Posted by Editoress on 08/20/14
Defending Champion Tejay van Garderen Proves He's King of the Mountains
In a race fit for royals, Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing Team) proved he is King of the Mountains during the Queen Stage of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge on Monarch Mountain, in the race's first-ever mountaintop finish. Taking the stage win and the overall lead, in addition to the Lexus Sprint Jersey and the Colorado National Guard Best Colorado Rider Jersey, van Garderen dominated Stage 3 of the race.
Tejay van Garderen wins
"I love this race. Every year I've done the Pro Challenge, I've taken away something from it," said van Garderen. "I look forward to this race every year. And unless the Pro Challenge finished higher than this before, this is definitely the highest elevation I have ever finished at."
During Stage 3 of the race today the riders were not only faced with a mountaintop finish, but they also had to pass over it first, giving spectators a chance to see the race multiple times from the same vantage point. Starting in Gunnison, the race went east for 35 miles before tackling the 11,300 ft. monster that is Monarch Pass. The riders then descended the eastern slope of the pass and completed two 9-mile loops through Salida and the surrounding countryside. Then they tackled nearly 20 miles of climbing to the finish at 10,800 ft.-Monarch Mountain Ski Area.
"Today's stage was everything we could have hoped for – the fans were incredible, the weather was beautiful, and the racing was intense and exciting to watch," said Shawn Hunter, CEO of the Pro Challenge. "This is the first year we have taken the Pro Challenge to Monarch Mountain and our first true mountaintop finish. As the race continues to grow and evolve each year, we hope to bring more exciting days of racing like today to our fans around the world."
After a 6.9-mile neutral start out of town, the riders didn't waste any time and immediately started launching attacks, traveling at 32 mph. With a lot of activity on the front, none of the breaks were able to stick and everyone was still riding together at 35K into the race.
At 50K, five riders, including Michael Koch (Cannondale Pro Cycling), Jeff Louder (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team), Ben Jacques-Maynes (Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home), Jacob Rathe (Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis) and Bernie Sulzberger (Drapac Pro Cycling), broke away and gained a slight advantage, but then were reeled back in as they headed into the first Sierra Nevada KOM of the day at Monarch Pass.
A Cat. 1 climb at 11,312 ft. with a 2,743 ft. elevation gain, Monarch Pass would prove to be a test for the riders, splitting the field into several different groups. Janier Acevedo (Team Garmin-Sharp) put his climbing skills on display by pulling ahead and, with his team setting a tough pace in the group just behind, the break was cut down to just eight riders. Included in this group were Tejay van Garderen and Ben Hermans (BMC Racing Team); Rafal Majka, Michael Rogers and Pawel Poljanski (Tinkoff-Saxo) Tom Danielson and Acevedo; and Carter Jones (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies).
Lined with fans, the climb up Monarch Pass destroyed the field and broke the riders up into several small groups. Reaching the top of the climb first was Hermans, followed by Danielson and Poljanski. With about a 50-second advantage, the break screamed down the back side of the climb, past the stage finish and on to Salida where they would complete two laps before heading back toward the finish.
With the first Lexus Sprint Line in Salida fast approaching, Acevedo hit the line first, followed by Poljanski and Hermans. Soon after, Rogers broke off, as the rest of the break was absorbed back into the chase.
As they continued on through the town, several attacks were made out of the chase, but didn't stick. Then, just as Rogers hit the second sprint line of the day, taking max points, Lucas Euser (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling )Team and Daniel Jaramillo (Jamis-Hagens Berman) managed to escape and start the chase. Euser crossed the line second and Jaramillo third.
As the riders left the town of Salida, Rogers maintained a 1:10 lead over the first chase group with Euser and Jaramillo, and 20 seconds behind them was the second chase group, which included GC leader Alex Howes (Team Garmin-Sharp). With only 16.5 miles to go, the chasers were reabsorbed, tightening up the race.
With 25K of uphill course left to go, the riders approached the second KOM of the day, a Cat. 2 climb on Monarch Mountain with an average grade of 3 percent, but a grade of 9 percent at its steepest point. With a strong headwind on the course, the riders started to make their way up the climb.
At 8K to go the attacks began and, as the tempo picked up, riders began to fall off the back. With about 14 riders left in the front group, Danielson tried to push the pace to get time on van Garderen. Finally Matthew Busche (Trek Factory Racing) launched an attack and put a gap between him and the group, but alas, that wouldn't stick either. With 1K left in the race, van Garderen hit the gas and attacked, a move which would take him all the way to the finish line. Under beautiful skies and a picturesque backdrop at the Monarch Mountain Ski Resort, van Garderen crossed the line first, followed by Majka and Serghei Tvetcov (Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis).
