February 19, 2008 (Palo Alto, CA) — The mood was grey and as the rain persisted through the day Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step displayed the speed that earned him the 2005 Road Worlds title edging out Germany’s Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner) in second and the “Lion King” Mario Cipollini (Ita) Rock Racing in third taking Stage 2, Santa Rosa to Sacramento, 187.2km (116 miles) for his first win in North America.

Canada’s Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota-United Pro had another great day finishing 7th in the finishing sprint with the leaders. It was another close day battling it out in the last 500 meters around the tight turns and slippery roads to the finish line. “It was a slow race today due to the weather and we didn’t need to take any risks until the last few kilometers, but the wheels were flying and a lot of others got flats, so I was lucky,” said Rollin.

When asked about tomorrow, he commented, “Mt.Hamilton will be tough, and as the weather is bad we don’t even know whether we’ll climb up or around it, depending if it snows. It will be a day of attrition I think, and a lot of riders will suffer.”

Fellow Canuck Kevin Lacombe (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast) who got sick with food poisoning after the Prologue was in better spirits today and is hoping to rebound. From his team van Lacombe beamed, “Yes, it’s good to be here this morning and although today wasn’t a great day for me, it is a beginning.”

Tyler Farrar (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 from Wenatchee, Wash.) who had finished third in Sunday’s prologue, moved up in GC and now wears the leader’s jersey, taking over from Fabian Cancellara (Sui) CSC. Farrar, 23, the 2005 US national criterium champ, was impressed with the crowds coming out despite the 48 degree temperature and rain: “I can’t believe the support of the fans, they got me through the climbs, and I got to meet California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.” Schwarzenegger was on hand to support the AtoC and meet the riders.

Local rider 31 year-old Scott Nydam (BMC), of Santa Rosa, Calif. broke away early in the race like his team mate, Jackson Stewart, did on Stage 1 and was on his own for 144km with as much as a 15-min lead. But the peloton reeled him at 24km to the finish.

As the peloton ate up the 3.2km Capitol Park finishing circuit, the big guns lined up for the final sprint. Yesterday’s winner JJ Haedo (CSC) flatted as team mate Fabian Cancellara tried to help. High Road’s Gerold Ciolek tried to escape with team mate Mark Cavendish but it was not to be. Quick Step’s Paolo Bettini and Boonen worked their magic as the latter grabbed the prize of the day. “I had to try in the last two laps, and as I’m not good at sprinting in the rain and cold, but I had someone like Paolo to put me on a good line,” said Boonen.

The surprise of the day was third place finisher Cipollini who beamed, “This is a little dream for me. I thought it impossible to come out so strong, I’m very, very surprised I felt so good today in this horrible weather.”

Tomorrow’s Stage 3, Modesto to San Jose, 165km (102.7 miles) will be hotly contested as riders face a relentless climb over the backside of Mt. Hamilton with an elevation of 4,360 feet before dropping down into San Jose’s flat finish.

