
Ian Boswell helped teammate Geraint Thomas win Paris-Nice. Photo: Tim De Waele | <a href="http://www.tdwsport.com" target="_blank">TDWsport.com</a>
Welcome to the latest edition of Americans Abroad, our weekly check-in with the American pros in the European peloton. VeloNews will publish these updates every Monday throughout the season.
Ian Boswell proved his climbing talents during Saturday’s stage 6 at Paris-Nice, when he rode with the front group for much of the final 15-kilometer climb up Madone d’Utelle. The Madone was the last of seven categorized climbs featured in the stage, and it carried an average gradient of around six percent. The young American proved to be a valuable lieutenant for his Sky leader, Geraint Thomas, who took the lead on Saturday and went on to win the eight-day stage race. Boswell said it was important to get to the front on Saturday due to the cancelation of stage 3 up Mont Brouilly — it proved to be a decisive day.
Thomas was able to ride away from Contador near the end and take second on Saturday, behind Katusha’s Ilnur Zakarin. Boswell placed 38th on the day, and was 70th overall after Sunday’s finale in Nice. Boswell recently spent some time training with Sky teammate Chris Froome in South Africa, which the 25-year-old called “an eye-opening experience.” Froome was impressed with Boswell, who traveled to France after the camp for Paris-Nice.
Craddock also raced Paris-Nice. He finished 16th overall and was the top American finisher, 4:03 behind Thomas.
Easter raced Tour de Taiwan, and he finished 52nd overall.
Farrar was the lone American sprinter racing Paris-Nice. His best finish was 63rd in stage 3, and he was 126th overall.
Guarnier was among a slew of American women racing the Ronde van Drenthe, the second Women’s WorldTour event. Her teammate Chantal Blaak won the race, with Guarnier taking 35th, 1:49 behind.
Jones is racing Tirreno-Adriatico. He was 148th after Monday’s stage 6. Stage 5 was canceled because of snow, and the race will conclude Tuesday.
Olds was the top American finisher at the Ronde van Drenthe, taking sixth. She was in a large group of women who all finished 1:49 behind Blaak.
Phinney is currently racing Tirreno-Adriatico. He and his BMC teammates won the opening team time trial, and Greg Van Avermaet won Monday’s stage 6.
Ryan raced the Ronde van Drenthe and finished 30th, in the group that crossed the line 1:49 back.
Small also raced the Ronde van Drenthe. She was the second American across the line, finishing 17th.
Talansky started Paris-Nice and was 102nd overall before a crash in stage 5 forced him to abandon.
Lauren Stephens was the lone American finisher for Tibco at Ronde van Drenthe, 27th place. Her teammates, Lauren Komanski, Brianna Walle, and Lauren Hall did not finish.
The American Pro Continental team sent three Americans to Tour de Taiwan. Danny Summerhill, Adrian Hegyvary, and Daniel Eaton finished 49th, 80th, and 45th overall, respectively.
After BMC’s TTT win, Van Garderen was well positioned in Tirreno-Adriatico’s overall standings, but with Sunday’s cancellation, it all comes down to Tuesday’s 10km individual time trial. Currently, he is 26th on GC.
Wiles finished 66th at Ronde van Drenthe, also 1:49 behind Blaak.