Report: USA Pro Challenge Stage 2: Frank Solos To Victory

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BMC’S Mathias Frank attacked on a short, steep climb Tuesday at the USA Pro Challenge, then dived down the descent to solo to the stage win. Lachlan Morton leads.

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RELATED: Stage 1 Report & Results

Frank said he gave it everything he had to get over Boreas Pass at the end of the 202.9-kilometer race that had earlier crossed the summits of Independence Pass (3,687 meters) and Hoosier Pass (3,518 meters). “I just made it over the top and from then on, I could hardly pedal any more,” he said. “I didn’t recover until the finish.”

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Another victory for BMC as Frank celebrates in the USA. Photo: PhotoSport International. uk usa asia.

“But luckily, I’m not the only one here with this problem (dealing with the high altitude). I had to go super deep on that last steep pitch.” Frank was one of the remnants of a 13-rider breakaway that formed in the second half of the five-hour race but splintered on the penultimate climb. One of the two riders Frank left behind on Boreas Pass – Lachlan Morton (Garmin-Sharp) – finished three seconds after him and assumed the race lead from Stage 1 winner Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling), who was third ahead of BMC Racing Team’s Tejay van Garderen.

Now two seconds behind Morton and in second overall, Frank said he wasn’t concerned that freewheeling his BMC teammachine SLR01 across the finish line may have cost him a chance to take the yellow jersey. “You can’t have everything,” he said. “I have a stage win here and I’m happy with this. I didn’t really know it was coming down to a few seconds. Tactically, it is maybe not a bad thing.” Frank’s win was his third of the season – all of them solo – adding to back-to-back stage wins at the Tour of Austria in early July.

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Photo: PhotoSport International. uk usa asia.

The BMC Racing Team was in the thick of the action from the start, with Swiss national road champion Michael Schär leading a three-man breakaway over Independence Pass ahead of Matt Cooke (Jamis-Hagens Berman) and Luis Lemus (Jell Belly). They enjoyed a nine-minute lead at one point. Sky’s Kanstantsin Siutsou and David Millar (Garmin-Sharp) then jumped from the bunch and the duo worked hard to bridge the gap over to the leaders before they passed the first intermediate sprint.

After the two bridged to the escapees, the chasing efforts of Sagan’s Cannondale squad and RadioShack Leopard brought the race back together with less than 80 km to go. But nearly immediately, Frank and teammate Greg Van Avermaet – who was runner-up on Stage 1 – were part of a new escape move that gained as many as four minutes before Team Saxo-Tinkoff started chasing. Josh Edmondson was part of that move but later dropped. Then, Morton pressed on alone and was joined by Craddock and Frank with just 18km remaining. That proved the move that counted and despite Saxo-Tinkoff, UnitedHealthcare and Cannondale all trying to spoil the party, it was Frank and Morton who stayed ahead to sweep up the stage and overall honours.

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Morton on the attack in the mountains. Photo: PhotoSport International. uk usa asia.

“Today, it really took the pressure off, we came through with the win and came through with fresher legs in the final for us to distance the GC (general classification) guys, so it was perfect.” Van Garderen, who arrived with Sagan 14 seconds after Frank, is fourth overall, 11 seconds off the lead, while Van Avermaet (14th, at 41 seconds) and Schär (18th, at 46 seconds) give the BMC Racing Team options, Assistant Director Jackson Stewart said. “We thought today would be another great stage for Greg and we wanted Tejay to make some time on some GC guys like he did,” he said. “But Frank was not a surprise because we were willing to let him go in a move, let him go with the right guys and let him try for the stage. Everything worked out in the end.”

Kennaugh Out
Dan Hunt, the DS from Sky, revealed that racing at altitude played a major part in Peter Kennaugh being forced to abandon on the early slopes of Independence. “Pete has been fatigued since he got here following his massive efforts at the Tour de France,” Hunt added. “We were hoping he’d be able to come through this race a little better but it’s unfortunate he wasn’t able to do that.”

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Photo: PhotoSport International. uk usa asia.

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Peter Sagan in yellow for stage 1 and now 3rd overall. Photo: PhotoSport International. uk usa asia.