"I felt pretty well under control today," added van Garderen. "The team rode incredibly again today. I'm glad I was able to take the jersey."
Van Garderen now holds three jerseys, including the Smashburger Leader Jersey, Sierra Nevada King of the Mountains Jersey and the Colorado National Guard Best Colorado Rider Jersey. Rogers was awarded the FirstBank Most Aggressive Rider Jersey for his riding in the breakaway. The other jerseys remained unchanged, with Kiel Reijnen (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team) holding onto the Lexus Sprint Jersey and Clément Chevrier (Bissell Development Team) maintaining the Colorado State University Best Young Rider Jersey.
Results from the third stage in Colorado, USA
Stage 3: Gunnison to Monarch Mountain, 154.9km | |
1 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team | 3:50:41 |
2 Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo | at s.t. |
3 Serghei Tvetcov (Rou) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis | 0:20 |
4 Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing Team | 0:24 |
5 Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp | s.t. |
6 Carter Jones (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | 0:30 |
7 Joseph Rosskopf (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development | 0:39 |
8 Matthew Busche (USA) Trek Factory Racing | 0:45 |
9 Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) Team Netapp-Endura | 0:51 |
10 Clement Chevrier (Fra) Bissell Development Team | 1:06 |
11 Julian Kyer (USA) Team SmartStop | 1:09 |
12 Bruno Pires (Por) Tinkoff-Saxo | 1:18 |
13 Riccardo Zoidl (Aut) Trek Factory Racing | 1:21 |
14 Pawel Poljanski (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo | 1:47 |
15 Lucas Euser (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 1:57 |
16 Frank Schleck (Lux) Trek Factory Racing | |
17 Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team | |
18 Alex Howes (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp | all s.t. |
19 Daniel Alexander Jaramillo Diez (Col) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | 3:07 |
20 Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col) Team Garmin-Sharp | 4:20 |
21 Ruben Zepuntke (Ger) Bissell Development Team | 5:36 |
22 Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek Factory Racing | 6:47 |
23 Michael Schär (Sui) BMC Racing Team | 9:49 |
24 Jens Voigt (Ger) Trek Factory Racing | 11:55 |
25 Robbie Squire (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | 12:58 |
26 Benjamin King (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp | |
27 Lachlan Norris (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | |
28 Chris Butler (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development | |
29 Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | |
30 Phillip Gaimon (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp | |
31 Javier Megias Leal (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk | |
32 Gregor Muhlberger (Aut) Team Netapp-Endura | |
33 Peter Stetina (USA) BMC Racing Team | |
34 Tanner Putt (USA) Bissell Development Team | |
35 David de la Cruz Melgarejo (Esp) Team Netapp-Endura | |
36 Rob Britton (Can) Team SmartStop | |
37 Benjamin Day (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | |
38 Tiago Machado (Por) Team Netapp-Endura | |
39 Tom Zirbel (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | |
40 Rasmus Guldhammer (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo | |
41 Edward Beltran Suarez (Col) Tinkoff-Saxo | |
42 Michael Rogers (Aus) Tinkoff-Saxo | |
43 Hugh Carthy (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT | |
44 Jose Joao Pimenta Costa Mendes (Por) Team Netapp-Endura | all s.t. |
45 Jesse Anthony (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | 17:55 |
46 Ian Crane (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | 27:53 |
47 Zach Bell (Can) Team SmartStop | |
48 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | |
49 Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing Team | |
50 Cristiano Salerno (Ita) Cannondale | |
51 Tom Moses (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT | |
52 Markel Irizar Aranburu (Esp) Trek Factory Racing | |
53 Kiel Reijnen (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | |
54 Elliott Porter (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT | |
55 Caleb Fairly (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp | |
56 Calvin Watson (Aus) Trek Factory Racing | |
57 Edward King (USA) Cannondale | |
58 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Team Garmin-Sharp | |
59 Toms Skujins (Lat) Hincapie Sportswear Development | |
60 Charles Planet (Fra) Team Novo Nordisk | |
61 Luis Enrique Davila (Mex) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis | |
62 Joonas Henttala (Fin) Team Novo Nordisk | |
63 Ivan Basso (Ita) Cannondale | |
64 Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team Netapp-Endura | |
65 Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale | |
66 Jordan Kerby (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | |
67 Dion Smith (NZl) Hincapie Sportswear Development | |
68 Yannick Eijssen (Bel) BMC Racing Team | |
69 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Trek Factory Racing | |
70 Kirk Carlsen (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis | |
71 Gregory Daniel (USA) Bissell Development Team | |
72 Kristian House (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT | |
73 Martin Kohler (Sui) BMC Racing Team | |
74 Carson Miller (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | |
75 Patrick Konrad (Aut) Team Netapp-Endura | |
76 Gavin Mannion (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp | |
77 Matej Mohoric (Slo) Cannondale | |
78 Cameron Wurf (Aus) Cannondale | |