Results

1. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 5.09.35 (36.125 km/h)
2. Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner
3. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Rock Racing
4. Mark Cavendish (GBr) High Road
5. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team CSC
6. Tyler Farrar (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30
7. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
8. Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team
9. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) High Road
10. Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
11. Alexander Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast
12. Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana
13. Matthew Crane (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis
14. Richard England (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling
15. Garrett Peltonen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
16. Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank
17. Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner
18. Christopher Horner (USA) Astana
19. Darren Lill (RSA) BMC Racing Team
20. Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC
21. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
22. John Murphy (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis
23. Frank Pipp (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis
24. Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole
25. Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
26. Antonio Cruz (USA) BMC Racing Team
27. Gustav Larsson (Swe) Team CSC
28. Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Astana
29. Freddie Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing
30. Dmytro Grabovskyy (Ukr) Quick Step
31. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30
32. George Hincapie (USA) High Road
33. Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner
34. Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step
35. Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team
36. David Millar (GBr) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30
37. Jeff Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
38. Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Team CSC
39. Kim Kirchen (Lux) High Road
40. Taylor Tolleson (USA) BMC Racing Team
41. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) High Road
42. Ermanno Capelli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Scott
43. Benjamin Day (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
44. Pedro Horrillo Munoz (Spa) Rabobank
45. David Canada Gracia (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott
46. Hendricus Vogels (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
47. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval-Scott
48. Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step
49. Jason Mccartney (USA) Team CSC
50. Iker Camano Ortuzar (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott
51. Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis
52. Thomas Danielson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30
53. Vincent Jerome (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
54. Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Rock Racing
55. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank
56. Luciano André Pagliarini Mendonca (Bra) Saunier Duval-Scott
57. Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Gerolsteiner
58. Edward King (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
59. Michael Lange (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
60. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quick Step
61. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana
62. Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
63. Dan Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast
64. Roman Kilun (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis
65. Jurgen Vandewalle (Bel) Quick Step
66. Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing Team
67. Philip Zajicek (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis
68. Sergey Ivanov (Rus) Astana
69. Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Col) Rock Racing
70. David Zabriskie (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30
71. Tom Zirbel (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
72. Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Credit Agricole
73. Dimitri Champion (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
74. Heath Blackgrove (NZl) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
75. Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
76. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Astana
77. Angel Gomez Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott
78. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Credit Agricole
79. Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Saunier Duval-Scott
80. Julien Simon (Fra) Credit Agricole
81. Justin Spinelli (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast
82. Thomas Peterson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30
83. Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank
84. Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
85. Danny Pate (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30
86. Michael Creed (USA) Rock Racing
87. Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC
88. Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step
89. Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC
90. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank
91. Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner
92. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
93. Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
94. Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
95. Timothy Johnson (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis
96. Andrew Bajadali (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast
97. Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Credit Agricole
98. Steven Cozza (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30
99. Aaron Barry Tuckerman (NZl) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
100. Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Credit Agricole
101. Julien Belgy (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
102. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) High Road
103. Andrey Mizurov (Kaz) Astana
104. Markus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner
105. Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
106. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
107. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC
108. Hilton Clarke (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
109. Aaron Olson (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
110. Eros Capecchi (Ita) Saunier Duval-Scott
111. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis
112. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Credit Agricole
113. Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank
114. Mathias Frank (Swi) Gerolsteiner 0.24
115. Scott Tietzel (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 0.27
116. Jonathan Mumford (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast
117. Jonathan Clarke (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
118. Andrea Tonti (Ita) Quick Step
119. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
120. Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 0.34
121. Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
122. Bryce Mead (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 0.38
123. Nicholas Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
124. Nicholas Waite (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast 1.4
125. Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 2.45
126. Kevin Lacombe (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast
127. Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Gerolsteiner 2.54
128. Adam Hansen (Aus) High Road 3.38
129. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) High Road
130. Jonathan Sundt (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast 7.2
131. Matthew Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 7.3
DNS Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole

GC after Stage 2

1. Tyler Farrar (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30 9.16.54
2. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 0.01
3. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 0.04
4. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) High Road 0.05
5. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) High Road 0.07
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
7. David Millar (GBr) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30 0.08
8. Gustav Larsson (Swe) Team CSC 0.09
9. David Zabriskie (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30
10. Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 0.1
11. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30 0.11
12. George Hincapie (USA) High Road
13. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) High Road 0.12
14. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team CSC 0.13
15. Christopher Horner (USA) Astana
16. Dmytro Grabovskyy (Ukr) Quick Step 0.14
17. Kim Kirchen (Lux) High Road 0.15
18. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
19. Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step
20. Jeff Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
21. Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 0.16
22. Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Credit Agricole
23. Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC
24. Benjamin Day (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 0.17
25. Matthew Crane (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis
26. Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team
27. Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner
28. Edward King (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
29. Danny Pate (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30
30. Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana 0.18
31. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval-Scott
32. Darren Lill (RSA) BMC Racing Team
33. Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Col) Rock Racing 0.19
34. Freddie Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing
35. David Canada Gracia (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott 0.2
36. Jason Mccartney (USA) Team CSC
37. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis
38. Jurgen Vandewalle (Bel) Quick Step 0.21
39. Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank
40. Thomas Danielson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30
41. Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner
42. Thomas Peterson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30
43. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0.22
44. Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC
45. Philip Zajicek (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis
46. Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
47. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana
48. Heath Blackgrove (NZl) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
49. Dimitri Champion (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
50. Aaron Olson (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 0.23
51. Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step 0.24
52. Iker Camano Ortuzar (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott
53. Eros Capecchi (Ita) Saunier Duval-Scott
54. Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank
55. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank 0.25
56. Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
57. Pedro Horrillo Munoz (Spa) Rabobank 0.26
58. Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
59. Justin Spinelli (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast 0.27
60. Vincent Jerome (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 0.28
61. Julien Belgy (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
62. Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 0.29
63. Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Rock Racing 0.3
64. Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
65. Michael Lange (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 0.31
66. Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Credit Agricole
67. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quick Step
68. Patrice Halgand (Fra) Credit Agricole
69. Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner 0.33
70. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Credit Agricole 0.34
71. Markus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner
72. Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 0.35
73. Angel Gomez Gomez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott 0.38
74. Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step 0.44
75. Jonathan Mumford (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast 4.58
76. Mark Cavendish (GBr) High Road 5.22
77. Steven Cozza (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30 5.27
78. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Rock Racing 5.3
79. Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing Team
80. Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Team CSC 5.31
81. Tom Zirbel (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 5.32
82. Garrett Peltonen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 5.33
83. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 5.34
84. Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Saunier Duval-Scott 5.36
85. Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 5.38
86. Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank
87. Antonio Cruz (USA) BMC Racing Team 5.39
88. Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
89. Timothy Johnson (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 5.4
90. Aaron Barry Tuckerman (NZl) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 5.41
91. Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
92. Hilton Clarke (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 5.42
93. Richard England (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling
94. Ermanno Capelli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Scott 5.43
95. Dan Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast
96. Taylor Tolleson (USA) BMC Racing Team
97. Julien Simon (Fra) Credit Agricole 5.44
98. Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team 5.45
99. Frank Pipp (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 5.47
100. Alexander Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast 5.49
101. Luciano André Pagliarini Mendonca (Bra) Saunier Duval-Scott
102. Andrew Bajadali (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast 5.51
103. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 5.53
104. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 6.05
105. Andrea Tonti (Ita) Quick Step 6.06
106. Jonathan Clarke (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 6.09
107. Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 6.13
108. Nicholas Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 6.17
109. Mathias Frank (Swi) Gerolsteiner 6.26
110. Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 8.15
111. Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Gerolsteiner 8.42
112. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) High Road 9.03
113. Adam Hansen (Aus) High Road 9.1
114. Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Astana 10.06
115. John Murphy (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis
116. Andrey Mizurov (Kaz) Astana 10.09
117. Sergey Ivanov (Rus) Astana 10.11
118. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Astana 10.16
119. Nicholas Waite (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast 11.03
120. Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Credit Agricole 11.27
121. Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole 11.28
122. Hendricus Vogels (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 11.31
123. Scott Tietzel (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 12
124. Bryce Mead (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 12.07
125. Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 12.1
126. Roman Kilun (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 12.35
127. Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis 12.49
128. Jonathan Sundt (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast 13.05
129. Michael Creed (USA) Rock Racing 13.1
130. Kevin Lacombe (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast 20.22
131. Matthew Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 20.41

