The 2013 USA Pro Cycling Challenge started off with a circuit race that was an appetizer. No lung-searing prologue, but three laps of a 32.9km circuit that was moving up and down the whole time. The climbs weren't big, but the pressure was on from the start. It's the kind of race that generally suits Cannondale Pro Cycling's Slovak Peter Sagan.

Sagan's team came loaded with riders ready, willing, and able to support him. Alessandro De Marchi, Ted King, Nariyuki Masuda, Fabio Sabatini, David Villella, and Sagan's brother Juraj Sagan are all excellent gregarios, while Damiano Caruso is a climber who can fit a support role and climb well enough to contend for the overall victory.

The BMC Racing Team led into the final corner for their sprinter Greg Van Avermaet. Sitting in fourth position, Sagan launched his sprint. He easily blew past everyone to take the stage win and the first leader's jersey of the race. The victory also gave him the lead in the points competition and the best young rider competition.

"I'm very happy," smiled the ever-cool Sagan. "I want to thank all my teammates because they pulled the field for the whole race and mine was a victory for the team. Of course, it was only 100km. Tomorrow will be harder. I'm happy for today and tomorrow will be tomorrow."

On Tuesday the second stage takes the riders from Aspen over the continental divide on their way to Breckenridge. 205km with three big climbs totalling over 12,000 feet of climbing, will make defending Sagan's lead difficult.