Don't Call Her Phenom, Just Call Her National Champion

When she arrived on the cycling scene a little over a year ago, Evelyn Stevens (Team HTC-Columbia) was instantly labeled a phenom. Her Cinderella-esque arrival, from Wall Street worker and first-time racer to winner of multiple National Racing Calendar events, certainly justified the moniker.

But the label of phenom, while certainly indicative of her talents, truly minimizes the hard work she actually puts in to preparing for a race and the pain she endures during it. National Champion, on the other hand, is a title that speaks well on both accounts and validates this "one-in-a-million" type talent.

On Thursday, Stevens won her first national title by taking the time trial at the USA Cycling Elite National Championships in Bend, Oregon. Last out of the starting gate, the 27-year old roared through the 35km course in a time of 0:47:38; thirty-eight seconds faster than former World Time Trial Champion Amber Neben and former US National Road Champion, Mara Abbott (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12).

“I prepared well for this,” Stevens told Cyclingnews afterward. “There was a lot of strong competition. It is an honor to be able to wear the national champion jersey. The staff and my team-mates did their best to try to prepare me for this race. It is exciting for everyone who is involved with HTC-Columbia. It means a lot to be able to wear the stars and stripes.”

Results - U23/Elite Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (HTC-Columbia)
2. Amber Neben (Webcor Builders)
3. Mara Abbott (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12)
4. Alison Starnes (Team TIBCO-To The Top)
5. Alison Powers (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
6. Kristin Sanders (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
7. Kimberly Anderson (HTC-Columbia)
8. Meredith Miller (Altoona Bicycle Club)
9. Katharine Carroll (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12)
10. Amber Rais (KUOTA Speed Kueens)

California Giant Berry Farms' Talansky Captures U23 Title

In the men's U23 time trial, Andrew Talansky (California Giant Berry Farms) confirmed his status as one of the best up-and-coming riders on the US circuit. The winner of the opening stage at this year's Joe Martin Stage Race would finish 13 ahead of Carter Jones (Jelly Belly) and 45 seconds in front of David Williams (Bissell Pro Cycling).

Results - U23 Men
1. Andrew Talansky (California Giant Berry Farms)
2. Carter Jones (Jelly Belly Cycling)
3. David Williams (Bissell Pro Cycling)
4. Nathan Brown (Trek Livestrong U23)
5. Alister Ratcliff (BikeReg.com/Cannondale)
6. Julian Kyer (Trek Livestrong U23)
7. Travis Burandt (Team Hotel San Jose/Mellow Johnny's)
8. Andrew Barker (Team 5280 Magazine)
9. Walker Savidge (VMG/FELT)
10. Ian Boswell (Bissell Pro Cycling)

Photo: Bruce Johnston/Pro Cycling Women

In an eight-day battle against the best field ever assembled to compete in the United States, which included Tour de France winners, Olympic medalists and World Champions, Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) claimed the Stage 8 win.

“Once I made it up to the remainder of the break, I knew I had a shot to win, so I focused and the team was awesome,” said Hesjedal. “To win on the last day against a field like this is a big highlight for me.”

The final stage of the 2010 edition of America’s largest cycling race consisted of four 21-mile circuits that took the riders through the communities of Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Agoura Hills, and included one challenging King of the Mountains (KOM) climb at about six miles in – Mulholland Hwy, or better known by local cyclists as the “Rock Store Climb” (Cat. 3/4 - 1,824 ft.).

Long regarded as one of the most scenic climbs in southern California, Mulholland Highway featured steep climbs and numerous switchbacks, which made it the perfect place for spectators, and they turned out in droves. A challenging finish to a difficult race, Stage 8 tested the cyclists until the final stretch to the finish line.

Beginning with a neutral start and a break that was soon caught, the peloton approached the first pass at the climb, which was swept by the Garmin-Transitions team with Hesjedal first, Tom Danielson second and Zabriskie third. As a new Los Angeles resident, Zabriskie utilizes the Rock Store climb as part of his standard training rides. Lined with fans, some of which had camped out to secure their spot to watch the cyclists compete in the final day of the race, “Rock Store” made the final stage of the race an extremely challenging course. As the riders passed the Malibu Family Winery, they began a twisting and technical descent on Westlake Blvd. headed back into Thousand Oaks.

