Stage 2 Play by Play
Time: 20:35:13Kem
Kem from Priority Health had a bad wheel change after a flat and he's been left behind by Laurent and McCann.
Time: 20:36:12
Kem
has rejoined the two men in the lead. He had to fight for it though.
Time: 20:36:55
Lunch
The peloton has passed through the feedzone. The riders are snagging lunch and the gap is holding at around 4:30. The margin appears to be closely monitored and we sure wouldn't lay next month's rent money on the chances of these guys off the front riding into Sacramento by themselves.
Time: 20:43:59
Working up Highway 128
The peloton is working its way up the road up 128 and to the KOM at km 85.
Time: 20:45:18
The three off the front
Are over the top. Slipstream has sent Will Frischkorn off the front to help his teammate Thomas Peterson, who is leading the KOM race, and deny the last remaining point to Van de Walle.
Time: 20:46:22
Frischkorn
has grabbed the last point and Peterson will spend another day in the KOM jersey.
Time: 20:47:03
The gap
The three men off the front are still 4:30 ahead.
Time: 20:49:34
Landis
Last year's winner, Floyd Landis, is here in Sacramento at the finish line. He spoke briefly with Robbie Ventura and Joe Silva.
Time: 20:58:09
The three leaders
are coming up on the day's first sprint mark at the town of Winters. It doesn't really look like they will be contesting it.
Time: 21:01:43
They did contest
it, after all. Laurent has scooted off and grabbed the top spot.
Time: 21:04:22
The next sprint
is at km 130. From here on out, it's a straight flat shot into Sacramento, with a brisk crosswind. The pace right now is very moderate. Stage races of this scale often offer time predictions as to when riders will be reaching various points along the way. Today, the race bible offers times for 38.6kph, 41.8kph and 45kph. Right now the pace is lower than the slowest on the charts, with the leaders having reached the sprint in Winters about 8:00 behind the predicted time at 38.6k
Time: 21:12:11
Winters Sprint
Laurent won it, earning three points and three seconds of bonus time. McCann was second, with two and two and Kem took third, earning one point and one second.
Time: 21:13:13
Discovery
is still setting Tempo at the front of the field. Leipheimer looks relaxed and is sitting back in about the sixth position.
Time: 21:28:38
The gap is down to 2:50
With moderate crosswinds, the trip across the flats is turning into a lot of work for these guys. Aside from the wind, though, the day is absolutely perfect for racing bikes.
Time: 21:36:38
The three leaders
Are coming up to the day's second sprint and strangely enough, the cohesion of the group is coming apart.
Time: 21:39:32
Laurent takes the sprint
in Davis - California's capital when it comes to cycling. Laurent and McCann fought it out, but the Frenchman was clearly the stronger of the two. Kem cruised through a little behind. The problem now is that McCann and Laurent are not all too happy with one another and appear to be having words as they ride - uncooperatively - down the road.
Time: 21:41:32
McCann and Laurent
are ticking down the road. Maybe a bit pissed (in the American sense of the word, not the British) but now riding together. Unfortunately, Kem seems to have slipped off the back.
Time: 21:49:12
Time gaps
Laurent and McCann are now just 2:25 ahead of the peloton.
Time: 22:45:37
Crowds
The crowds here in Sacramento are building up. Word on the street is the governor - the Governator - may make an appearance at the finish.
Time: 21:58:44
The peloton is picking up the pace. The two leaders - Christophe Laurent (Credit Agricole) and David McCann (Colavita) are just around two minutes ahead of the field. CSC, Liquigas, Discovery and T-Mobile are already lining up at the front. Folks are probably a little nervous, after that nasty crash in Santa Rosa.
Time: 22:00:24
Today's finish - The peloton will be coursing through three trips around a 3.3km circuit around the capitol building here in Sacramento
Time: 22:10:55
Danny Pate - Slipstream's Danny Pate is trying to bridge up to the two leaders.
Time: 22:17:09
Pate hooks up. We called Jonathan Vaughters - Pate's team director - and he says this move wasn't really planned. "Danny is an independent thinker," Vaughters said. "But look, the peloton is moving along at 19 miles an hour and Danny was the world (U23) time trial champion. Who knows? It's sure worth a try."With 30km to go, the gap is around 2:00.
Time: 22:18:52
Pate is the stronger of the three - Pate is now driving hard at front. We have a correction on the time check. The three men are hyst 40 seconds ahead of the field.
Time: 22:23:53
Pate is now 1:00 ahead of the peloton. Laurent and McCann are about 20 seconds behind him.
Time: 22:24:57
Pate is extending his lead. With about 20km to go, Pate has upped his advantage to 1:15, just as Laurent and McCann are about to be caught by the peloton.
Time: 22:28:48
Discovery - Is at the front of the field, but they are not getting help from anyone. Pate is moving along nicely. We are hoping to get a time check, but a betting man wouldn't put a lot into his chances, but, you never know.
Time: 22:34:31
Pate is looking comfortable,and he's working his way into the outskirts of Sacramento.
Time: 22:35:26
Pate is coming into town but Pate is about to be swallowed up by the peloton. We have about 11km remaining.
Time: 22:37:07
The catch is about to happen. It was a good try, but now the sprinters' teams are lining up.
Time: 22:39:42
On to the circuit... The peloton is heading into town, crossing the big draw bridge over the Sacramento River. The whole peloton is together and there are now three laps remaining.
Time: 22:40:52
Onto the first lap. The Navigators and T-Mobile teams are battling for control at the front of the field as they approach the start-finish area. Three laps to go.
Time: 22:41:23
The peloton is completely strung out single file and the speeds are very high.
Time: 22:44:00
Better than yesterday. The course is wider than yesterday and there are fewer turns. Interestingly, we do not see the Discovery team up there, trying to keep Leipheimer ahead of any potential crashes. The navigators, however are driving hard at the front.
Time: 22:46:39
Two laps. Two 3km laps to go. The Nav's are still driving hard, but the Quick Step team of Paolo Bettini is moving up the side. T-Mobile, too.
Time: 23:09:38
Davis
Time: 23:30:49
2:59 PM We'll get results soon
1. JJ Haedo (Arg), Dk
2. Luca Paolini (I), Liquigas
3. Thor Hushovd (N), Credit Agricole.
Time: 23:48:48
That's all for today. Stay tuned for tomorrow's Stage 3 race from Stockton to San Jose starting at 11:00 am.
Remember to send your comments or questions to amgentoc2007@yahoo.com and maybe we'll field your question on tomorrow's broadcast.
16:35:50 TEST 6 selecting Stage 2
