Twenty year old Swedish National Champion Emiia Fahlin beat a top field in Santa Rosa on Sunday to win the Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium. Perfectly set up by her teammate Kim Anderson, Columbia-Highroad's youngest rider sprinted out of a 13 person breakaway winning her first race for the season and demostrating her sprinting talent.

"It was really fun to win today," said Fahlin. "Last year I came third in this race so I really wanted to come back here and do better.

"At first I didn't realise I was in the break," she added. "I wanted to stay close to the front and I ended up in a three person group. A group bridged up to us which included my teammate Kim Anderson."

Anderson forced the pace in the break know that Fahlin was a good chance in the sprint. Back in the field Columbia-Highroad had Ina-yoko Teutenberg ready in case the break didn't work. The gap opened to 40 seconds despite the chase and Anderson lead out Fahlin for the win.

After the race, Fahlin thanks Team Columbia-Highroad owner Bob Stapleton for his support of women's racing. "We are very fortunate to be a part of a team that also has a top men's team. We get excellent support and all the best equipment," she said.

Of her career hopes the youngster left the possibilities open. "For this year I really want to work on my sprinting. I'm lucky to have Ina to teach and guide me in that. My personal goal for the year is the European Championships."

Arriving directly from the Women's Tour of Qatar, Fahlin will stay in California for the next month to train and race in warmer weather than her home in Sweden.

"I really enjoy California. I trained here for a long time last year and I have been looking forward to returning," she said.