Tour of California - 2.1
USA, February 19-26, 2006
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Next Stage  Stage 2 - February 21: Martinez to San José, 152.7km
Commentary by Kristy Scrymgeour, with additional reporting from Mark Zalewski 
Complete live report
10:27 PST      Welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage 
  of Stage 2 of Tour of California. This stage is said to be the toughest stage 
  of the race and one that could possibly decide the race along with tomorrows 
  time trial. Starting in Martinez the course heads south to San Jose taking in 
  quite a lot of climbing along the way. The early climbs are shorter and not 
  so steep but later in the day, at the 122km mark they hit the Category 1 climb 
  up Sierra road which is a crusher. We caught up with Michael Barry (Discovery) 
  this morning. He has ridden this climb as says its as bad, if not worse than 
  it looks on the profile.  It is between three and four miles long and straight 
  up. From the peak of the climb home is 30km of flat roads making it very important 
  to be there on the climb.    With the race ending in a bunch kick in 
  yesterdays stage, JJ Haedo (Toyota United Pro) taking the victory, the general 
  classification remains the same with Levi Leipheimer donning the golden leaders 
  jersey. He was very instrumental is designing some of the courses of this tour 
  and expects to be a very tough day.    Following him in second place 
  on GC is Bobby Julich (CSC) with George Hincapie (Discovery) in third. Discovery 
  and CSC have a slight advantage at this early point in the race, both having 
  three or more riders in the top ten so far. This gives them men to play with 
  and a variety of tactics to use. The time differences however are very small 
  and anything can happen on a climbing day like today. Leipheimer is confident 
  his team is strong enough to defend his lead.     
10:47 PST      Its another nice day for racing. Temperatures 
  in the low 50's so far (12-15 degrees Celsius) so a bit chilly but the sun is 
  out. Another big crowd gathers at the start line despite the fact that its a 
  working day and no doubt we'll see big crowds on the climb towards the end of 
  the stage. 
10:50 PST      Riders are starting to line up and 
  they'll go through the call ups and the National Anthem before starting in about 
  ten minutes. Again they'll have three neutral laps through the town of Martinez 
  for a total of 8km before they head out on Alhambra Valley Road for the start 
  proper. 
11:05 PST      The riders are off for their neutral 
  laps. The crowd cheers them on as they go by. Another nice welcome from the 
  people of California. 
11:10 PST      The riders are all a bit nervous about 
  this climb today. Phil Zajicek (Navigators) who recently broke his hand say 
  that is not bothering him anymore. He is feeling good. He hasn't seen the climb 
  himself but a number of his teammates have and they also say its as hard as 
  it sounds. 
11:11 PST      The riders are in their third neutral 
  lap. Lots of school kids are lining the roads. 
11:14 PST      One non-starter today is Ivan Dominguez 
  (Toyota United Pro). He got hit my a car last week and still has a big haematoma 
  on his leg and is still not walking well.     
11:14 PST      The race proper has now started. Gerolsteiner 
  hit the front immediately. 
11:15 PST      Viatcheslav Ekimov (Discovery) is 
  back at the team car getting service. Perhaps a puncture. 
11:20 PST    2km/150.7km to go  The school kids are 
  going crazy screaming at the riders as they go by. The road is winding as they 
  head toward the first climb of the day. Clothing is being shed as the temperature 
  is rising a little. There is a little breeze today. Nothing major. 
11:24 PST      The first KOM comes after only 19km 
  of racing and there are already a couple of climbs before they hit this one. 
  Its only a cat 4 climb and from all accounts its not all that steep. Our local 
  source is John Koslosky who is the owner of Castro Valley Cyclery. He's been 
  riding these roads for 25 years and knows them well. Today he's decided to hire 
  a helicopter and watch the race from above. Our photographer Jonathan Devich 
  is going up with his so there's bound to be some cool photos at the end of todays 
  stage. 
