June 10, 2009 (Thetford Mines, QC) – The second stage at Thetford Mines was new this year, and concerned many of the riders this morning – not so much because it was a new route but more because of the light rain falling in the stadium parking lot.

When the dust settled it was Darren Lapthorne (AUS — Rapha Condor), Phil Cortes (CAN — Garneau-Club Chaussure) and Peter Stetina (USA Felt Holowesko Parners-Garmin U23) who ascended to the podium completing the 160.6km stage in 4 hours 1 minute and 22 seconds.

The yellow jersey and the white jersey for the points leader remained with Danilo Wyss (SUI — BMC Racing), and the red jersey for the best young rider and the polka dot jersey for the best climber also stayed in the hands of Chad Beyer (USA – BMC Racing).

Jean-François Racine who has ridden in the Tour regularly since 1999, confessed while getting ready that he didn’t like the rain and that the first portion of the stage would be difficult. According to Charles Dionne (Fly V Australia) his aim was “to maintain his position as the leading Quebec rider overall in the standings.”

A new Quebecer appeared in the caravan this morning. Former top rider, Dominique Perras, who recently retired, took over as the Director Sportif for the Canadian Select team for the second time (since the Tour of New Zealand). Twenty years after becoming a racer for the first time as a young rider he’s very happy to lead a team

There was one non-starter of note, the Latvian Indulis Bekmanis who was most certainly extremely tired after the Coupe des Nations in Saguenay. From the start, with a straight 1.8-kilometre uphill run, it was a Colombian who took off on terrain suited to him. Was the Colombian success at the end of the stage the day before going to continue as they left the town? Quickly he was caught. Like the day before, the race started very fast. At the first KoM, Chad Beyer, holding the red and white polka dot jersey, again scored points in second place behind Raymond Kreder (Felt Holoweko Partners Garmin U 23), continuing to protect his jersey.

The first of the day to drop out was Scott Tietzel (DLP) at kilometre 16, and it was just when there was a breakaway of 5 riders. Few of the larger teams were represented in front, and everyone quickly caught them. The first wooden bridge was passed at kilometre 27.3 without incident by the pack.

On the hill in Saint Julien, it was Simon Lambert-Lemay (Québec) who started attacking at the bottom, but was then quickly caught by Walker Savidge (Felt Holoweko Partners Garmin U 23), then by the whole pack, who didn’t want to give a free pass to the morning’s fighters. Following the hill, it was again the Colombians out in front. At that same hill, Philip Martz (DLP) went back to join his teammate in the broom wagon. There only remained three of their members still in the race.

On Route 216, at kilometre 31.5, the pack finally gave permission to two riders to take off, American Peter Stetina (Felt Holoweko Partners Garmin U 23) and the Australian Darren Lapthorne from the Rapha Condor team. After a long, hard, 10-kilometre fight, the Canadian Phil Cortes (Garneau) managed to catch up with the two leaders. We didn’t know it at the time but the real breakaway had begun to form.

Phillip Cortes, from New Brunswick, went ahead at the second KoM. At that point, at kilometre 71, the breakaway had a 3 minute-50 second lead. The members of BMC started to get into gear as the yellow jersey was only 4 minutes and 45 seconds over the best of the breakaway, the promising and designated leader of his team, Peter Stetina. Yet as the gap increased, the three men paced perfectly, passing over the top of the third KoM of the day, won by Darrren Lapthorne.

At the bottom of the next descent, the race was neutralized for 5 minutes 48 seconds in order to cross a dangerously slippery wooden bridge. As soon as the race was resumed, BMC really started to take control. The gap rapidly closed and at kilometre 105.8, the first sprint of the day was won by the young Peter Stetina. La Guadeloupe was passed in front of a large crowd, but the gap went to 3 minutes 57. Stetina had to change bicycles and resolve a few problems but he still won the last sprint of the day. Columbia and Planet Energie came to help BMC. It was only 1 minute 20 at the beginning of the last part. Darren Lapthorne began his attack at 2 kilometres and finished as the winner.

Riders in the stage from Quebec were Charles Dionne who finished 4th, Martin Gilbert in 9th and Guillaume Boivin, even though sick, completed this group of great Quebec performances in 10th place.