79 Ian Burnett (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis | |
80 Scott Ambrose (NZl) Team Novo Nordisk | |
81 Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale | |
82 Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | |
83 Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | |
84 Leopold König (Cze) Team Netapp-Endura | |
85 Michael Mørkøv (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo | |
86 Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | |
87 David Lozano Riba (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk | |
88 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | |
89 Matt Cooke (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | |
90 Jesper Hansen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo | |
91 Adam Phelan (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | |
92 Martijn Verschoor (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk | |
93 Stephen Leece (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | |
94 Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale | |
95 Steve Fisher (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis | |
96 Daniel Eaton (USA) Bissell Development Team | |
97 Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | |
98 Keegan Swirbul (USA) Bissell Development Team | |
99 Scott Zwizanski (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | |
100 Travis McCabe (USA) Team SmartStop | |
101 Mike Friedman (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | |
102 Robin Carpenter (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development | |
103 Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis | |
104 Bjorn Selander (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | |
105 Michael Cuming (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT | |
106 Michael Torckler (NZl) Team SmartStop | |
107 Eric Marcotte (USA) Team SmartStop | |
108 Aaron Perry (NZl) Team Novo Nordisk | |
109 Joseph Lewis (Aus) Hincapie Sportswear Development | |
110 Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | |
111 James Oram (NZl) Bissell Development Team | |
112 Richard Handley (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT | |
113 Alexander Candelario (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | |
114 Jai Crawford (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | |
115 Jeffry Louder (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | |
116 Jure Kocjan (Slo) Team SmartStop | |
117 Daniel Summerhill (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | |
118 Isaac Bolivar Hernandez (Col) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | |
119 Nathan Van Hooydonck (Bel) Bissell Development Team | |
120 Tyler Magner (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development | |
121 Luis Romero Amaran (Cub) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | |
122 Oscar Clark (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development | |
123 Johnathan Freter (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis | all s.t. |
GC | |
1 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team | 10:34:53 |
2 Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo | at 0:20 |
3 Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing Team | 0:23 |
4 Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp | 0:34 |
5 Serghei Tvetcov (Rou) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis | 0:37 |
6 Matthew Busche (USA) Trek Factory Racing | 0:46 |
7 Carter Jones (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | 0:49 |
8 Joseph Rosskopf (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development | 0:55 |
9 Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) Team Netapp-Endura | 1:09 |
10 Julian Kyer (USA) Team SmartStop | 1:22 |
11 Clement Chevrier (Fra) Bissell Development Team | 1:23 |
12 Alex Howes (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp | 1:45 |
13 Bruno Pires (Por) Tinkoff-Saxo | 2:28 |
14 Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team | 2:37 |
15 Riccardo Zoidl (Aut) Trek Factory Racing | 2:47 |
16 Pawel Poljanski (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo | 4:06 |
17 Lucas Euser (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 4:10 |
18 Frank Schleck (Lux) Trek Factory Racing | 5:20 |
19 Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col) Team Garmin-Sharp | 6:02 |
20 Ruben Zepuntke (Ger) Bissell Development Team | 7:00 |
21 Daniel Alexander Jaramillo Diez (Col) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | 7:28 |
22 Michael Schär (Sui) BMC Racing Team | 12:00 |
23 Jens Voigt (Ger) Trek Factory Racing | 12:22 |
24 Rob Britton (Can) Team SmartStop | 13:15 |
25 Javier Megias Leal (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk | 14:08 |
26 Tanner Putt (USA) Bissell Development Team | s.t. |
27 Lachlan Norris (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | 14:09 |
28 Chris Butler (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development | 14:14 |
29 Phillip Gaimon (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp | 14:17 |
30 Peter Stetina (USA) BMC Racing Team | 14:20 |
31 Benjamin King (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp | 14:57 |
32 Tiago Machado (Por) Team Netapp-Endura | 15:08 |
33 Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | 15:21 |
34 Robbie Squire (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | 15:23 |
35 Tom Zirbel (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | 15:28 |
36 David de la Cruz Melgarejo (Esp) Team Netapp-Endura | 15:54 |
37 Hugh Carthy (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT | 18:07 |
38 Michael Rogers (Aus) Tinkoff-Saxo | 18:25 |
39 Rasmus Guldhammer (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo | 19:49 |