Split at the end of the first lap, there were 28 riders in the front with 15 chasing behind, but as they neared the second pass at “Rock Store” the group joined together to form a pack about 45 riders strong. The next big break occurred on the climb and included Rabou, who took the KOM, Carlos Barredo (QuickStep), Yaroslav Popovych (Team RadioShack), Sebastian Langeveld (Rabobank), George Hincapie (BMC Racing Team), Oscar Pujol (Cervélo TestTeam), Jeremy Vennell (BISSELL) and Bradley White (UnitedHealthcare presented by Maxxis). With each circuit taking approximately 40 minutes, the break held for the next lap, and Rabou once again took the KOM heading into the final circuit of the race.

After some unsuccessful attempts to pull away from the lead group, Hincapie, Barredo and Pujol were able to get off the front and create a gap of about a minute. At the same time, pulling away from the chase group were Leipheimer, Rogers, Horner and Zabriskie, who were soon joined by Hesjedal. The remaining riders from the original break began to fall back to the main group, while Horner and Hesjedal went forward to join the break. Langeveld, the Rabobank rider who was in the original break, fell back to give race leader Rogers a bit of shelter as the attacks came and went. In an all out sprint to the finish, Hesjedal took the win to the cheers of enthusiastic fans lining the streets of Thousand Oaks.

Results - Stage 8
1. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Transitions
2. George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team
3. Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step

After eight challenging and epic days of cycling that covered more than 800 miles of scenic California roads, and a thrilling fight to the finish at the conclusion of today’s final stage, Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia) was crowned champion of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California. With a week-long total time of 33 hours, 8 minutes and 30 seconds, Rogers took the highly coveted title of race champion in front of enormous cheering crowds in Thousand Oaks, home to title sponsor Amgen, besting his third place finish in the 2009 race.

“For our team the only race that’s more important than the Amgen Tour of California is the Tour de France,” said Rogers. “This is a huge result for us. We can really walk away from the Amgen Tour of California with smiles on our faces.”

David Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions_ finished in second place overall for the second consecutive year at 9 seconds behind Rogers, and three-time champion Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack) finished third at 25 seconds behind.

“The Amgen Tour of California finished on a spectacular high today,” said Leipheimer. “The stage was phenomenal, the crowds were Tour de France-esque and you could really feel the excitement. I don’t think we could ask for anything more for the last day of the Amgen Tour of California. In my opinion the Amgen Tour of California has grown exponentially quicker and bigger than any race in the history of cycling.”

Final General Classification
1. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC-Columbia
2. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin-Transitions
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack
4. Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack
5. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Transitions
6. Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank
7. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Unitedhealthcare Presented by Maxxis
8. Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo
9. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team Radioshack
10. Phil Zajicek (USA) Fly V Australia

Jersey Winners
Amgen Race Leader Jersey - Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC-Columbia
Herbalife Sprint Jersey - Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo
California Travel and Tourism Commission King of the Mountains Jersey - Thomas Rabou (NED) Team Type 1
Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey - Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo
Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Jersey - Yaroslav Popovych (Team Radioshack)

Photo: Leonard Basobas/LB Photos

It has been said that Californians love their cars, and perhaps none more so than the residents of Los Angeles County, where traffic is as regular an occurrence as the sun rising and setting. But on Saturday, traffic was virtually non-existent in downtown Los Angeles as the Amgen Tour of California hit the streets.

Enthusiastic fans lined up along the streets of downtown Los Angeles to welcome world-class cyclists from 16 professional teams for Stage 7, an Individual Time Trial consisting of two laps around a 10.5-mile course that streamed by several of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, including Walt Disney Concert Hall, the University of Southern California, the LA Coliseum and STAPLES Center.

In the race against the clock, the boys from San Luis Obispo, SLO, ruled the day as Team HTC-Columbia teammates Tony Martin and Michael Rogers, a three-time individual time trial world champion and current holder of the golden Amgen Leader Jersey, finished one-two, respectively.

