Australian Brett Lancaster took the stage and overall lead in the Tour of California today by winning the sprint from a select group of around 20 riders at the end of stage two. Lancaster got the best of Liquigas-Doimo prodigy Peter Sagan in the finishing town of Santa Rosa with Lars Boom (Rabobank) rounding out the day's podium in third.
A five man break took their chances early on the rainy 176.2 kilometer stage that included Karl Menzies (UnitedHealthCare), Michael Freidman (Jelly Belly), Thomas Rabou (Team Type 1), Jay Robert Thompson (Fly V Australia) and Andrew Randell (Spidertech). The peloton allowed the time gap to swell to nearly 7 minutes before beginning the process of reeling them in.
The time gap continued to come down as the break tackled the last few climbs of the day, with Rabou doing enough on the inclines to take over the race's King of the Mountains competition. By the time the leaders reached the final climb up the Trinity Grade their advantage was down to 2 minutes and 15 seconds. Menzies had enough in the tank to attack his companions on the ascent, with Rabou the only one able to match the Australian's pace.
Behind a select group formed on the climb and began to quickly eat away at their deficit to the leaders. By the time they reached the streets of Santa Rosa the break had been swallowed up, and it was Lancaster who showed everyone his turn of speed.
Safely tucked into the lead group were overall contenders three-time Tour of California winner Levi Leipheimer, his RadioShack teammates Lance Armstrong and Chris Horner, Saxo Bank riders Jens Voigt and Andy Schleck, HTC-Columbia's Michael Rogers, Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) and Boom.
2010 Tour of California stage 2 results:
1. Brett Lancaster (Cervelo TestTeam)
2. Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Doimo)
3. Lars Boom (Rabobank)
Overall after stage two:
1. Brett Lancaster (Cervelo TestTeam)
2. Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Doimo) @ 4s
3. Karl Menzies (UnitedHealthCare) @ 4s
4. Lars Boom (Rabobank) @ 6s
5. Thomas Rabou (Team Type 1) @ 6s