Results

1. Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Rapha Condor 4:01:22
2. Phillip Cortes (Can) Garneau-Club Chaussure
3. Peter *Stetina (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin U23
4. Charles Dionne (Can) Fly V Australia
5. Danilo Wyss (Sui) BMC Racing Team
6. Alex Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies
7. Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Fly V Australia
8. Martin Gilbert (Can) Planet Energy
9. William Munoz (Col) Éq. Nationale De Colombie
10. Darren Lill (Rsa) Team Type 1
11. Raymond *Kreder (Ned) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin U23
12. Mathew *Cronshaw (Gbr) Rapha Condor
13. Antonio Cruz (USA) BMC Racing Team
14. Steve Bovay (Sui) BMC Racing Team
15. Chad *Beyer (USA) BMC Racing Team
16. Simon *Lambert-Lemay (Can) Équipe Québec
17. Martin Kohler (Sui) BMC Racing Team
18. James Stewart (Gbr) Kuk-Kinesis
19. Timothy Henry (USA) Dlp Racing
20. James Moss (Gbr) Kuk-Kinesis
21. Janis *Rezins (Lat) Latvian National Team
22. Alex *Howes (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin U23
23. Benjamin Day (Aus) Fly V Australia
24. Benjamin *King (USA) Trek Livestrong
25. Tom Southam (Gbr) Rapha Condor
26. Jarlinson *Pantano (Col) Éq. Nationale De Colombie
27. Camilo *Suarez (Col) Éq. Nationale De Colombie
28. Otavio Bougarelli (Bra) Garneau-Club Chaussure
29. Derrick St-John (Can) Garneau-Club Chaussure
30. Ugo Lapierre (Can) Équipe Québec
31. William *Rodriguez (Col) Éq. Nationale De Colombie
32. Christopher Jones (USA) Team Type 1
33. Ryan Roth (Can) Planet Energy
34. Bjorn *Selanler (USA) Trek Livestrong
35. Simon Richardson (Gbr) Rapha Condor
36. Neil Shirley (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies
37. Steve Lampier (Gbr) Kuk-Kinesis
38. Dan Craven (Gbr) Rapha Condor
39. Raphaël *Gagné (Can) Équipe Québec
40. San *Bewley (Nzl) Trek Livestrong
41. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Team Type 1
42. Darwin *Atapuma (Col) Éq. Nationale De Colombie
43. Moises Aldape Chavez (Mex) Team Type 1
44. Keven Lacombe (Can) Planet Energy
45. Aroussen Laflamme (Can) Garneau-Club Chaussure
46. Sergio Luis *Henao (Col) Éq. Nationale De Colombie
47. William *Goodfellow (Can) Équipe Québec
48. Scott Davis (Aus) Fly V Australia
49. Charlie *Bryer (Can) Éq. Nationale Canadienne
50. Jonathan Garcia (USA) BMC Racing Team
51. Guy *East (USA) Trek Livestrong
52. Clay *Murfet (Aus) Kelly Benefit Strategies
53. David *Veilleux (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies
54. Andris Smirnovs (Lat) Latvian National Team
55. Phillip Zajicek (USA) Fly V Australia
56. Robert Wardell (Gbr) Kuk-Kinesis
57. Caleb *Fairly (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin U23
58. Jesse *Sergent (Nzl) Trek Livestrong
59. Ian Macgregor (USA) Team Type 1
60. Ryan *Belliveau (Can) Éq. Nationale Canadienne
61. Cody *Campbell (Can) Trek Livestrong
62. Jacob Erker (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies
63. Peter *Salon (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin U23
64. Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing Team
65. Hayden *Brooks (Aus) Fly V Australia
66. Casey Munro (Aus) Kuk-Kinesis
67. Bruno Langlois (Can) Planet Energy
68. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies
69. Jamie *Riggs (Can) Éq. Nationale Canadienne
70. André *Tremblay (Can) Équipe Québec
71. Ben Greenwood (Gbr) Rapha Condor
72. Jonathan Mumford (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies
73. Bryson *Bowers (Can) Éq. Nationale Canadienne
74. ALESANDRO Bazzanna (Ita) Fly V Australia
75. Matthew *Bell (Can) Éq. Nationale Canadienne
76. Ryan *Baumann (USA) Trek Livestrong
77. Matt Wilson (Aus) Team Type 1
78. Guillaume *Boivin (Can) Équipe Québec
79. Jean-François Racine (Can) Garneau-Club Chaussure
80. Jean-Sébastien Perron (Can) Équipe Québec
81. Walker *Savidge (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin U23
82. Steven *Gordon (USA) Dlp Racing 2:44
83. Eric *Boily (Can) Planet Energy 3:03
84. Mark *Bathy (Can) Planet Energy
85. François Parisien (Can) Planet Energy
86. Cameron Evans (Can) Éq. Nationale Canadienne
87. Jeffery Schiller (Can) Garneau-Club Chaussure 4:32
88. Kristian House (Gbr) Rapha Condor 5:16
89. Daniel *Summerhill (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin U23 6:01
90. Gatis *Smukulis (Lat) Latvian National Team
DNF Scott Tietzel (USA) Dlp Racing
DNF Phillip *Martz (USA) Dlp Racing
DNS Indulis *Bekmanis (Lat) Latvian National Team