40 Gregor Muhlberger (Aut) Team Netapp-Endura | 21:01 |
41 Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek Factory Racing | 21:55 |
42 Jesse Anthony (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | 24:51 |
43 Benjamin Day (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 29:10 |
44 Kiel Reijnen (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 29:52 |
45 Carson Miller (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | 30:02 |
46 Michael Torckler (NZl) Team SmartStop | 30:15 |
47 Dion Smith (NZl) Hincapie Sportswear Development | 30:28 |
48 Jose Joao Pimenta Costa Mendes (Por) Team Netapp-Endura | 30:44 |
49 Ivan Basso (Ita) Cannondale | 30:48 |
50 Richard Handley (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT | 31:06 |
51 Caleb Fairly (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp | 31:12 |
52 Oscar Clark (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development | 31:39 |
53 Patrick Konrad (Aut) Team Netapp-Endura | 31:58 |
54 Edward Beltran Suarez (Col) Tinkoff-Saxo | 31:59 |
55 Robin Carpenter (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development | 32:49 |
56 Keegan Swirbul (USA) Bissell Development Team | 32:52 |
57 Bjorn Selander (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | 32:53 |
58 Jeffry Louder (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 34:30 |
59 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | 34:49 |
60 Cameron Wurf (Aus) Cannondale | 36:00 |
61 Tyler Magner (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development | 36:27 |
62 Joseph Lewis (Aus) Hincapie Sportswear Development | 36:34 |
63 Ian Burnett (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis | 36:40 |
64 Matej Mohoric (Slo) Cannondale | 36:59 |
65 Adam Phelan (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | s.t. |
66 Daniel Summerhill (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 37:36 |
67 Hayden Roulston (NZl) Trek Factory Racing | 38:35 |
68 Matt Cooke (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | 38:39 |
69 Martin Kohler (Sui) BMC Racing Team | 39:34 |
70 Luis Enrique Davila (Mex) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis | 39:48 |
71 Edward King (USA) Cannondale | 40:15 |
72 Daniel Eaton (USA) Bissell Development Team | 40:49 |
73 Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 40:51 |
74 Markel Irizar Aranburu (Esp) Trek Factory Racing | 41:06 |
75 Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 41:07 |
76 James Oram (NZl) Bissell Development Team | s.t. |
77 Alexander Candelario (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | 41:08 |
78 Yannick Eijssen (Bel) BMC Racing Team | 42:03 |
79 Travis McCabe (USA) Team SmartStop | 42:36 |
80 Ian Crane (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | 42:43 |
81 Stephen Leece (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | 42:47 |
82 Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | 42:49 |
83 Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis | 42:51 |
84 Joonas Henttala (Fin) Team Novo Nordisk | 43:37 |
85 Charles Planet (Fra) Team Novo Nordisk | 43:58 |
86 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Team Garmin-Sharp | 44:02 |
87 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | 44:03 |
88 Gregory Daniel (USA) Bissell Development Team | 44:24 |
89 Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale | 44:25 |
90 Toms Skujins (Lat) Hincapie Sportswear Development | 44:44 |
91 Jai Crawford (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | 44:53 |
92 Calvin Watson (Aus) Trek Factory Racing | 45:28 |
93 Kristian House (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT | 45:29 |
94 Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team Netapp-Endura | 45:45 |
95 Gavin Mannion (USA) Team Garmin-Sharp | 45:55 |
96 Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | 45:58 |
97 David Lozano Riba (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk | 46:20 |
98 Cristiano Salerno (Ita) Cannondale | 47:18 |
99 Zach Bell (Can) Team SmartStop | 47:20 |
100 Elliott Porter (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT | s.t. |
101 Kirk Carlsen (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis | 47:21 |
102 Steve Fisher (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis | 47:22 |
103 Michael Cuming (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT | s.t. |
104 Jesper Hansen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo | 47:23 |
105 Leopold König (Cze) Team Netapp-Endura | s.t. |
106 Scott Zwizanski (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | 47:24 |
107 Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | 47:35 |
108 Luis Romero Amaran (Cub) Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home | 47:36 |
109 Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale | 49:40 |
110 Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing Team | 50:51 |
111 Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale | 50:56 |
112 Jordan Kerby (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling | 51:06 |
113 Tom Moses (GBr) Rapha Condor JLT | 51:25 |
114 Isaac Bolivar Hernandez (Col) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 52:31 |
115 Martijn Verschoor (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk | 53:59 |
116 Mike Friedman (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | s.t. |
117 Eric Marcotte (USA) Team SmartStop | 54:01 |
118 Jure Kocjan (Slo) Team SmartStop | 54:38 |
119 Nathan Van Hooydonck (Bel) Bissell Development Team | 55:47 |
120 Michael Mørkøv (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo | 59:17 |
121 Scott Ambrose (NZl) Team Novo Nordisk | 59:18 |
122 Johnathan Freter (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis | 59:53 |
123 Aaron Perry (NZl) Team Novo Nordisk | 1:02:24 |