Brooke Miller won the 2008 Amgen Women's Criterium, an event held during the first stage of the Amgen Tour of California and the first event of this year's National Racing Calendar.

Miller, a Cleveland resident who won ten races in Europe last year in her first season racing abroad, edged Cheerwine’s Laura Van Gilder and Team High Road’s Emila Fahlin

"This was a really huge win for me because it was a really great field,” Miller said . “It was really a thrill to be able to show how exciting women’s racing is; we hope the crowds saw that. The racing was aggressive, fast and exciting.”

The course used portions of the finishing circuit of the TOC in downtown Santa Rosa and boasted more than $10,000 in prizes.

The womens event was a first at the TOC.

"We think it’s well past time that these women are recognized for their racing and sacrifices," said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, the race presenter.