11:30 PST      John has a very cool story. He started 
  riding through these roads years ago as a kid and he says he often used to get 
  passed by the 7-Eleven team. "They used to pass us like we were standing still," 
  he said. When he was a junior he went to a camp at the Olympic Training centre 
  in Colorado Springs but didn't make the cut. A few years later he ended up back 
  there at a mechanics course run by Calvin Jones who is the owner of Park Tool. 
  "I had no talent for bike riding but I was a good mechanic and became the youngest 
  certified mechanic for the US National Team." He has spent a lot of time racing 
  downhill and now owns a bike shop that the race passes today.  
11:34 PST      We're climbing now. Gerolsteiner and 
  T-Mobile are near the front. Spectators already line the side of the climb. 
  There are signs that say "Go George" and "Go Eki" (Ekimov).  This first 
  climb is about three kilometers long but not very steep near the bottom. Its 
  winding through the trees. 
11:35 PST      We've got somebody playing a Banjo 
  sitting in an old pickup truck. There are also a lot of cows out here. They 
  don't seem to be all that interested in the race. 
11:37 PST    10.4km/142.3km to go  They have just 
  made a left turn on to Bear Creek Rd towards the cat 4 climb. 
11:37 PST      We have an attack by Mark McCormack 
  (Colavita/Sutter Homes).  
11:38 PST      We caught up with Mark this morning 
  who was very surprised with the speed of the race yesterday. Especially the 
  final part of the race. He commented that everyone here is taking this race 
  very seriously. 
11:45 PST      Mike Sayers tried to join McCormack 
  which got the field chasing and they were both caught. Michael Barry is up near 
  the front with some Gerolsteiner boys. They are midway up the Cat 4 climb right 
  now and Mike Creed (TIAA CREF) has attacked and holds a small gap. 
11:46 PST    16km/136.7km to go  The road goes down 
  a little bit now before heading back up to the KOM. Mike Creed has 11 seconds 
  on the field now. 
11:47 PST      They are making a hard left hand turn 
  now onto Happy Valley Rd. which is the main part of the climb. 
11:48 PST    11km/141.7km to go  One and a half km 
  to the KOM now. A few switchbacks here. Its easy to get out of sight here so 
  its a good place to break away.  
11:50 PST      Its really windy near the top. The 
  road is a little rougher too and narrow. Lots of fans line the side of the road 
  cheering Creed on. There is a Belgian flag on the side of the road and lots 
  of Cowbells. The Specialized Angel is also at the top of the climb. 
11:51 PST    19km/133.7km to go  At the very top 
  of the climb there is a sign that says 5km to the sprint sign. So riders going 
  for the sprint category have to stay up there to contend the sprint at the very 
  bottom of the hill. Creed hits the top of the KOM. He must be going for KOM 
  points. He'll have the lead after this. 
11:52 PST      The field is now 200m to the KOM. 
  The descent is also very winding with lots of sharp off-camber corners. 
11:55 PST      Ben Jaques-Maynes is attempting to 
  bridge now. More school kids on the side of the road. The road is getting a 
  little bit smoother as we enter the town of Lafayette.  
11:56 PST      Tim Johnson (Health Net) is also trying 
  to bridge a little behind Jaques-Maynes (Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada). 
11:57 PST      Johnson has caught Jacques-Maynes 
  and they are working together now. They'll take a hard left towards Lafayette 
  and they have 200m to the sprint. 
11:58 PST    24km/128.7km to go  Creed is crossing 
  the sprint line now. The field is 45 seconds behind him with the two chasers 
  in between. 
12:02 PST    25.6km/127.1km to go  The gap is now 
  1'10" between Creed and the field. 
12:03 PST      The three riders are together now. 
12:04 PST    28km/124.7km to go  They've increased 
  their lead to 1'20". 
12:06 PST      The results from the first sprint 
  of the day are:  Mike Creed, Tim Johnson then Ben Jacques-Maynes. 
12:08 PST      There has been a change in the riders 
  in the break. Officials couldn't see the number correctly. Its not Tim Johnson 
  in the break (who is number 83), it is actually number 63, Mads Kaggestad (Credit 
  Agricole). 
