BMC's George Hincapie won the second stage of US Pro Cycling Challenge today.
The race left Gunnison on this queen stage which is the hardest of the race and on it's way to Aspen, there was a big crash early on, which involved Ivan Basso, a number of Garmin riders and left one rider in Scott Steward heading for hospital.
Six riders broke clear in the Gunnison National Forest, including HTC Highroad's Danny Pate and three Colombians before the race got onto the dirt tracks up the Cottonwood Pass with Pedrazza going over first.
Oostander took the Bueno Vista sprint and further down the road of this 131 mile stage, Saxo Bank's Andre Steensen took his chance and broke away from the peloton which had race leader Levi Leipheimer's team at the front on the start of 17 mile climb up Independence Pass which is around 12,000 ft high.
EPM rider Rafael Infantino took over at the front after catching Steensen. He had a thirty second lead but Teejay Van Garderen,in the young riders jersey, went after him, roared on by large crowds.
Leipheimer and Christian Vande Valde (Garmin) joined Infantino and the American at the front as the rain came down which affected the broadcast of this race around the world.
Under the flame rouge, the quartet had been joined by George Hincapie of BMC (pictured below) who rode away to win in a time of 5hr 26 mins and ten seconds, with Teejay van Garderen second and Tom Danielson third. Leipheimer came in with Cadel Evans 45 seconds back.
With a six second bonus, Teejay van Garderen is new the race leader.
"Tejay rode great today," said sport director, Brian Holm to the HTC Highroad press office. "He was strong enough to make a solid attack on that last climb, and he he put us back in the lead as a team so it was a success."
"The attack on the climb, [Van Garderen] got away with Leipheimer (RadioShack) and a few others. When they got caught there was still time to make a move on the downhill to the finish."
"The downhill was fast but safe enough for an attack, and about six riders got away. Tejay had the right position to get the [leader's] jersey and he did."
HTC-Highroad's Colorado native, Danny Pate participated in a long break from the start of the stage, during which time team RadioShack was controlling.
"Danny fought hard for us from the start," added Holm, "All the boys did great but tomorrow we will have to work to try and gain more time and defend
Stage three tomorrow is a 10 mile time trial in Vail.
Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CSN/KM