“I’d never been to Los Angeles before, so to race here in such a big city was really spectacular,” said Martin. “It was very good to race here and the road was perfect.”

One of the early starters, Martin, a revelation in the General Classification of last year's Tour de France, set the early mark of 41 minutes and 41 seconds. But with the top riders on the GC, including Rory Sutherland (UnitedHealthcare presented by Maxxis), Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack), Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Doimo), David Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions) and Rogers, yet to come no one anticipated Martin to remain in the hot-seat for long.

Ultimately, no one would come over the top of Martin’s time.

Perhaps the most anticipated but most disappointing ride of the day was that of three-time defending champion, Leipheimer, who would slot into fourth place with a time of 42 minutes and 14 seconds.

Results - Stage 7
1. Tony Martin (Ger) Team HTC-Columbia
2. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC-Columbia
3. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin-Transitions

Rogers retained the overall lead in the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, holding a slim 9 second lead over second placed, Zabriskie, and 25 seconds on Leipheimer.

“I think taking the Amgen Leader Jersey tomorrow would be the biggest win of my career, in terms of a stage race,” said Rogers. “This would be a highlight for me. There’s a huge emphasis on this race and I think it would be a dream come true, not only for me, but for the whole team in general.”

General Classification - After Stage 7
1. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC-Columbia
2. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin-Transitions
3. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack
4. Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank
5. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Unitedhealthcare Presented by Maxxis
6. Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack
7. Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo
8. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Transitions
9. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team Radioshack
10. Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Transitions

Jersey Leaders - After Stage 7
Amgen Race Leader Jersey - Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC-Columbia
Herbalife Sprint Jersey - Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo
California Travel and Tourism Commission King of the Mountains Jersey - Thomas Rabou (NED) Team Type 1
Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey - Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo
Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Jersey - Tony Martin (Ger) Team HTC-Columbia

Next: Stage 8 - Thousand Oaks/Westlake/Agoura Hills - (134.3km)

Photo: Getty Images

Sacramento, CA - The poster boy for the Amgen Tour of California last year, Mark Cavendish (Team HTC-Columbia) continued his winning ways in the Golden State by taking the opening stage of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, pipping Team Saxo Bank's Juan Jose Haedo at the line in Sacramento. Norway's Alexander Kristoff (BMC Racing) rounded out the podium.

The 167.8 km stage from Nevada City, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary of the Nevada City Classic, to Sacramento took the riders through Grass Valley and across the Auburn-Foresthill Bridge, the tallest bridge in California and the third highest in the U.S. With the exception of an early climb from the American River to the town of Cool, the stage was mostly downhill to the state's capitol city.

A break of four, which included Maarten Tjallingii (Rabobank), Chad Beyer (BMC Racing Team), Mark De Maar (UnitedHealthcare presented by Maxxis) and Paul Mach (BISSELL) animated the early part of the race. The foursome broke away from the pack and quickly gained a one minute gap on the field. Their lead grew to more than five minutes before an HTC-Columbia led chase brought the peloton back together just outside Sacramento's city limits.

Once inside the finishing circuit, the quickened pace created some havoc as the sprinters began to position themselves for the finale. A crash in the final kilometers brought down former World Champion, Tom Boonen (Quick Step), before he got the chance to contest the sprint finish. Boonen would be brought to the hospital for diagnostic tests and to treat minor injuries. He was later released.

With one of his major contenders out of the field, Cavendish and HTC-Columbia made quick work of the finish with only Haedo to beat at the line.

“The Amgen Tour of California is a hard race,” said Cavendish. “This is a big thing for us. It’s always an important race. Hopefully we can win more stages.”

Gunslinger

It was a bit ironic after last year's Stage 4 in Clovis that Mark Cavendish received a cowboy hat for his victory because he is every bit reminiscent of the old Western gunslingers of the past. Some have called Cavendish cocky, even going so far as to label him arrogant. But he is neither of those. He is a sprinter of extraordinary talents, who understands that his success is a product of incredible trust and chemistry in the team by which he is surrounded.

His confidence in his abilities and his team, perhaps makes him an easy target. But quite simply, Cavendish is the current fastest man on two-wheels, who like those old gunslingers, proclaims that fact not in words, but by every time he outdraws the competition.
 

Results - Stage 1
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Columbia
2. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
3. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) BMC Racing

General Classification - After Stage 1
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Columbia
2. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
3. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) BMC Racing
4. Robbie Hunter (Rsa) Garmin-Transitions
5. Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Fly V australia
6. Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing
7. Guillaume Boivin (Can) SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy
8. Andreas Stauff (Aus) Quick-Step
9. Nikolas Maes (GBr) Quick-Step
10. Thomas Leezer (USA) Rabobank

Jersey Leaders - After Stage 1
Amgen Race Leader Jersey - Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Columbia
Herbalife Sprint Jersey - Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Columbia
California Travel and Tourism Commission King of the Mountains Jersey - Paul Mach (USA) Bissell
Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey - Alexander Kristoff (Nor) BMC Racing
Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Jersey - Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Rabobank

Next: Stage 2 - Davis to Santa Rosa (177.2 km)

See more photos of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California in our Photo Gallery

Photos: Leonard Basobas/LB Photos

Pinotti Completes HTC-Columbia Hat Trick at Tour de Romandie

Marco Pinotti has taken HTC-Columbia's third victory in a row in the Tour de Romandie prologue, continuing a run of success in the Swiss race's opening stage that started with Mark Cavendish in 2008 and continued with Frantisek Rabon in 2009.

Clad in the jersey of Italian national time trial champion, Pinotti completed the 4.3 kilometre course in the town of Porrentruy one second ahead of Czech rider Peter Sagan, with Frenchman Jeremy Roy in third and Pinotti's HTC-Columbia team-mate Mick Rogers in fourth.

After waiting an hour and a half before all the riders completed the course and his first victory of the season could be confirmed, Pinotti said afterward he was delighted with the result. "I couldn't be happier. I've done well in this race before, finishing third in 2008 and I knew I was in good shape after the Tour of the Basque Country in Spain so I was hoping for a good result."

"This is the last race I do before the Giro d'Italia, and this confirms I'm on the right track for May, too."

Results - Prologue
1. Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team HTC - Columbia
2. Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo
3. Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française Des Jeux

Other Notables
4. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia
6. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne
7. Gregory Henderson (NZl) Sky Professional Cycling Team
8. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo
13. Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
17. Adam Hansen (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia
18. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia
19. Frantisek Rabon (Cze) Team HTC - Columbia
22. Jack Bobridge (Aus) Garmin - Transitions
27. Svein Tuft (Can) Garmin - Transitions
29. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia
38. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Transitions
77. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
79. Allan Davis (Aus) Astana
85. Matthew Busche (USA) Team Radioshack
92. Jeffry Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
121. Kirk Carlsen (USA) Garmin - Transitions
144. Chad Beyer (USA) BMC Racing Team

Photos: Courtesy SCOTT Sports

Men's teams announced for 2010 Amgen Tour of California professional road cycling race

Los Angeles – One of the strongest and most talented fields ever assembled for a U.S. cycling race has been invited to the upcoming 2010 Amgen Tour of California, AEG, owner and operator of the eight-day event, which is considered to be the most popular and important professional race held on U.S. soil, announced today. With the race’s move on the calendar to May, a compelling set of teams has been invited to the fifth-annual race.

The 16-team field will be comprised of a collection of the world’s best international professional cycling teams, along with a selection of top North American-based teams. The teams will be led by prominent UCI ProTour and Pro Continental teams, such as the three-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer and seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong’s team RadioShack; 2009’s No. 1-ranked Team HTC-Columbia, featuring sprint sensation Mark Cavendish; powerhouse Team Saxo Bank, featuring Tour of Flanders winner Fabian Cancellara and Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck; Liquigas-Doimo, an exceptionally promising young Italian team; Colorado-based Garmin-Transitions; and BMC Racing Team, featuring current U.S. Pro champion George Hincapie. The more than 800-mile, eight-day stage race, modeled after the Tour de France, will take the world’s top professional cycling teams from Nevada City to Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village/Agoura Hills from May 16-23.

The 2010 Amgen Tour of California roster includes the following 16 professional cycling teams:

· Bissell (USA)
· BMC Racing Team (USA)
· Cervélo TestTeam (SUI)
· Fly V Australia (AUS)
· Garmin-Transitions (USA)
· Jelly Belly Presented by Kenda (USA)
· Kelly Benefit Strategies (USA)
· Liquigas-Doimo (ITA)
· Quick Step (BEL)
· Rabobank (NED)
· Spidertech Powered by Planet Energy (CAN)
· Team HTC-Columbia (USA)
· Team RadioShack (USA)
· Team Saxo Bank (DEN)
· Team Type 1 (USA)
· UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis (USA)

“These teams, with the riders we expect to compete, represent the one of the strongest fields we have had at the Amgen Tour of California. Our move to May means that we will have Tour de France contenders in prime form racing here in the Golden State,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, presenter of the race. “We also are pleased to have a selection of top North American-based Continental teams, who will have a chance to compete with some of the world’s best riders.”

Split between teams who compete on the UCI ProTour and those who race predominately in the United States, the field of 128 athletes will be one of the most diverse, accomplished groups of cyclists ever assembled for a stage race in the United States.

“In a few short years the Amgen Tour of California has become America’s Grand Tour, one of our country’s premier sporting events, and a showcase for the demanding and dramatic California landscape,” said Bob Stapleton, owner of Team HTC-Columbia. “Team HTC-Columbia will contend for both the General Classification and stage wins with top riders Michael Rogers, Mark Cavendish and an exceptional supporting cast of athletes.”

Along with ProTour and Pro Continental teams, the domestic teams will be represented by return competitors Bissell, BMC Racing Team, Cervélo TestTeam, Fly V Australia, Jelly Belly Presented by Kenda, Kelly Benefit Strategies, Team Type 1, UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis, and new competitor, Canada’s Spidertech Powered by Planet Energy.

“The entire Fly V Australia team is looking forward to going head-to-head with the best teams and riders in the world in the 2010 Amgen Tour of California,” said Chris White, team director of Fly V Australia. “This is the biggest race of the year for our team and a great test for our riders.”

For more information about the teams competing in the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, please visit official website.

Teutenberg, Routley Take Stage One of the Redlands Bicycle Classic, powered by PossAbilities and presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

Redlands, Calif. — Stage One of the 26th Annual Redlands Bicycle Classic featured nonstop action from the gun. The strong gales from previous years was instead replaced by a calm breeze, giving the professional cyclists a bit of a break and the chance to put their team strategies into full effect on a grueling 17-mile circuit through the streets of Beaumont.

The women's race boasted one of the strongest fields in recent history, with many of the sport's toughest competitors. German Ina Yoko Teutenberg once again proved to be the strongest taking the stage ahead of Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO/To The Top) and Joelle Numainville (Webcor Builders).

"I went after the time bonuses and didn't care about the sprint jersey. My team brought me to the lines on the sprints and closed the gaps," said Teutenberg of the victory.

After the race, Teutenberg marveled at the talent at the front of the peloton. "There was a stronger field this year than there has been in years. All the best American riders were out; the teams definitely brought out their best."

Stage 1 Results - Women
1. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (HTC Columbia)
2. Brooke Miller (TIBCO/To The Top Pro Cycling)
3. Joelle Numainville (Webcor Builders)

Amber Neben maintained her overall lead in the General Classification with a steady wheel and persistence. "I felt good today. The wind helped keep it together and a lot of people going after jerseys and the stage also kept it together," said Neben, with team Dare to Be-BMW-Bianchi. "I was never in trouble or alone and everything went as expected."

General Classification After Stage 1 - Women
1. Amber Neben (Dare to Be - BMW-Bianchi)
2. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (HTC Columbia)
3. Mara Abbott (Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty 12)
4. Evelyn Stevens (HTC Columbia)
5. Alison Powers (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
6. Meredith Miller (TIBCO/To The Top Pro Cycling)
7. Robin Farina (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
8. Katharine Carroll (Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty 12)
9. Katheryn Mattis (Webcor Builders)
10. Carmen Small (Colavit/BAC/Cooking Light)

In the men's race, Jelly Belly presented by Kenda followed up their strong showing in the Prologue with a standout effort from Canadian Will Routley. In a break of three with Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling) and Luis Amaran (Jamis Sutter Home/Colavita), Routley took full advantage of the opportunity when it was presented itself, out sprinting his breakaway companions to the finish line just 10 seconds ahead of a fast-charging pack. "This is a great start to the season," said Routley. "The team was well positioned at the front and kept each other safe for the finish."

Stage 1 Results - Men
1. Will Routley (Jelly Belly presented by Kenda)
2. Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling)
3. Luis Amaran (Jamis Sutter Home/Colavita)

As a result of the day's events, the battle for the General Classification tightened as a mere six seconds separated the top six men.

The leader on the General Classification, Ben Day of Fly V australia, overcame two bike changes during the race to hold onto his position. "It really becomes a poker game at the last climb; it's not an easy stage. We're happy to hold onto the yellow jersey. Tomorrow's crit is one of the harder races. We are approaching the rest of the stages with the utmost respect. We need to be on our toes and attentive," said Day.

Ben Jacques-Mayne and Will Routely are second and third, respectively, separated by one second.

General Classification After Stage 1 - Men
1. Benjamin Day (Fly V australia)
2. Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling)
3. Will Routley (Jelly Belly presented by Kenda)
4. Carter Jones (Jelly Belly presented by Kenda)
5. Kiel Reijnen (Jelly Belly presented by Kenda)
6. Rory Sutherland (UnitedHealthcare presented by Maxxis)
7. Luis Amaran (Jamis Sutter Home/Colavita)
8. Jeremy Vennell (Bissell Pro Cycling)
9. Paul Mach (Bissell Pro Cycling)
10. Nathan O'Neill (Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling)

Stage Two of the Redlands Bicycle Classic takes its participants into downtown Redlands with one of the fastest, most technical races of the season. The 1.2-mile Beaver Medical Group Criterium starts and finishes on Citrus Ave. giving spectators a front row seat to one of the hottest races of the year and live entertainment and action for everyone.

For more information, including race times, distances, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.redlandsclassic.com.

Photo: © Leonard Basobas

Team Sky capped the opening event of the 2010 UCI ProTour calendar in the same way they opened it, with a 1-2 finish. Chris Sutton would take the Stage 6 bunch sprint just ahead of teammate Greg Henderson, who opened the team's account with a victory in the Cancer Council Helpline Classic. Rabobank's Graeme Brown would round out the podium, finishing third.

"It was the perfect lead-out, all the boys played their part and I just went as long as I could," stated Sutton. "If Hendy comes round me, he comes round me but to get a one-two is amazing."

With the second place finish on the stage, Henderson would claim the last spot on the final podium below Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) and newly crowned two-time Tour Down Under champion, Andre Greipel (Team HTC-Columbia).

Results Stage 6
1. Chris Sutton (Team Sky)
2. Greg Henderson (Team Sky)
3. Graeme Brown (Rabobank)

With the overall victory, HTC-Columbia's Greipel became the second rider in the twelve year history of the event to win it twice; Australian Stuart O'Grady winning the inaugural and the 2001 edition as part of Credit Agricole.

General Classification - Final
1. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia)
2. Samuel Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne)
3. Greg Henderson (Team Sky)
4. Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha)
5. Luke Roberts (Team Milram)
6. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team)
7. Eduard Vorganov (Katusha)
8. Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
9. Robbie Hunter (Garmin-Transitions
10. Markus Fothen (Team Milram

More:
Germany's Andre Greipel wins Tour Down Under as Team Sky takes final stage
Armstrong impresses his boss
Experts hail 2010 as greatest Tour Down Under

The parcours for Thursday's Stage 4 of the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under were as close to ideal for the sprinters as they come. And when the occasion arose, the fastmen did not disappoint.

Andre Greipel (Team HTC-Columbia) remained the peloton's unsolvable puzzle as he would take the bunch sprint ahead of Australians Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha) and Graeme Brown (Rabobank), and stake claim to his third stage in four tries.

Since Greipel arrived Down Under in 2008, the 27-year-old German has essentially owned the race. The overall champion and points classifications winner in 2008, Greipel has now won 8 of the 13 stages he has started. Although the Stage 5 profile, with several passes up Willunga Hill before an uphill finish, does not particularly suit his talents, Greipel is more than likely to win his second Tour Down Under championship, and perhaps one last stage in the process.

At this point, would you bet against him?

In addition to fighting another day of high temperatures, the peloton was besieged by strong winds along the 149.5km route from Norwood to Goolwa. Nonetheless, the baroudeur-rouleur would give it another go.

David Kemp (UniSA-Australia) and Olivier Kaisen (Omega Pharma-Lotto) would once again launch themselves off-the-front, accompanied this time by Thomas Frei (BMC Racing), Stef Clement (Rabobank), Thomas Rohregger (Milram), Anthony Ravard (AG2R-La Mondiale) and Jonathan Castroviejo (Euskaltel-Euskadi). The break would stay away for the majority of the Mutual Community Stage 4 only to be swept away, literally, by day's end.

At the peloton's arrival into Goolwa, Lance Armstrong and Team RadioShack teammate Tomas Vaitkus would launch a late attack, but like the earlier break, they would not survive the onslaught from the voracious, hard charging sprinters.

Results - Stage 4
1. Andre Greipel (Team HTC-Columbia)
2. Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha)
3. Graeme Brown (Rabobank)

General Classification After Stage 4
1. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia)
2. Robbie McEwen (Team Katusha)
3. Greg Henderson (Team Sky)
4. Gert Steegmans (Team RadioShack)
5. Graeme Brown (Rabobank)
6. Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
7. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team)
8. Andriy Grivko (Astana)
9. Robbie Hunter (Garmin-Transitions)
10. Baden Cooke (Team Saxo Bank)

More:
Andre Greipel has Tour Down Under at his mercy
Lance attacks but Greipel too good

Next: Jayco Stage 5 - Snapper Point to Willunga (148km)

It wasn't Mark Cavendish at the end of the HTC-Columbia train, but you could scarcely tell the difference as the most winning team from 2009 delivered their intended package, German Andre Greipel, to the line in Tanunda in Jimmy John's like fashion, which is to say, fast.

The victory for Greipel, overall winner of the 2008 edition of the Tour Down Under, mirrored last year's Stage 1 finish in which he beat a pair of Aussies, Baden Cooke and Stuart O'Grady, to the finish. This year, Greipel would out-kick a Belgian duo in Gert Steegmans (Team RadioShack) and Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and take the first leader's jersey of the 2010 season.

The 141km stage from Clare to Tanunda was highlighted by a three man break, consisting of Blel Kadri (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Martin Kohler (BMC Racing) and Tim Roe (UniSA Australia), which stayed away for the majority of the day. Their lead would burgeon out to 9:45 at one point, but the "cat-and-mouse" game of peloton-to-breakaway would go by way of the cat on this day as the sprinters' teams shared the load to pull back the trio at the end.

Greg Henderson (Team Sky), who won the precursor to the Tour Down Under, the Cancer Council Helpline Classic, would finish in 5th.

Results - Stage 1
1. Andre Greipel (Ger) HTC-Columbia
2. Gert Steegmans (Bel) Team RadioShack
3. Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto

General Classification After Stage 1
1. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia)
2. Gert Steegmans (Team RadioShack)
3. Martin Kohler (BMC Racing Team)
4. Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
5. Biel Kadri (Ag2r-La Mondiale)
6. Timothy Roe (Team UniSA-Australia)
7. Danilo Wyss (BMC Racing Team)
8. Greg Henderson (Team Sky)
9. Baden Cooke (Team Saxo Bank)
10. Graeme Brown (Rabobank)

More:
Greipel, Armstrong survive pile-up Down Under
Lance lauds Roe's Tour 'monster break'

Next: Stage 2 - Gawler to Hahndorf (133.5km)

Photo: CJFoto.com