Van Garderen takes over race lead with Crested Butte victory
Vande Velde trails BMC rider across the line
Tejay van Garderen (BMC) timed his attack to perfection to win stage 2 of the USA Pro Challenge from Montrose to Crested Butte. The 24-year-old escaped alongside Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Sharp) on the steep pitch to the finish line and swept up the last of the day's early break inside the final kilometre.
The American pair held off the rest of the field with van Garderen taking the stage and the overall lead from Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp), who was not a factor in the uphill finish. Vande Velde held on for second place, finishing in the same time as van Garderen, with Ivan Rovny (RusVelo) taking third at six seconds. Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-Quickstep), the defending USA Pro Challenge champion and victor at Crested Butte last year, finished fourth at eight seconds.
The general classification mirrors the stage finale, with van Garderen leading Vande Velde, both tied on time, while Rovny holds third overall at six seconds. Leipheimer moves into fourth place at eight seconds.
The day couldn't have gone better for van Garderen as he won the first road stage of his professional career plus claimed the USA Pro Challenge's yellow jersey for the second time, a feat he previously accomplished just shy of one year ago on the queen stage into Aspen.
"I wasn't overconfident going into the last four kilometres that I was going to win, but I just knew that I was going to try," said van Garderen. "Toward the end, our guys started working and started bringing the gap to the breakaway down so I couldn't let them down.
"When I looked over my should and saw Christian on my wheel I thought, 'man, he's in the perfect position and he's going to outsprint me', but at this elevation I think he had trouble with his acceleration. It all worked out."
After finishing a close second to Levi Leipheimer in last year's inaugural USA Pro Challenge, Vande Velde is once again very much in the mix to finish one step higher this go round on the final podium in Denver.
"I am really happy with my ride today and very proud of how the team is riding here in Colorado," said Vande Velde. "The team is ultra-motivated, we've animated the race the first two days and we hope to continue to do so as the week goes on."
Another day, another big break goes for broke
The race was almost turned on its head when a powerhouse break of 12 escaped early and formed a five minute lead on the bunch. The escape was comprised of Alex Howes and David Zabriskie (Garmin-Sharp), Mathias Frank (BMC Racing Team), Jens Voigt (RadioShack-Nissan), Vincenzo Nibali and Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas-Cannondale), Julien El Fares (Team Type 1-Sanofi), Craig Lewis (Champion System Pro Cycling Team), Christopher Baldwin (Bissell Cycling), Matt Cooke (Team Exergy) plus Rafael Infantino Abreu and Jorge Camilo Castiblanco Cubides (EPM-Une).
Once again several ProTour heavyweights went out on the attack, with Zabriskie, Voigt, Nibali, Agnoli also figuring prominently in the opening stage's 22-man break which nearly ripped the race apart. Cooke, too, also made his second straight appearance in the stage's near race-long escape.
Heading east out of Montrose on US 50, amidst buttes, mesas and wide-open terrain Castiblanco (EPM-Une) jumped away to win the day's first KOM, the category 3 Cerro Summit at 26.8km. The Colombian repeated the feat soon after at the next KOM, the category 3 Blue Mesa Summit at 49.5km, and as the escape reached the expansive Blue Mesa Reservoir its lead remained steady at five minutes. Not long after passing the feed zone, however, with 82km under their belt, the break now faced a gentle but steady uphill through to the finish.
Whether it was due to fatigue, the constant battering by crosswinds or assorted team tactics, cooperation in the lead group periodically came to a halt at the head of affairs as attacks were launched after they passed through Gunnison and turned left onto CO 135 and the final 52km to Mt. Crested Butte. Voigt, Agnoli and El Fares ultimately lost contact with the break.
"The two Liquigas guys were screwing around the whole day, that was the most frustrating part," Lewis told Cyclingnews. "The rest of us were rolling around good together. Fortunately we dropped the guys we wanted to and then, unfortunately, Nibali came back, so that was frustrating, but we still managed to keep it fairly fast. We hung on for as long was we could, but spending all day out there at this altitude, always uphill and there was a lot of wind, it really takes it out of you, especially after yesterday."