12:09 PST      They trio have increased their lead 
  to 1'40" 
12:11 PST    30km/122.7km to go  Thirty kilometers 
  have passed and they are entering the town of Moraga. They have another couple 
  of climbs to contend before they hit the next sprint of the day in Castro Valley 
  in 25km. 
12:13 PST      Two minutes gap now and the three 
  breakaway riders are working well together. Back in the field the Gerolsteiner 
  team sit the front of the bunch setting the pace. This break away is good for 
  a lot of riders in the bunch because it makes their ride to the bottom of the 
  major climb a little easier. 
12:14 PST      We caught up with the Phonak director 
  Rene Savary this morning. He said "Its tough with this hard stage before the 
  time trial tomorrow. I expect the race to stay together until the climb today. 
  It would be nice if there was a small break of non climbers up the road to make 
  things easier in the lead up to the climb, but I think they’ll keep it together."  
  So he'll be happy with this break.         
12:16 PST      They are climbing again now. This 
  Pinehurst road climb is about four miles long and has sections of 10% grade. 
  Its quite tough. 
12:18 PST    36km/116.7km to go  Ben Jacques-Mayne 
  is a local boy. He grew up near the start of today's stage in Berkley and currently 
  lives 15 min bike ride away from the foot of today's monster climb...Sierra. 
  Apparently, according to reader Rob, "Ben showed up to a few local cross races 
  this season in preparation of the Tour, he was literally riding circles around 
  the competition. Expect a good show from Ben today, he has army's of fans waiting 
  for him on Sierra!" 
12:20 PST      Another reader has written in about 
  Mads Kaggestad. Georg Reidarsen writes "[Mads] is a very close friend of Thor 
  Hushovd and started the season quite well when he got sixth place overall in 
  Etoile de Besseges. A fairly good climber. But useless in sprints :) 
12:22 PST    39km/113.7km to go  The gap continues 
  to increase. The three riders in the break working well allowing the bunch to 
  cruise behind at this stage. TIAA Cref is on the front blocking for Creed. Its 
  a very windy climb right here. 
12:25 PST      There are heaps of people on the top 
  of the climb. Our reporter Mark has even seen Winnie the Poo up here. TIAA team 
  director, Jonathan Vaughters has come back from the break to watch his team 
  doing a good job on the front of the field. 
12:27 PST      Mike Creed is a good climber so the 
  bunch won't want to see this break get too far up the road. Despite the fact 
  there are no other KOM's until the main climb, there is a lot of climbing in 
  between and Creed will be using this to his advantage. 
12:32 PST      After Pinehurst they do Redwood which 
  is also tough and then a bit later comes Palmares which is another ten minute 
  climb with some very steep pinches. 
12:36 PST      One reader has just written in. He 
  is following the Cyclingnews coverage on his blackberry. The URL is http://live8.cyclingnews.com/wap/. 
  He says "I'm sitting at the KOM point, Blackberry in hand, reading your updates. 
  There's already several hundred people here. The climb is definitely a monster 
  and this road is definitely the place to be to watch the peloton get ripped 
  apart." 
12:38 PST    44.8km/107.9km to go  The gap is now 
  four minutes and they climb Redwood. Gerolsteiner is on the front. They are 
  not pushing the pace too hard as they field us spread across the road as they 
  climb. 
12:39 PST      We've just had an email from Ben Jacques-Maynes' 
  wife Goldi. She's reading the live coverage from the finish line. She says "go 
  Ben". 
12:40 PST      Again when they crest this climb they 
  have to be prepared for another sprint at the bottom of the descent. Its not 
  such a big deal now that their is a break up the road but it would have been 
  interesting if the bunch was all together as the descent from Redwood is also 
  winding and quite gnarly. 
12:45 PST      Mike Creed's father just wrote in 
  to say that he talked to his son last night and he was nervous. "Thats a good 
  sign," he said. 
