BMC Racing Team’s George Hincapie out-sprinted Tejay Van Garderen on the rain-soaked streets of Aspen, Colorado, to win Wednesday’s stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.
Photo: John Pierce/PhotoSport International UK USA Asia
Hincapie was part of a six-man group that slipped the field on the run-in from Independence Pass on the 209.8-kilometer stage. It was his first victory for the BMC Racing Team and his first since winning a third U.S. national road title on Aug. 30, 2009 in his hometown of Greenville, S.C. “It has been awhile,” an elated Hincapie said. “We had four guys at the top of the climb to help Cadel (Evans) come back, so I thought I might as well take a chance. It worked out perfectly.” Hincapie also moved into second overall, 16 seconds behind Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad), who became the race’s third overall leader in three days. Evans led a small chase group home to finish seventh, 45 seconds after Hincapie, and is sixth overall, 51 seconds off the lead.
BMC Racing Team Assistant Director Michael Sayers said everything fell into place perfectly on a stage that included two climbs at high altitude, a high-speed pile-up that knocked several riders out of the race and, at times, pouring rain. “The whole team rode really, really super,” Sayers said. “Every single guy rode well and contributed today. And I’m sure Cadel wasn’t disappointed he had someone up the road today to take the pressure off a bit.” Thursday’s stage is a 16.1 km, mostly uphill individual time trial in Vail.
George Hincapie: (interviewed by Versus TV)
OTHER STAGES: PROLOGUE | STAGE 1 |
The race saw a big crash with a lot of riders affected including Britain’s Dan Lloyd. Photo: John Pierce/PhotoSport International UK USA Asia
Tejay Van Garderen Wears Yellow
HTC-Highroad’s Tejay Van Garderen took second place on Wednesday in the second stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado and came away from the stage wearing yellow. Van Garderen attacked within a kilometre from the finish line and was brought back, before jumping in on a final attack where he finished just behind BMC’s George Hincapie.
“Tejay rode great today,” said sport director, Brian Holm, “He was strong enough to make a solid attack on that last climb, and he he put us back in the lead as a team so it was a success.” “The attack on the climb, [Van Garderen] got away with Leipheimer (RadioShack) and a few others. When they got caught there was still time to make a move on the downhill to the finish.”
“The downhill was fast but safe enough for an attack, and about six riders got away. Tejay had the right position to get the [leader’s] jersey and he did.” HTC-Highroad’s Colorado native, Danny Pate participated in a long break from the start of the stage, during which time team RadioShack was controlling. “Danny fought hard for us from the start,” added Holm, “All the boys did great but tomorrow we will have to work to try and gain more time and defend.”
Van Garderen is also now tied with Leipheimer in the points competition.
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Click a photo to display, use your cursor keys to move left and right. Click the picture to close Photos: John Pierce/PhotoSport International UK USA Asia
Stage
1    George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team    5:26:10
2 Â Â Â Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-Highroad
3 Â Â Â Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo
4 Â Â Â Eduard Alexander Beltran Suarez (Col) EPM – UNE
5 Â Â Â Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col) Gobernacion De Antioquia – Indeportes Antiquia
6 Â Â Â Bruno Pires (Por) Leopard Trek
7    Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team    0:00:45
8 Â Â Â Lucas Euser (USA) Team Spidertech Powered By C10
9 Â Â Â Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack
10 Â Â Â Jeffry Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
61 Â Â Â Daniel Lloyd (GBr) Team Garmin-Cervelo @4.41
OVERALL
1    Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-Highroad    10:04:08
2    George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team    0:00:16
3    Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo    0:00:22
4    Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack    0:00:34
5    Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo    0:00:45
6    Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team    0:00:51
7    Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col) Gobernacion De Antioquia – Indeportes Antiquia    0:00:52
8    Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team    0:01:04
9    Bruno Pires (Por) Leopard Trek    0:01:08
10    Rory Sutherland (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling    0:01:09
65    Daniel Lloyd (GBr) Team Garmin-Cervelo    0:08:32