The break’s advantage held until the final 15 kilometres with a concerted chase from a number of teams. As the leaders approached the initial rise to the finish at three kilometres to go they still led the peloton by 40 seconds and when Camilo Castiblanco (EPM-Une) launched his attack it appeared that the bunch had mis-timed their efforts.
The Colombian was overhauled by Mathias Frank (BMC) inside the two kilometre banner with a tiring Alex Howes hanging on. Frank, one of six members in the break who were tied on time with Farrar, the general classification leader, dispatched of Howes and pressed on alone. If the 25-year-old Swiss could hang on to the finish both the stage win and yellow jersey would be his.
"At the end we had a lot of guys who were already in the break yesterday so they were pretty tired and the group was not really going," Frank told Cyclingnews. "At the end I was just 20 seconds short to win the stage. I had really good legs. It was actually easier being in the front today than pulling all day yesterday. But we knew Tejay [van Garderen] was super-strong so it was perfect for us."
Frank would be overtaken inside the final kilometre by his teammate van Garderen, with Vande Velde on his wheel. Vande Velde tried to come around the BMC leader inside the final 150 meters but faded in the finale.
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team | 3:52:24 |
2 | Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Sharp | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Ivan Rovny (Rus) RusVelo | 0:00:06 |
4 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-Quickstep | 0:00:08 |
5 | Ramiro Rincon Diaz (Col) EPM - Une | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin - Sharp | 0:00:12 |
7 | Joseph Lloyd Dombrowski (USA) Bontrager Livestrong Team | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Lucas Euser (USA) Spidertech Powered By C10 | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Damiano Caruso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Johann Tschopp (Swi) BMC Racing Team | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Matthew Busche (USA) RadioShack-Nissan | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) Team Type 1 - Sanofi | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Peter Stetina (USA) Garmin - Sharp | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack-Nissan | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan | 0:00:17 |
17 | Jakob Fuglsang (Den) RadioShack-Nissan | 0:00:19 |
18 | Gavin Mannion (USA) Bontrager Livestrong Team | 0:00:21 |
19 | Dmitry Kozontchuk (Rus) RusVelo | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Francisco Jarley Colorado Hernandez (Col) EPM - Une | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Freddy Orlando Piamonte Rodriguez (Col) EPM - Une | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Timothy Duggan (USA) Liquigas-Cannondale | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Artem Ovechkin (Rus) RusVelo | 0:00:26 |
24 | Alex Howes (USA) Garmin - Sharp | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Kiel Reijnen (USA) Team Type 1 - Sanofi | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | George Bennett (NZl) RadioShack-Nissan | 0:00:33 |
27 | Cameron Wurf (Aus) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Michael Friedman (USA) Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing Team | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Robigzon Leandro Oyola Oyola (Col) EPM - Une | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Chris Butler (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | 0:00:43 |
32 | Andrew Bajadali (USA) Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Carter Jones (USA) Bissell Cycling | 0:00:46 |
34 | Jorge Camilo Castiblanco Cubides (Col) EPM - Une | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Andres Diaz Corrales (Col) Team Exergy | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team | 0:00:49 |
37 | Javier Eduardo Gomez Pineda (Col) EPM - Une | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Craig Lewis (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Serghei Tvetcov (Mda) Team Exergy | 0:00:51 |
40 | Michael Creed (USA) Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Rory Sutherland (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team | 0:00:53 |
42 | Rafael Infantino Abreu (Col) EPM - Une | 0:00:57 |
43 | Fred Rodriguez (USA) Team Exergy | 0:00:59 |
44 | Alexander Mironov (Rus) RusVelo | 0:01:08 |
45 | Gang Xu (Chn) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | 0:01:16 |
46 | Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale | 0:01:23 |
47 | Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Cycling | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Pengda Jiao (Chn) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Moreno Moser (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale | 0:01:43 |
50 | Christopher Baldwin (USA) Bissell Cycling | 0:01:45 |
51 | Caleb Fairly (USA) Spidertech Powered By C10 | 0:01:49 |
52 | George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team | 0:01:51 |
53 | Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing Team | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Joshua Atkins (NZl) Bontrager Livestrong Team | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Georg Preidler (Aut) Team Type 1 - Sanofi | 0:01:55 |
57 | Edward King (USA) Liquigas-Cannondale | 0:02:12 |
58 | Lachlan David Morton (Aus) Garmin - Sharp | 0:02:50 |
59 | Oliver Zaugg (Swi) RadioShack-Nissan | 0:03:22 |
60 | Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Sergey Firsanov (Rus) RusVelo | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Eduard Alexander Beltran Suarez (Col) EPM - Une | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Benjamin Day (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Jeffry Louder (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Alexander Candelario (USA) Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team | 0:03:42 |