RELATED: Stage 1 Report & Results

Result
1 FRANK Mathias BMC Racing Team 05:05:19
2 MORTON Lachlan Garmin – Sharp 00:03
3 SAGAN Peter Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 00:14
4 VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC Racing Team @ st
5 CRADDOCK Lawson Bontrager Cycling Team 00:21
6 DANIELSON Thomas Garmin – Sharp 00:32
7 ATAPUMA HURTADO John Darwin Team Colombia 00:33
8 CARUSO Damiano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 00:44
9 SCHAR Michael BMC Racing Team @ st
10 BENNETT George RadioShack – Leopard @ st
11 JONES Carter Bissell Pro Cycling @ st
12 BALDWIN Christopher Bissell Pro Cycling @ st
13 BRENES OBANDO Gregory Juel Champion System Pro Cycling Team @ st
14 DEIGNAN Philip UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis @ st
15 ACEVEDO COLLE Janier Alexis Jamis – Hagens Berman @ st
16 EUSER Lucas UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis @ st
17 MEJIAS LEAL Javier Team Novo Nordisk @ st
18 SUTHERLAND Rory Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
19 VANDE VELDE Christian Garmin – Sharp @ st
20 GALLOPIN Tony RadioShack – Leopard @ st
21 CHALAPUD GOMEZ Robinson Eduardo Team Colombia @ st
22 CUMMINGS Stephen BMC Racing Team @ st
23 VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC Racing Team @ st
24 BUTLER Chris Champion System Pro Cycling Team 00:55
25 TVETCOV Serghei Jelly Belly p/b Kenda 01:02
26 REIJNEN Kiel UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis @ st
27 WILSON Nathan Bontrager Cycling Team @ st
28 PUTT Tanner Bontrager Cycling Team @ st
29 DOMBROWSKI Joe Sky Procycling @ st
30 KL̦DEN Andr̩as RadioShack РLeopard @ st
31 ORAM James Bontrager Cycling Team 01:20
32 MACHADO Tiago RadioShack – Leopard @ st
33 ANTHONY Jesse Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 01:22
34 BOOKWALTER Brent BMC Racing Team @ st
35 SUAREZ SUAREZ Juan Pablo Team Colombia @ st
36 DEKKER Thomas Garmin – Sharp @ st
37 HAGMAN Alex Jelly Belly p/b Kenda @ st
38 ZIRBEL Tom Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 01:32
39 SCHMITT Morgan Jelly Belly p/b Kenda @ st
40 MANUEL SILVA PIRES Bruno Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
41 SCHLECK Andy RadioShack – Leopard @ st
42 TALANSKY Andrew Garmin – Sharp @ st
43 WARBASSE Lawrence BMC Racing Team @ st
44 BEYER Chad Champion System Pro Cycling Team @ st
45 BOSWELL Ian Sky Procycling 01:39
46 FRIEDMAN Michael Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 02:19
47 WREN Tyler Jamis – Hagens Berman 02:40
48 DAY Benjamin UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis @ st
49 VILLELLA Davide Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
50 LOUDER Jeff UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis 02:45
51 AVILA VANEGAS Edwin Alcibiades Team Colombia 03:10
52 JONES Chris UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis 03:36
53 GAIMON Phillip Bissell Pro Cycling @ st
54 HENTTALA Joonas Team Novo Nordisk 06:02
55 CARLSEN Kirk Bissell Pro Cycling @ st
56 KING Edward Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
57 MAZICH Sean Jelly Belly p/b Kenda @ st
58 HANSEN Jesper Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
59 ROGERS Michael Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
60 DRISCOLL James Jamis – Hagens Berman 10:03
61 DUCHESNE Antoine Bontrager Cycling Team @ st
62 SAGAN Juraj Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
63 JACQUES-MAYNES Benjamin Jamis – Hagens Berman @ st
64 VOIGT Jens RadioShack – Leopard @ st
65 ROMERO AMARAN Luis Jamis – Hagens Berman @ st
66 CAMACHO BERNAL Julio Alexis Team Colombia @ st
67 DUARTE AREVALO Fabio Andres Team Colombia @ st
68 OLSSON Michael Team Argos – Shimano 11:12
69 GESCHKE Simon Team Argos – Shimano @ st
70 CALABRIA Fabio Team Novo Nordisk @ st
