September 9, 2008 – Like a page out of a familiar Shakespearean script, Mark Cavendish (Gbr) Team Columbia was expertly delivered to the line once again by the heavy hitters of Team Columbia to take his second consecutive win at the 2008 Tour of Missouri. Tuesday’s stage was the longest of the Tour, and while the rain that peloton endured during the opening day of this year’s event weren’t in evidence, the wind made it a tough day in the saddle for all involved.

“We basically had a cross-head wind all day long,” said Michael Barry, the sole Canadian on the Team Columbia squad. “Our team was out in front pretty much from the start and we would up there for about 200km without a break.”

But despite being fairly close to the tail end of the season, Columbia still demonstrated masterful handling of the peloton. They continually set the tempo, never allowing the five escapees up the road to get far despite their cooperation with one another.

Included in that breakaway was Canadian rider Andrew Randell of the Symmetrics squad along with Andy Guptill (Colavita Sutter Home p/b CookingLight), Reid Mumford (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast), Andreas Schillinger (Team Sparkasse), and Mike Sayers (BMC Racing Team).

But the cooperation among the lead group that was evident throughout the day began to break down with about 20km remaining in the stage. “Toward the last 20km guys started attacking one another so that they could get their names thrown in for the most aggressive rider jersey of the day,” Randell said afterwards.

With collaboration fading towards the end of the day’s racing, Columbia reeled in their efforts with textbook precision. Garmin-Chipotle’s Dave Zabriskie (USA) along with members of the Liquigas squad also worked to terminate the hopes of the getaway group. The green team from Italy were hoping to claim the day for their fast man Francesco Chicchi, but Cavendish proved unstoppable once again when he was brought to within 350 meters of the line. Chicchi would have to settle for third, while Germany’s Eric Baumann of Team Sparkasse would occupy the middle step.

“We’ve been doing this all year long,” Barry said of his team’s ability to defend the yellow jersey and still take their British sprinter to victory. “We have the confidence in Mark (to do the job) and Mark has confidence in us.”

Going into tomorrow”˜s 29km time trial Cavendish’s two-day hold on the yellow jersey will almost certainly come to an end. Cavendish’s team mate and 2007 Tour of Missouri defending champion George Hincapie will look to do well, as will a host of hopefuls for the general classification. Of all the specialists in the discipline in the peloton, Canada’s Svein Tuft (Symmetrics) turned in the fastest time at this year’s Olympic time trial in Beijing. Should Tuft do equally well tomorrow, Randell says his team will suddenly be in for an entirely different race.

“If Svein wins the time trial, it’ll be tough for us the rest of the week,” said the 34 year-old star from Toronto, “But everyone’s on some pretty good form and ready to go.”

Results

1. Mark Cavendish (Gbr) Team Columbia 4:53:19
2. Eric Baumann (Ger) Team Sparkasse
3. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas
4. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
5. Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
6. Brad Huff (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
7. Michael van Stayen (Bel) Rabobank
8. Danilo Wyss (Sui) BMC Racing Team
9. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
10. Luis Hernandez (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalaiara
11. Boy van Poppel (Ned) Rabobank
12. Alejandro Borrajo (Arg) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
13. Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia
14. Richard England (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling
15. Danny Pate (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
16. Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis
17. John Murphy (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
18. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia
19. Darren Lill (RSA) BMC Racing Team
20. Edward King (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
21. Hilton Clarke (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
22. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
23. Christian Vandevelde (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
24. Tom Danielson (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
25. Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team Columbia
26. Blake Caldwell (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
27. George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia
28. Benjamin Day (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
29. Luis Amaran Romero (Cub) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
30. Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
31. Thomas Berkhout (Ned) Rabobank
32. Kayle Leogrande (USA) Rock Racing
33. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team
34. Michael Barry (Can) Team Columbia
35. Elliott Cervantes (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalaiara
36. Jetse Bol (Ned) Rabobank
37. Marcel Beima (Ned) Rabobank
38. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank
39. Antonio Cruz (USA) BMC Racing Team
40. Nick Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
41. Kiel Reijnen (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
42. Steven Cozza (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
43. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas
44. Cam Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
45. Jeffry Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
46. Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas
47. Daniel Holloway (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
48. Martin Kohler (Sui) BMC Racing Team
49. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
50. Jonathan Garcia (USA) BMC Racing Team all
51. Andrew Bajadali (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 0:11
52. Richard Faltus (Cze) Team Sparkasse
53. David Veilleux (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast
54. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
55. Thomas Rabou (Ned) Rabobank
56. Ryan Anderson (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
57. Carlos Oyarzun (Chi) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalaiara
58. Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Team Sparkasse
59. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis
60. Bernardo Tepoz (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalaiara
61. Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
62. Bernard van Ulden (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
63. Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
64. Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team Sparkasse
65. Dan Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast
66. Michael Creed (USA) Rock Racing
67. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
68. Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Team Sparkasse
69. Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
70. Tom Zirbel (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
71. Anthony Colby (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
72. John Devine (USA) Team Columbia
73. Kai Reus (Ned) Rabobank
74. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
75. Justin Spinelli (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast
76. Dirk Muller (Ger) Team Sparkasse
77. Chris Wherry (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
78. Kyle Gritters (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
79. Jeremiah Wiscovitch (USA) Rock Racing
80. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
81. Juan Pablo Aranda (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalaiara
82. Frank Pipp (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
83. Lui Colunga (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalaiara
84. Tim Johnson (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
85. Roman Kilun (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
86. Omar Diaz (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalaiara
87. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Liquigas
88. Will Routley (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
89. Bryce Mead (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
90. Craig Lewis (USA) Team Columbia
91. Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
92. Gianni Da Ros (Ita) Liquigas 0:24
93. Omer Kem (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
94. Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team both
95. Lars Wackernagel (Ger) Team Sparkasse 0:28
96. Matthew Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 0:47
97. Garrett Peltonen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 0:50
98. Sebastian Frey (Ger) Team Sparkasse 1:15
99. Kirk O’Bee (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 1:27
100. Sterling Magnell (USA) Rock Racing 1:36
101. Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
102. Andy Guptill (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 2:08
103. Henk Vogels (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 2:34
104. Alex Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast
105. Mike Sayers (USA) BMC Racing Team 2:47
106. Cesar Grajales (Col) Rock Racing
107. Andrew Randell (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 3:11
108. Keven Lacombe (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 3:42
109. Jonathan Mumford (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 4:12
110. Luca Damiani (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 4:25
111. Sergio Hernandez (USA) Rock Racing
112. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 6:02
113. Justin Williams (USA) Rock Racing 6:43
114. Jonathan Sundt (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 8:09