12:50 PST      The riders have just gone through 
  the sprint line in Castro Valley. Mads took the sprint from Ben and Mike. The 
  sprint was on the top of a little hill. Alot of kids are out in the town with 
  their American flags. 
12:50 PST    56km/96.7km to go  The gap is now 5'50". 
12:51 PST      Gerolsteiner is on the front again 
  setting the pace. Not panicking about this five minute breakaway but they'll 
  make sure it doesn't get too far away. 
12:53 PST      The family of Mick Rogers in Italy 
  (Mick is from Canberra in Australia but recently married an Italian girl, Alessia 
  and now spends most of his time in Italy. They say "Forza Michael!!!" from Fabrizio, 
  Stefania, Alessia, Jodie, Giampy and Angelo. 
12:57 PST    61km/91.7km to go  The leaders are now 
  on Palmares Rd, the field are 4km behind them. They are still working very well 
  together. The road starts going up again as they start the climb to Palmares. 
12:59 PST      We've just heard from our photographer 
  Jonathan Devich who is up in the helicopter with John Koslosky. He says it looks 
  very cool from up there. Its a very clear day. They can see the blue of the 
  Gerolsteiner team on the front of the peloton and the three riders in the break 
  working well together. 
13:00 PST      We've just heard from the older brother 
  of Levi, Rob Leipheimer. He says, "We are very excited to see the enormous amounts 
  of crowds in California - this is what America needs - like the Tour de France 
  - the passion & festive environment that lures in the public. We are very excited 
  that Levi is leading the first Amgen Tour of California! We are also impressed 
  with the crowds that turned out in Santa Rosa yesterday - the crowds were great! 
  Thanks for your great updates.....Cheering all the way from Montana...." 
13:01 PST      Another reader, Chris Coble from Fremont 
  Freewheelers has written in, "As a Cat 3 racer from southern Fremont by San 
  Jose, I have seen Ben screaming up Sierra three or four times in the past month. 
  The peloton would be wise not to let him go too far, especially with help. 
13:05 PST      Hi to Phil Ligget who has just written 
  in, he says, "I am thoroughly enjoying the cyclingnews.com coverage. I may even 
  stay at home this year, and follow the Tour on CN." ha ha   
13:07 PST      This is a tough climb that they are 
  on. Strange that this is not categorized, but not all of them can be. Very consistent 
  10% grade here and the last kilometer gets very steep. 
13:12 PST      The crowd continues to gather on the 
  Sierra Rd climb. Its going to be a great atmosphere up there when these guys 
  roll by. They'll need the support too by all accounts. People have been riding 
  their bikes up to be there for the race to go by. A great atmosphere. 
13:13 PST      A reader Ben wants us to say hi to 
  US National Women's RR champion, Katheryn Curi, from Webcor. "She's a Bay Area 
  resident these days and a regular at many of the local training rides. She has 
  a LOT of friends around here. Unfortunately, she was injured in a freak training 
  accident - hit by another cyclist - last week and is out with broken ribs and 
  a (now fixed) collapsed lung. Please wish her a speedy recovery so we can see 
  her Stars and Stripes jersey and bike later in the season." 
13:18 PST      The leaders have gone over the top 
  of Palmares. The bunch is still climbing. Lots of people cheer them on. Gerolsteiner 
  still on the front. 
13:21 PST    76km/76.7km to go  The bunch have started 
  descending now and its single file going down. At the bottom they'll come to 
  the feed zone and refuel for the next climb and then the Sierra. Before hitting 
  the major climb they have another climb called Calveras. 
13:22 PST      On the way down there was unfortunately 
  a few protesters holding a sign saying "Not on our roads." Apart from this there 
  has been nothing but support for the race. 
13:23 PST      At the bottom of the climb there are 
  some very sharp turns.  
13:24 PST    78.4km/74.3km to go  All of the guys 
  in the breakaway have been working well together on the climbs. Creed seemed 
  to be on the front a little bit longer that the other two but overall it seems 
  very even. 