71 EASTMAN Ryan Bontrager Cycling Team @ st
72 HOLLER Nikodemus Team Argos – Shimano @ st
73 LUDVIGSSON Tobias Team Argos – Shimano @ st
74 ROULSTON Hayden RadioShack – Leopard @ st
75 MASUDA Nariyuki Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
76 FROOME Christopher Sky Procycling @ st
77 CANDELARIO Alex Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies @ st
78 DAMUSEAU Thomas Team Argos – Shimano @ st
79 ZABRISKIE David Garmin – Sharp @ st
80 CLARKE Jonathan UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis @ st
81 NISHIZONO Ryota Champion System Pro Cycling Team @ st
82 COOPER Marsh Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies @ st
83 LEWIS Craig Champion System Pro Cycling Team @ st
84 MILLAR David Garmin – Sharp 14:53
85 DENNIS Rohan Garmin – Sharp @ st
86 GRETSCH Patrick Team Argos – Shimano @ st
87 BAZZANA Alessandro UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis @ st
88 PATE Danny Sky Procycling @ st
89 ANDERSON Ryan Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies @ st
90 LUND Anders Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
91 COOKE Matt Jamis – Hagens Berman @ st
92 DUGGAN Timothy Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
93 XU Gang Champion System Pro Cycling Team @ st
94 FENG Chun Kai Champion System Pro Cycling Team @ st
95 TORCKLER Michael Bissell Pro Cycling @ st
96 VENNELL Jeremy Bissell Pro Cycling @ st
97 HAMILTON Nic Jelly Belly p/b Kenda @ st
98 RODRIGUEZ Fred Jelly Belly p/b Kenda @ st
99 JUUL-JENSEN Christopher Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
100 EDMONDSON Joshua Sky Procycling @ st
101 DE MARCHI Alessandro Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 15:05
102 TARAMARCAZ Julien BMC Racing Team 19:16
103 MILLER Carson Jamis – Hagens Berman @ st
104 DE MESMAEKER Kevin Team Novo Nordisk @ st
105 VERSCHOOR Martijn Team Novo Nordisk @ st
106 PERON Andrea Team Novo Nordisk @ st
107 LOZANO RIBA David Team Novo Nordisk @ st
108 DAVILA LEMUS Luis Enrique Jelly Belly p/b Kenda @ st
109 SIUTSOU Kanstantsin Sky Procycling @ st
110 KING Benjamin RadioShack – Leopard @ st
111 BURNETT Ian Jelly Belly p/b Kenda @ st
112 OLEARY Connor Bontrager Cycling Team @ st
113 PORTE Richie Sky Procycling @ st
114 SABATINI Fabio Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
115 MCCARTNEY Jason Bissell Pro Cycling @ st
116 PANTANO GOMEZ Jarlinson Team Colombia @ st
117 SOLADAY Thomas Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies @ st
118 MEZGEC Luka Team Argos – Shimano @ st
119 PATRICK MCCARTY Jonathan Bissell Pro Cycling @ st
120 HUGUET Yann Team Argos – Shimano @ st
121 BROWN Nathan Bontrager Cycling Team @ st

OVERALL
1 MORTON Lachlan Garmin – Sharp 07:31:22
2 FRANK Mathias BMC Racing Team 00:02
3 SAGAN Peter Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 00:11
4 VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC Racing Team @ st
5 CRADDOCK Lawson Bontrager Cycling Team 00:18
6 DANIELSON Thomas Garmin – Sharp 00:29
7 ATAPUMA HURTADO John Darwin Team Colombia 00:35
8 CARUSO Damiano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 00:41
9 BALDWIN Christopher Bissell Pro Cycling @ st
10 BRENES OBANDO Gregory Juel Champion System Pro Cycling Team @ st
11 EUSER Lucas UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis @ st
12 GALLOPIN Tony RadioShack – Leopard @ st
13 SUTHERLAND Rory Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
14 VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC Racing Team @ st
15 ACEVEDO COLLE Janier Alexis Jamis – Hagens Berman @ st
16 BENNETT George RadioShack – Leopard 00:46
17 JONES Carter Bissell Pro Cycling @ st
18 SCHAR Michael BMC Racing Team @ st
19 MEJIAS LEAL Javier Team Novo Nordisk @ st
20 VANDE VELDE Christian Garmin – Sharp @ st

 

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