In 2008, Christian Vande Velde made the transition from super domestique to team leader, finishing the season as one of the world’s top cycling talents. As part of the winning team time trial squad at the Giro d’Italia, Christian became only the second American ever to don the coveted maglia rosa. He rode heroically throughout the 2008 Tour de France, finishing fourth overall. The team’s biggest win in 2008 came when Christian took home the yellow jersey from the Tour of Missouri. It didn’t stop there: in 2012 Vande Velde sealed the deal with the overall win at the USAPC, where teammate Farrar won the sprint and Danielson most aggressive. He is Team Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda’s on-the-road captain and will lead the team in many future victories.