USA Pro Challenge: Stage 2, Montrose to Crested Butte

By Eddie Clark

Tejay van Garderen sprints into Pro Challenge leaders jersey.

(August 22, 2012) ASPEN, Colo.—Stage two of the USA Pro Challenge offered up hot sun and plenty of headwind for racers as they sped from Montrose to Crested Butte.  With two significant KOM climbs in the first 60Km, an early brake was sure to get away.

Notably Alex Howes, Dave Zabriskie and Jens Voigt did their share in the 12 man break to put the peloton on notice and soften up their rivals on the 160Km stage.  At one point the break away grew to 5 minutes and also added 10 more men, but there was little cooperation as attacks from within the break led to its demise.

BMC and Garmin Sharp had the upper hand with BMC's Mathias Frank and Garmin's Howes stilll dangling off the front as they rolled through CB proper with only a few Km to go until the finish.  In the uphill dash to the finish, BMC's Tejay van Garderen caught and passed his teamate while Garmin Sharp's Christian Vande Velde hung onto the wheel for a one-two respective finish that had both finishing with the same time. 

Garmin Sharp's Tom Danielson held onto the best climbers jersey with some sharp climbing, while Tyler Farrar (Garmin Sharp) held onto the sprinters jersey, and Bontrager Livestrong kept the best young rider's jersey in the team with a stand out ride for seventh place by Joe Dombrowski.