Stage 1 Surprises and Confirmations
Stage 1 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge delivered a very exciting finish. Surprises and confirmed expectations defined the day.
Surprises
- Levi Leipheimer attacking uphill in an explosive finish
- Frank Schleck finishing third, 53 seconds ahead of brother Andy who spent more time than Frank at altitude
- Sergio Henao unable to catch Leipheimer at the finish. Perhaps not unexpected when remembering the grade up to the finish is 4% — perhaps not steep enough to suit Henao.
- The “slower” pace; I expected more attacks from the Colombians to intensify the pace. Is everybody saving something up for stages 2 and 3?
Confirmations
(l to r) Beltran, Suarez, staff, Pedraza of EPM-UNE, UPCC Prologue (Mary Topping)
- The Colombian teams want to do well. Beltran captured the polka dot jersey.
- A strong finish by Robert Gesink at 10 seconds behind Leipheimer confirms Gesink is here to win.
- Crossing the line 28 seconds behind the winner reveals Timmy Duggan and Lucas Euser are on good form; one can say the same of Alex Hagman who finished just behind these TIAA-Cref alums.
- Three Team Exergy men lead the peloton about 20 miles from the finish; they believe they are a strong team and they proved it today.
Prediction Score
The ProVéloPassion Podium Prediction for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge UPCC stage 1:
- Jens Voigt
- Tom Danielson
- Matt Goss (if he comes)
The actual placings:
- Levi Leipheimer, (RSH) in 4:29:22
- Sergio Henao Montoya (GOB) +04″
- Frank Schleck (LEO) +07″
This looks like a worse performance than yesterday. The prediction was for one guy out of the break-away to survive, which was Jens. He didn’t get into the day’s break and placed #47, one minute eleven seconds behind Levi. Tom placed #10, 18 seconds behind. Matt Goss is not riding the UPCC. With hindsight what happened is probably pretty much how Levi described the stage at the finish: most were taking it kind of easy to gauge their reaction to altitude and how they were feeling.
Favorites
Favorite quote of the day: Levi Leipheimer just after he won the stage, “I guess in my old age I’m learning some new tricks.”
Favorite image of the day: Riders after the finish, breathing. (for this photo in a larger size, click here.)
Barely upright at finish of UPCC stage 1 (Jonathan Devich, cyclingnews.com
ProVéloPassion 