GC after Stage 2

1. Mark Cavendish (Gbr) Team Columbia 8:08:13
2. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas 0:12
3. Eric Baumann (Ger) Team Sparkasse 0:14
4. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
5. Martin Kohler (Sui) BMC Racing Team 0:15
6. Michael van Stayen (Bel) Rabobank 0:20
7. Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
8. Danilo Wyss (Sui) BMC Racing Team
9. Boy van Poppel (Ned) Rabobank
10. John Murphy (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
11. Luis Hernandez (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalaiara
12. Richard England (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling
13. Alejandro Borrajo (Arg) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
14. Danny Pate (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
15. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
16. Jetse Bol (Ned) Rabobank
17. Edward King (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
18. George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia
19. Luis Amaran Romero (Cub) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
20. Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
21. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team
22. Antonio Cruz (USA) BMC Racing Team
23. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia
24. Christian vandevelde (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
25. Daniel Holloway (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
26. Benjamin Day (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
27. Michael Barry (Can) Team Columbia
28. Blake Caldwell (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
29. Jeffry Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
30. Darren Lill (RSA) BMC Racing Team
31. Steven Cozza (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
32. Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team Columbia
33. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank
34. Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas
35. Jonathan Garcia (USA) BMC Racing Team
36. Tom Danielson (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
37. Marcel Beima (Ned) Rabobank
38. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
39. Nick Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
40. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
41. Hilton Clarke (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
42. Thomas Berkhout (Ned) Rabobank
43. Kayle Leogrande (USA) Rock Racing
44. Brad Huff (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
45. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas
46. Cam Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
47. Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis
48. Kiel Reijnen (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team all
49. Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team Sparkasse 0:25
50. Tom Zirbel (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 0:28
51. Ryan Anderson (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 0:31
52. Carlos Oyarzun (Chi) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalaiara
53. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
54. Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Team Sparkasse
55. Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
56. Dirk Muller (Ger) Team Sparkasse
57. Andrew Bajadali (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast
58. David Veilleux (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast
59. Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
60. Kai Reus (Ned) Rabobank
61. Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Team Sparkasse
62. Jeremiah Wiscovitch (USA) Rock Racing
63. Richard Faltus (Cze) Team Sparkasse
64. Dan Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast
65. John Devine (USA) Team Columbia
66. Michael Creed (USA) Rock Racing
67. Thomas Rabou (Ned) Rabobank
68. Roman Kilun (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
69. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
70. Justin Spinelli (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast
71. Bernardo Tepoz (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalaiara
72. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis
73. Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
74. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
75. Juan Pablo Aranda (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalaiara
76. Bernard van Ulden (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
77. Chris Wherry (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
78. Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
79. Anthony Colby (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
80. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
81. Omar Diaz (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalaiara
82. Lui Colunga (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalaiara
83. Craig Lewis (USA) Team Columbia
84. Will Routley (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
85. Bryce Mead (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
86. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Liquigas all
87. Omer Kem (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 0:44
88. Gianni Da Ros (Ita) Liquigas
89. Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team both
90. Lars Wackernagel (Ger) Team Sparkasse 0:48
91. Matthew Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 1:07
92. Garrett Peltonen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 1:10
93. Sebastian Frey (Ger) Team Sparkasse 1:35
94. Kirk O’Bee (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 1:47
95. Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 2:20
96. Andy Guptill (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 2:26
97. Tim Johnson (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 2:39
98. Alex Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 2:54
99. Henk Vogels (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
100. Mike Sayers (USA) BMC Racing Team 3:03
101. Cesar Grajales (Col) Rock Racing 3:07
102. Andrew Randell (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 3:31
103. Frank Pipp (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
104. Jonathan Mumford (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 4:32
105. Luca Damiani (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 4:45
106. Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia 5:38
107. Kyle Gritters (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 5:49
108. Sterling Magnell (USA) Rock Racing 9:30
109. Jonathan Sundt (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 10:16
110. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 11:40
111. Sergio Hernandez (USA) Rock Racing 12:19
112. Elliott Cervantes (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalaiara 12:35
113. Keven Lacombe (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 20:48
114. Justin Williams (USA Rock Racing 23:47