13:25 PST      The field are still descending single 
  file. These are beautiful roads that they are riding through.  
13:28 PST      Katheryn Curi just wrote in and in 
  the middle of writing in she saw the update from her friends. She says thanks! 
  She also says "these guys gives me inspiration. The course they are racing today 
  is on roads that I train on weekly. Pretty cool to see a world class field on 
  them."   
13:30 PST    81km/71.7km to go  The field are not 
  on flat roads and its still strung out. The break are just getting to the feed 
  zone. Their lead is 6'10". 
13:31 PST      Gerolsteiner still man the front on 
  the bunch. Up in the break Mike Creed is asking for his team car.  
13:32 PST      Its about 60 degrees now (about 15 
  Celcius). Its sunny with no read wind to speak of. After the feed zone they 
  head slightly uphill for a while before hitting Calaveras. 
13:33 PST      The gap is falling now. Its back down 
  to 4'55". 
13:35 PST      Its cool to see the whole Gerolsteiner 
  team strung out at the front. They've really picked up the pace. Still 35km 
  to the bottom of the main climb so they have plently of time but this long flat 
  stretch of road is a good chance for them to up the pace. 
13:37 PST      The Credit Agricole car is also headed 
  back up to the break again to be behind Kaggestad. 
13:37 PST      A middle School band is playing on 
  the side of the road as they head through Scotts Corner. 
13:40 PST      They have just crossed under Hwy 680. 
  The road is pretty straight for a while until it gets to the Calaveras climb 
  passing Calaveras Resevior, then its fairly windy again. 
13:41 PST      The gap is 4'45" now, falling again 
  slightly. The bunch slowed a bit as they went through the feed zone. 
13:45 PST      A couple of Toyota United Pro riders 
  are up near the front of the peloton now. We talked to Tony Cruz this morning 
  who said "The team is excited about yesterdays win, being our first major race 
  win." Tony says that so far things on a domestic team aren't all that different 
  from what he's been used to on Discovery due to the quality of the field here 
  and the racing. Its just like racing in Europe he says. 
13:46 PST      Still flat roads here. Fairly open 
  with farmland on either side. Gerolsteiner still has the whole team on the front. 
13:48 PST      Another excellent result yesterday 
  was young Bradley Huff (Team TIAA-CREF). He was US National Amateur Crit Champion 
  last year and yesterday he took fourth place in that fast finish. Not a bad 
  result. 
13:51 PST    93km/59.7km to go  They are Calaveras 
  Rd climb now. At this point the climb is not that windy. Its under trees so 
  quite shady. The gap is 4'50" and holding. 
13:53 PST      The pace is picking up a little bit 
  now. One of the Toyota United Pro riders went down on the uphill. Not sure how 
  that happened. The road is narrowing here. There is a very steep drop off on 
  the left side of the road. Phonak riders are moving up towards the front. 
13:55 PST    96km/56.7km to go  The gap is holding 
  at 4'55" right now. Getting near the top now. 
14:00 PST      The descent is very narrow and quite 
  gnarly. When they get to the bottom they'll be in the town of Milpitas and will 
  head straight for the big climb of the day. 
14:03 PST      The main bunch is descending now. 
  Its tight around a few of the corners and they are single file going down. 
14:06 PST      Its beautiful terrain here as they 
  descend. They'll all be a bit nervous now for the climb.  
14:09 PST      They are going along the flat road 
  now. Not long until the climb. The field is still strung out single file. 
14:11 PST      A few Toyota United Pro riders are 
  up helping out Gerolsteiner in the chase.  
14:13 PST    106km/46.7km to go  The gap has fallen 
  under four minutes. These breakaway riders have done an amazing job so far and 
  they will still have a three minute advantage going onto the climb. Lets see 
  if that will be enough when the climbers put the hammer down. 
14:15 PST      The gap is down to 2'45". Its really 
  falling fast! 
