2013 Tour of California: Stage 2: Murrieta - Palm Springs (199 Km)

[Christian]

So much for Andy Schleck returning to form.

On the team website he said he didn't have the legs today, but feels that he is getting better and better. But even if he did have the legs today you have to ask yourself how much is it worth going all in in such horrendous conditions to finish 12th. Even well-respected forum member maltiv pointed out that

This is horrible preparation for the TDF really. Riding around constantly overheated and dehydrated won't get you anywhere...

And many posters in the stage thread reckoned that there would be DNF's tomorrow from sheer exhaustion. Again probably better to take it easy today and be able to finish the race rather than knock yourself out

 

[manafana]

They could netrualise the start, will starting an hour earlier help too? Today was way too hard for what was supposed be an uphill sprint for a medium sized field.

 

[Carstenbf]

All in a days work. Poor Cantwell. As if the heat wasn't bad enough.

 

[maltiv]

They could netrualise the start, will starting an hour earlier help too? Today was way too hard for what was supposed be an uphill sprint for a medium sized field.

Uhh, that was never going to be an uphill sprint...6 km at 10%.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

All in a days work. Poor Cantwell. As if the heat wasn't bad enough.

would be stupid to continue.

 

[afpm90]

The talented Columbian climber, who won the Mogollon stage of the Tour of the Gila earlier this month with a dominant solo attack up the final climb, jumped away from a select group that included BMC's Mathias Frank and Tejay van Garderen; RadioShack's Matthew Busche; Saxo Bank-Tinkoff's Michael Rogers and Tour of the Gila overall winner Phil Deignan.

Van Garderen was able to match the 27-year-old Colombian's initial surge but soon faded off the pace as Acevedo soloed across the line 12 seconds ahead of last year's Best Young Rider at the Tour de France.

Cyclingnews should start seeing the race...

 

[Bavarianrider]

Wow that was simply crazy, propably a bit too much.
Anyway, really impressed with van gaderen, he simply keeps getting better and better, future GT winner, no doubt in my mind.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Cyclingnews should start seeing the race...

cyclingnews become more delusional with the day

 

[webvan]

Well Acevedo did go a first time before being caught by TVG and group...

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Well Acevedo did go a first time before being caught by TVG and group...

you realize he actually let himself get caught? no one was following his attack then either. aceveod merely tested other riders to see if they wanted to attack, but they didn't

 

[webvan]

Talked to him have you? Point is they got back to him, which might explain CN's comment.

 

[Scott SoCal]

They could netrualise the start, will starting an hour earlier help too? Today was way too hard for what was supposed be an uphill sprint for a medium sized field.

That was never going to be an uphill sprint from a medium sized field.

 

[Scott SoCal]

you realize he actually let himself get caught? no one was following his attack then either. aceveod merely tested other riders to see if they wanted to attack, but they didn't

More like TVG let him go at the end. He was on the limit, did the calculation, knows he will take huge time on Acevedo in the TT, put huge time on all real GC competitors... No need to go way into the red at that point.

Acevedo won the stage. Huge, huge win... and that was great to see from a smallish domestic team.

The best ride of the day was from Frank. He came back to pip Rogers... Great ride by him.