Stage 2 UPCC Report: Rain Brings out the Balls

This is short post from the media room in the Sebastian Hotel in Vail. The first guys have gone off in the TT. I’m following John Henderson of the Denver Post to see what I can learn from an established veteran.

Yesterday my position was 1 K from the summit of Independence Pass. The atmosphere mimiced the Tour de France — the road lined with spectators, several in costume, and  coolers open. Costumes: bunny, hotdog, furry blue from head to toe, the sumo wrestler. From our position we could see the peloton coursing along the road below. As the lead group arrived just below our perch, a rider in a blue jersey surged forward. This was Tejay Van Garderen making his move. By the time he reached our spot on the mountain Tejay had a few seconds’ lead over Levi Leipheimer who had sprinted from the pack to chase Tejay.

On the descent Tejay established a lead over most of the favorites. With him, Tom Danielson, who gained enough time by the finish to move into third on GC.

Predictions

yesterday’s podium was:

1. George Hincapie (BMC)
2. Tejay Van Garderen (THR) – same time
3. Tom Danielson (GRM) – same time

And ProVeloPassion predictions were:

1. Timmy Duggan (Team Liquigas-Cannondale)
2. Janier Acevedo or Oscar Sevilla Ribera (Team Gobernacion De Antioquia-Indeportes Antioquia)
3. Alex Hagman (Team Jelly Belly)

Acevedo finished 5th, and there were at least two Colombians in the break. All in all, this may be the best prediction success for the UPCC to date.

Favorites:

Favorite quote, Tejay Van Garderen talking about the descent off Independence Pass in the rain, where he with a small group achieved a 45 lead: “I have balls.”