14:17 PST    110.4km/42.3km to go  They are making 
  a hard left now to head towards the next climb. The break is still working hard 
  trying to keep some advantage for the climb. 
14:19 PST      They actually do a loop from here 
  to climb up Sierra and then descend back to Milpitas before heading to San Jose 
  for the finish. 
14:20 PST      They are going through a wide open 
  road through town with the gap holding at 2'45". 
14:22 PST    114km/38.7km to go  The riders in the 
  break are still doing equal turns. The gap is 2'10". They still look strong 
  but its tough to keep that gap after being out there all day.  
14:23 PST      The crowds are getting excited on 
  the climb. The break has made the left turn onto Sierra. It goes straight up 
  after they turn left. The road narrows and there are people lining the road 
  three deep on this section. Very steep, looks very similiar to the Manayunc 
  wall in Philadelphia.  
14:24 PST      It has to be a 12% grade. It just 
  keeps going and going. Its unbelievable. 
14:25 PST      The field has just turned onto the 
  road too. It looks like they're going to catch them. They are about 6km to the 
  KOM right now. At 5km to the KOM it turns a switchback and then kicks up even 
  steeper. This is tough! They weren't joking. 
14:26 PST      The riders in the break are out of 
  the saddle. They're working hard. 
14:26 PST      The riders in the bunch are also out 
  of the saddle. Its still about an 8% grade at this point. You have an amazing 
  view all over the city from here. 
14:27 PST      The break is down to two riders. Ben 
  Jacques-Maynes is just off the back.  
14:27 PST      He's catching back on as it flattens 
  out but its going to kick up again soon. 
14:28 PST      It keeps winding around and kicking 
  up in parts. Lots of "Go Levi" signs. 
14:29 PST      Creed and Kaggestad have a gap on 
  Jacques-Maynes again. 
14:29 PST      A Saunier Duval rider sits on the 
  front of the peloton leading the way, they are in and out of the saddle. 
14:30 PST      Discovery hit the front. A CSC rider 
  is also up there.     Up front Creed is alone and has dropped Kaggestad 
  as well now. 
14:31 PST      They three break riders are all riding 
  solo now but none have them have been caught by the bunch yet. 
14:32 PST      The field is single file and there 
  are lots of splits developing. Jacques-Mayne has been caught by the field. 
14:33 PST      Its kicking up really steep again. 
  Kaggestad has also been caught by the field. 
14:33 PST      Creed is just about to get caught. 
14:34 PST      It looks like about 20 guys are still 
  holding onto the front off the group. 
14:37 PST      Only 12 guys left up front. They're 
  still climbing. It flattened out a bit but it goes up again now. 
14:38 PST      More riders are getting dropped. Only 
  eight left. 
14:38 PST      Gerolsteiner rider on the front setting 
  pace followed by CSC probably Julich, then Saunier Duval. 
14:39 PST      Only three left. One gerolsteiner, 
  CSC and Phonak.  
14:42 PST      It looks like Levi, Julich and Floyd 
  are up there with Levi setting the pace. 
14:42 PST      Floyd is losing the wheel as Levi 
  and Julich ride away. 
14:43 PST      A fourth rider is not far off the 
  back. Its Saunier Duval. Probably Simoni. 
14:43 PST      Julich hits the front now. Levi on 
  his wheel. Floyd chasing hard as it flattens out a bit. 
14:44 PST      On the descent now. 
14:45 PST      Its fast and wide open country here. 
  Floyd made it back on. 
14:46 PST      One Saunier Duval rider chasing solo 
  and then a group of 12.  
14:47 PST      The officials are saying that its 
  not Julich, its Bernard Kohl from T-Mobile. So the lead group is Leipheimer, 
  Landis and Kohl. 
14:51 PST    127km/25.7km to go  When they get to 
  the bottom of this descent they hit travel along the same road as they did when 
  they came off Calaveras and head back to the town of Milpitas. From here they 
  have about 20km to the finish. 