GC after Stage 2

1. Danilo Wyss (Sui) BMC Racing Team 7:58:15
2. Darren Lill (Rsa) Team Type 1 0:07
3. Ryan Roth (Can) Planet Energy 0:09
4. Benjamin Day (Aus) Fly V Australia 0:13
5. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies
6. Tom Southam (Gbr) Rapha Condor 0:16
7. Chad *Beyer (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:59
8. Guy *East (USA) Trek Livestrong 1:01
9. BERNARD Sulzberger (Aus) Fly V Australia 1:20
10. Derrick St-John (Can) Garneau-Club Chaussure 1:33
11. Christopher Jones (USA) Team Type 1
12. Darwin *Atapuma (Col) Éq. Nationale De Colombie 1:34
13. Sergio Luis *Henao (Col) Éq. Nationale De Colombie 1:34
14. Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Rapha Condor 4:29
15. Peter *Stetina (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin U23 4:35
16. CHARLES Dionne (Can) Fly V Australia 4:45
17. Alex Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies
18. Antonio Cruz (USA) BMC Racing Team
19. Steve Bovay (Sui) BMC Racing Team
20. Jarlinson *Pantano (Col) Éq. Nationale De Colombie
21. Alex *Howes (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin U23
22. Martin Kohler (Sui) BMC Racing Team
23. Otavio Bougarelli (Bra) Garneau-Club Chaussure
24. Benjamin *King (USA) Trek Livestrong
25. Martin Gilbert (Can) Planet Energy
26. Timothy Henry (USA) Dlp Racing
27. William *Rodriguez (Col) Éq. Nationale De Colombie
28. Simon Richardson (Gbr) Rapha Condor
29. Neil Shirley (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies
30. Jonathan Garcia (USA) BMC Racing Team
31. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Team Type 1
32. Bjorn *Selanler (USA) Trek Livestrong
33. Andris *Smirnovs (Lat) Latvian National Team
34. Scott Davis (Aus) Fly V Australia
35. Moises Aldape Chavez (Mex) Team Type 1
36. Dan Craven (Gbr) Rapha Condor
37. Keven Lacombe (Can) Planet Energy
38. Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing Team
39. Casey Munro (Aus) Kuk-Kinesis
40. Jacob Erker (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies
41. Phillip Zajicek (USA) Fly V Australia
42. David *Veilleux (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies
43. Bruno Langlois (Can) Planet Energy
44. Caleb *Fairly (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin U23
45. Ian Macgregor (USA) Team Type 1
46. Matthew *Bell (Can) Éq. Nationale Canadienne
47. ALESANDRO Bazzanna (Ita) Fly V Australia
48. Jamie *Riggs (Can) Éq. Nationale Canadienne
49. Cameron Evans (Can) Éq. Nationale Canadienne
50. Matt Wilson (Aus) Team Type 1
51. Ben Greenwood (Gbr) Rapha Condor 6:48
52. Peter *Salon (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin U23 7:36
53. Jean-Sébastien Perron (Can) Équipe Québec 7:36
54. François Parisien (Can) Planet Energy 7:45
55. William Munoz (Col) Éq. Nationale De Colombie 8:18
56. Kristian House (Gbr) Rapha Condor 9:58
57. Gatis *Smukulis (Lat) Latvian National Team 10:43
58. James Moss (Gbr) Kuk-Kinesis 13:52
59. James Stewart (Gbr) Kuk-Kinesis
60. Janis *Rezins (Lat) Latvian National Team
61. Ryan *Belliveau (Can) Éq. Nationale Canadienne
62. Jonathan Mumford (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies
63. Phillip Cortes (Can) Garneau-Club Chaussure 17:41
64. Mathew *Cronshaw (Gbr) Rapha Condor 17:50
65. Ugo Lapierre (Can) Équipe Québec
66. Raphaël *Gagné (Can) Équipe Québec
67. Aroussen Laflamme (Can) Garneau-Club Chaussure
68. Steve Lampier (Gbr) Kuk-Kinesis
69. William *Goodfellow (Can) Équipe Québec
70. Charlie *Bryer (Can) Éq. Nationale Canadienne
71. San *Bewley (Nzl) Trek Livestrong
72. Clay *Murfet (Aus) Kelly Benefit Strategies
73. Hayden *Brooks (Aus) Fly V Australia
74. André *Tremblay (Can) Équipe Québec
75. Cody *Campbell (Can) Trek Livestrong
76. Jesse *Sergent (Nzl) Trek Livestrong
77. Bryson *Bowers (Can) Éq. Nationale Canadienne
78. Jean-François Racine (Can) Garneau-Club Chaussure
79. Guillaume *Boivin (Can) Équipe Québec
80. Daniel *Summerhill (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin U23 19:50
81. Mark *Bathy (Can) Planet Energy 20:50
82. Eric *Boily (Can) Planet Energy
83. Simon *Lambert-Lemay (Can) Équipe Québec 26:31:00
84. Raymond *Kreder (Ned) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin U23 30:36:00
85. Camilo *Suarez (Col) Éq. Nationale De Colombie 30:36:00
86. Robert Wardell (Gbr) Kuk-Kinesis 30:36:00
87. Walker *Savidge (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin U23 30:36:00
88. Steven *Gordon (USA) Dlp Racing 33:17:00
89. Jeffery Schiller (Can) Garneau-Club Chaussure 35:05:00
90. Ryan *Baumann (USA) Trek Livestrong 38:21:00

*U23