Points Classification

1. Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner 22 pts
2. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team CSC 21
3. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) High Road 18
4. Tyler Farrar (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30 18
5. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 15
6. Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing Team 15
7. Mark Cavendish (GBr) High Road 13
8. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Rock Racing 11
9. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 11
10. Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 10
11. Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step 6
12. Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner 4
13. Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 3
14. Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team 3
15. Freddie Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing 2
16. David Millar (GBr) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30 1
17. Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank 1
18. Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 1

Mountains Classification

1. Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing Team 14 pts
2. Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing Team 12
3. Jonathan Sundt (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast 10
4. Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 9
5. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quick Step 5
6. Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team 4
7. Christopher Horner (USA) Astana 3
8. Jurgen Vandewalle (Bel) Quick Step 1

Young Rider Classification

1. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) High Road 9.17.01
2. Dmytro Grabovskyy (Ukr) Quick Step 0.07
3. Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Credit Agricole 0.09
4. Matthew Crane (USA) Health Net presented by Maxxis 0.1
5. Thomas Peterson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30 0.14
6. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0.15
7. Eros Capecchi (Ita) Saunier Duval-Scott 0.17
8. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank 0.18
9. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quick Step 0.24
10. Mark Cavendish (GBr) High Road 5.15
11. Steven Cozza (USA) Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30 5.2
12. Ermanno Capelli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Scott 5.36
13. Taylor Tolleson (USA) BMC Racing Team
14. Julien Simon (Fra) Credit Agricole 5.37
15. Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team 5.38
16. Mathias Frank (Swi) Gerolsteiner 6.19
17. Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Gerolsteiner 8.35
18. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) High Road 8.56
19. Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Credit Agricole 11.2
20. Kevin Lacombe (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies / Medifast 20.15

Team Classification

1. High Road 27.51.04
2. Team CSC 0.02
3. Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30
4. Astana 0.12
5. Bissell Pro Cycling 0.19
6. Quick Step 0.21
7. Health Net Presented by Maxxis
8. BMC Racing Team 0.28
9. Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 0.32
10. Rock Racing 0.34
11. Saunier Duval-Scott 0.35
12. Crédit Agricole 0.38
13. Rabobank 0.42
14. Bouygues Telecom 0.43
15. Gerolsteiner 0.55
16. Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 10.18
17. Jelly Belly Cycling Team 11.19