68 | Biao Liu (Chn) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing Team | 0:04:29 |
70 | William Clarke (Aus) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | 0:04:37 |
71 | Daniel Summerhill (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team | 0:04:39 |
72 | Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Sharp | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Jake Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Matt Cooke (USA) Team Exergy | 0:04:52 |
75 | Frank Kevin Pipp (USA) Bissell Cycling | 0:04:58 |
76 | Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Astana Pro Team | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
77 | Arkimedes Arguelyes Rodriges (Rus) RusVelo | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Sergey Klimov (Rus) RusVelo | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 | Nathan Haas (Aus) Garmin - Sharp | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
80 | Noe Gianetti (Swi) Team Exergy | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
81 | Martin Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quickstep | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
82 | Patrick Bevin (NZl) Bissell Cycling | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 | Jens Voigt (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
84 | Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
85 | James Oram (NZl) Bontrager Livestrong Team | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 | Peter Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quickstep | 0:04:58 |
87 | Matt Brammeier (Irl) Omega Pharma-Quickstep | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
88 | Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
89 | Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
90 | Morgan Schmitt (USA) Team Exergy | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
91 | Julien El Fares (Fra) Team Type 1 - Sanofi | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
92 | Alexander Efimkin (Rus) Team Type 1 - Sanofi | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
93 | Javier Megias Leal (Spa) Team Type 1 - Sanofi | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
94 | Joey Rosskopf (USA) Team Type 1 - Sanofi | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
95 | Tom Zirbel (USA) Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
96 | Ryan Eastman (USA) Bontrager Livestrong Team | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
97 | Connor O'Leary (USA) Bontrager Livestrong Team | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
98 | Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Team Type 1 - Sanofi | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
99 | Marsh Cooper (Can) Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
100 | Sebastian Salas (Can) Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
101 | Joseph Schmalz (USA) Bissell Cycling | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
102 | Julian Kyer (USA) Bissell Cycling | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
103 | Matthias Friedemann (Ger) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
104 | Karl Menzies (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
105 | David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Sharp | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
106 | Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
107 | Brian Vandborg (Den) Spidertech Powered By C10 | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
108 | Hugo Houle (Can) Spidertech Powered By C10 | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
109 | Ryan Roth (Can) Spidertech Powered By C10 | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
110 | Jeremy Vennell (NZl) Bissell Cycling | 0:05:53 |
111 | Jesse Anthony (USA) Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | 0:06:03 |
112 | Sam Johnson (USA) Team Exergy | 0:06:17 |
113 | Jeroen Hoorne (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
114 | Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team | 0:09:21 |
115 | Robert Förster (Ger) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
116 | Benjamin King (USA) RadioShack-Nissan | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lawson Craddock (USA) Bontrager Livestrong Team | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Alex Howes (USA) Garmin - Sharp | 5 | pts |
2 | Christopher Baldwin (USA) Bissell Cycling | 3 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Craig Lewis (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | 1 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Alex Howes (USA) Garmin - Sharp | 5 | pts |
2 | Jorge Camilo Castiblanco Cubides (Col) EPM - Une | 3 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Sharp | 1 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Jorge Camilo Castiblanco Cubides (Col) EPM - Une | 8 | pts |
2 | Matt Cooke (USA) Team Exergy | 7 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale | 6 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Sharp | 5 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Jens Voigt (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan | 3 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Jorge Camilo Castiblanco Cubides (Col) EPM - Une | 8 | pts |
2 | Matt Cooke (USA) Team Exergy | 7 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Craig Lewis (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | 6 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale | 5 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Jens Voigt (Ger) RadioShack-Nissan | 3 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team | 8 | pts |
2 | Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Sharp | 7 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Ivan Rovny (Rus) RusVelo | 6 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma-Quickstep | 5 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Ramiro Rincon Diaz (Col) EPM - Une | 3 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |