TdG: Stage 2

A flat stage that normally would be a textbook race for the big lead-out trains of Health Net, Davitimon and United Pro was animated by 4 trips over Clock Tower Hill in the finishing circuits. The fast teams worked hard to control the front of the field but ultimately it was Discovery that pushed the pace hard on the last lap and launched Yaroslav "Popo" Popovych to the stage win as well as the overall lead.

American, Fast Freddy Rodriguez retains his lead in the sprint classification by taking a couple of points during the intermediate sprints. The first KOM points of this years TdG were offered up on the first ascent up Clock Tower Hill. Kirk O'Bee of the Health Net team had good position and became the first wearer of the pimp-looking KOM jersey. For his lengthy solo effort off the front in stage two, Alajandro Acton was rewarded with the "Most Aggressive" jersey. Although not pictured here, the leader of the "Best Young Rider" jersey is Florian Stalder (Swi) of the Phonak team. Here's how the stage finished:

1 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel
2 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Toyota-United Pro
3 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto
4 Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis
5 Caleb Manion (Aus) Jelly Belly
6 Cesar Augusto Grajales (Col) Navigators Insurance
7 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems
8 Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak Hearing Systems
9 Florian Stalder (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems
10 Francisco Ventoso (Spa) Prodir-Saunier Duval

What's the deal with the leaders jerseys?...
Let me be the first to praise Hincapie Sportswear for producing some of the best-looking, best-designed leaders jersey out there (also producers of the Team Olympus kit). My only problem is that they made the "Best Young Rider" jersey green instead of it's traditional white and made the "Sprint Leaders" jersey blue and grey instead of it's traditional green. I'm all for thinking outside of the box, but in this case I feel that tradition should prevail...not to mention that this could get confusing.

In their defense, the TdG organizers did put some thought into why they changed the colors. Here's there explanation about the "Sprint Leaders" jersey"

"The gray and aqua-blue Sprint Leader jersey design takes its inspiration from the fast-moving, rock-strewn whitewater rapids of Georgia's Appalachian Mountains.....Like the quick currents of Georgia whitewater, strong and fast cyclists specializing in bursts of speed will have the best chance of being awarded the jersey."

Here's what they had to say about the "Best Young Rider" jersey:

"Each day eligible riders who are under 23 years of age compete for this special jersey, which recognizes the future stars of cycling. The GE Best Young Rider jersey's Georgia oaks-themed design takes these strong and 'relatively green' young men as its inspiration."

Nice thought, but the best sprinters should be in green, I don't care about Georgia oaks (which lends itself to the idea of established and defined, not young and inexperienced).

Valverde looking strong...
The northern classic, Fleché Wallonne, was held yesterday and won by the impressive Alajandro Valverde. I'm not going to get into the details of the race, but I wonder if the Tour De France GC contenders need to take a serious look at how to compete with this Spanish stud who can both climb and sprint. you can vote for Valverde in the 5count TdF poll located in the sidebar to the left if you feel that he's most likely to win the Tour.