Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder: Stetina scores again with stage 2 win

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Peter Stetina (Team Ruined Gravel) took hold of the GC lead with a second win in a row at Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder on Thursday. In the women's open field, Sarah Sturm (Specialized) took the stage 2 victory.

Jonathan Baker (Sonic Boom Gravel) was relentless in his early attacks, getting up the road early. However, Stetina, Eddie Anderson (Alpecin-Fenix) and Coulton Hartrich (Manzur Cycling Design) bridged up and rode past him on the big climb of the 95-kilometre route. The trio split on the end of the climb, with Stetina taking the win, followed by Anderson and Hartrich, respectively. 

“Unless Stetina has a mechanical or a flat, it’s going to be impossible to beat him in the GC, but I’d love to beat him in at least one stage. He’d gap me on every climb, but that’s OK as he was one of the best in the WorldTour,” Anderson said at the finish on the banks of the Willamette River.

Two years ago Sarah Sturm crashed out of this second stage, so no doubt she had a little something to prove to herself today with the win. Second place on the stage went to Hillary Heskitt (Squad Cycles), and Flavia Oliviera (Cinch Elite) taking third. 

She gained back 10 minutes in the GC hunt in this short, but intense stage. Behind her Rebecca Fahringer (Kona Maxxis Shimano) was dealing with a mechanical which only left Serena Gordon (Liv Racing), the stage 1 winner, at the front of the GC fight. Sturm will start stage 3 with a 46-second deficit to Gordon.