14:54 PST      Kohl won the KOM followed by Leipheimer 
  and Landis. These three still have a 15 second gap over a group of four that 
  includes Cadel Evans (Davitamon Lotto), Ricardo Ricco (saunier Duval) and Jean 
  Marc Marino plus one other. 
14:54 PST    132.7km/20km to go  There are quite 
  a few groups on the descent. The second part of it was narrow and winding with 
  some dangerous sections. 
14:56 PST      Danielson is also up there and Zabriskie 
  is not far behind that. A group of nine are not far behind. 
14:58 PST      Zabriskie and Ricco are together at 
  25" from the lead three. Then another small chase group followed by a group 
  of 11 riders. Some of the small groups are gathering together. 
14:58 PST    134km/18.7km to go  The leaders have 
  made a left hand turn and are in Milpitas. 
15:00 PST    137km/15.7km to go  Zabriskie and Ricco 
  have been caught by the large group of 12 riders. They are now 30 seconds behind 
  the three leaders. 
15:00 PST      The leaders have seen 15km to go. 
15:01 PST      There are three Saunier Duval riders 
  in the chase group. Discovery have a Danielson up there, CSC are up there too. 
  The gap is still holding. 
15:03 PST      The chase group is growing. They now 
  have 19 riders and they have the three leaders in sight. 
15:04 PST    140km/12.7km to go  Still 12km from 
  the finish. It will be hard for them to keep the gap with that large chase group. 
15:04 PST      Michael barry and Tom Danielson are 
  setting the pace in the chase group.  
15:05 PST      The gap is still holding.  
15:06 PST    142.7km/10km to go  Ten kilometers to 
  go now. 
15:08 PST      The gap has fallen to only 6" now. 
  It will be a bunch of 22 for the finish. 
15:08 PST      The break is now caught. 
15:09 PST      There's an attack now. Bobby Julich, 
  Michael Barry and Gomez Marchante have a small gap. 
15:10 PST      They were chased immediately but Julich 
  still has a small gap. Prodir are right on him though. 
15:11 PST      It will be an important sprint as 
  there are time bonuses. Leipheimer will have to be up there. 
15:12 PST      Dicovery and CSC have guys on the 
  front now. 
15:13 PST      Christian Vandevelde (CSC) has attacked 
  and has a small gap. 
15:13 PST      Discovery is on the front chasing. 
  He still has 30m 
15:14 PST      He's been caught. Discovery is on 
  the front followed by CSC. Levi is up there. 
15:15 PST      Its single file, they are coming into 
  town. A T-Mobile rider has come to the front. They're making a turn. 
15:15 PST    149.7km/3km to go  3k to go. discovery 
  rider leading. It looks like Tom Danielson then Barry. 
15:16 PST      Barry now on the front driving hard. 
  Hincapie is up in that group. 
15:16 PST      They are making a hard right turn. 
  Discovery is completely in control driving this break. Left hand turn now. 
15:17 PST    151.7km/1km to go  Under the 1km to 
  go banner. A small gap in the group. Its single file. 
15:17 PST      Hard right and then a sweeping left. 
  500 to go - riders falling off the back. 
15:18 PST      Barry driving hard, Levi is in third 
  place. Julich is up there. 
15:18 PST      Hincapie takes it followed by four 
  Davitamon Lotto riders. 
15:19 PST      George gets a six second bonus for 
  winning which puts his on equal time with Levi! 
15:20 PST      The Davitamon Lotto riders were Chris 
  Horner and Josep Jufre Pou.  
15:21 PST      George will be the leader going into 
  tomorrows stage now. 
15:22 PST      More groups are slowly coming in minutes 
  down. 
15:23 PST      The time bonus is actually ten seconds. 
  George takes over the lead. 
15:34 PST      Thanks for tuning in to our coverage 
  of stage 2. We'll be back tomorrow for the Time Trial. 
Results 
Provisional
1 George Hincapie (Discovery) 
2 Chris Horner (Davitamon Lotto)
3 Josep Jufre Pou (Davitamon Lotto)
 
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