycling drew first blood on Friday at the Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic in Merced, California.
Bissell — Jeremy Vennell, Robert Britton and the Jacques-Maynes brothers, Andy and Benjamin — won the 18-mile team time trial, run on a rolling 9-mile out-and-back course. Second went to California Giant Berry Farms (Andrew Talansky, Jared Barrilleaux, Steve Reaney and Jesse Moore), followed by third-placed Yahoo Cycling (Adam Switters, Ryan Parnes, Philip Mooney and Tyler Dibble).
In women’s racing, HTC-Columbia took top honors in the TTT, with Chloe Hosking, Ina Teutenberg, Evelyn Stevens and Kim Anderson.
Saturday brings the Merced Downtown Criterium, run on a flat, fast 0.8-mile loop. Men race 40 miles while women race 32.