June 12, 2014 (Lac Mégantic, QC) – Latvia’s Tom Skujins (Hincapie Sportswear Development Cycling Team) donned the Tour de Beauce leader’s yellow jersey with great pride following a gruelling rain-filled day with a stunning victory on Stage 2, at the top of Mount St. Joseph. Canada’s Mike Woods (Amore Vita) took second followed by Carter Jones (Optum P / B Kelly) in third.
A cold and rainy day, with the mercury close to 5 degrees Celsius, greeted riders for their departure signaled by Colette Roy-Laroche, the Mayor of Lac-Megantic. While the rain eased off occasionally during the 167-km route it returned for the final four-kilometre climb that featured average grades of 11.6% topping out at 17%.
“We escaped with eight riders after thirty kilometers,” explained Skujins. “In our break the cohesion was good but because of the temperature and conditions we did not take more risks than needed.”
The break consisted of Bruno Langlois (Can) and James Stemper (USA) of 5Hr Energy, Adam Farabaugh (USA) Garneau-Quebecor, Jure Kocjan (Slo) and Joshua Berry (USA) of SmartStop, Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly, Aurélien Passeron (Fra) Silber Pro Cycling Team and Skujins.
Their lead stretch out to over 5 minutes but started to drop and was down to 2:55 with 50km to go. Kocjan and Berry decided to attack with about 25km to go and only Skujins could respond. “It was not really the right thing to do,” continued Skujins, “Not at this point in the race. I managed to join them and we worked together. At the foot of Mount Mégantic, I was not sure what to think because both riders seemed tired, but it could be a bluff. And the field was less than two minutes behind.”
As the others in the initial break were swallowed up by the advancing pack the Latvian rider had the legs and dropped his breakaway companions to cross the finish line first and take over the race lead.
“I am very happy with this win, because this is my first year with the team and I’m glad to be able to offer them this victory. It’s very good for me too. I was thinking more of a win on Sunday to celebrate my 23rd birthday, but I’ll take this gift today.”
During the podium ceremony the new yellow jersey holder drew more admiration with another classy move as he offered a bouquet of flowers to the Mayor of Lac-Mégantic .
Canada’s Woods was more than pleased to land on the podium in second. “For me it’s like a victory. I really have not been lucky this season. In March I was the victim of a fall and suffered a concussion… and then I got sick.
“So I am very satisfied with my performance today. Especially since I had to change bikes early in the race because mine broke. The service SRAM provided was great and it took me about twenty kilometres before I got used to it. The last two km were really difficult, but as I spent four months in Italy I had the opportunity to climb some of the more difficult hills. ”
For the Canadian rider, the city of Mégantic is something special. “This is my third participation at this stage of Mont Mégantic, and as a Canadian, the tragedy that struck this town really touched me. That’s why I dedicate this race and my second place to all the people of this region.”
On Friday the Tour de Beauce caravan heads to Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande for the individual time trial – a race against the clock.
Results
1. Tom Skujins (Lat) Hincapie Sportswear Development Cycling Team 4:41:53
2. Michael Woods (Can) Amore Vita 00:46
3. Carter Jones (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies 01:42
4. Rob Britton (Can) Smartstop 01:44
5. Serghei Tvetcov (Rou) Jelly Belly P/B Maxxis 01:55
6. Javier Megias (Esp) Novo Nordisk 01:56
7. Jonathan Hornbeck (USA) 5Hr Energy 02:02
8. Timothy Roe (Aus) Budget Forklifts Cycling 02:02
9. Asbjorn Kragh (Den) Christina Watches 02:04
10. Anatoliy Pakhtusov (Ukr) Isd Continental Team 02:06
11. Maxim Jenkins (USA) Team Veloselect 02:06
12. Luca Benedetti (Ita) Amore Vita 02:08
13. David Lozano (Esp) Novo Nordisk 02:08
14. Garrett Mcleod (Can) H&R Block 02:10
15. Kirk Carlsen (USA) Jelly Belly P/B Maxxis 02:10
16. Dion Smith (Nzl) Hincapie Sportswear Development Cycling Team 02:15
17. Robert Squire (USA) Jamis Hagens Berman 02:21
18. Fernando Orjuela (Col) 4-72 Colombia 02:26
19. Jordon Cheyne (Can) Ride With Rendall P/B Biemme 02:30
20. Chad Beyer (USA) 5Hr Energy 02:31
21. Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Christina Watches 02:35
22. Joshua Berry (USA) Smartstop 02:52
23. Yors Santofimio (Col) 4-72 Colombia 02:54
24. Viesturs Luksevics (Lat) Amore Vita 02:55
25. Joshua Prete (Aus) Budget Forklifts Cycling 03:05
26. Ryan Roth (Can) Silber Pro Cycling Team 03:12
27. Timothy Rugg (USA) Ride With Rendall P/B Biemme 03:14
28. Antoliy Budyak (Ukr) Isd Continental Team 03:23
29. EdsonArturo Calderon (Col) 4-72 Colombia 03:28
30. Joseph Schmalz (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Cycling Team 03:35
31. Nigel Ellsay (Can) H&R Block 03:37
32. Daniel Bichlmann (Ger) Bike Aid 03:44
33. Carson Miller (USA) Jamis Hagens Berman 03:45
34. Joonas Henttala (Fin) Novo Nordisk 03:46
35. Joseph Rosskopf (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Cycling Team 03:55
36. Eloy Teruel (Esp) Jamis Hagens Berman 03:58
37. Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Jelly Belly P/B Maxxis 04:03
38. Jure Kocjan (Slo) Smartstop 04:07
39. Gavin Mannion (USA) 5Hr Energy 04:09
40. Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukr) Isd Continental Team 04:12
41. Robin Carpenter (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Cycling Team 04:14
42. Volodymyr Dzhus (Ukr) Isd Continental Team 04:18
43. Marius Bernatonis (Ltu) Alpha Baltic / Unitymarathons.Com 04:24
44. Charles Planet (Fra) Novo Nordisk 04:56
45. Vitaliy Popkov (Ukr) Isd Continental Team 05:06
46. Kyle Buckosky (Can) H&R Block 05:32
47. Richard Stockhausen (Ger) Bike Aid 06:01
48. Jimmy Schurman (USA) Ride With Rendall P/B Biemme 06:06
49. Shane Kline (USA) Smartstop 06:08
50. Julien Gagné (Can) Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech 06:12
51. Christopher Prendergast (Can) H&R Block 06:31
52. Aurélien Passeron (Fra) Silber Pro Cycling Team 06:38
53. Jimmi Sorensen (Den) Christina Watches 06:52
54. Brodie Talbot (Aus) Budget Forklifts Cycling 07:08
55. Leonardo Pinizzotto (Ita) Amore Vita 07:24
56. Rémi Pelletier-Roy (Can) Garneau 07:29
57. Pierrick Naud (Can) Garneau 07:29
58. Conner O’Brien (Can) Team Veloselect 07:53
59. Félix Côté-Bouvette (Can) Team Veloselect 07:58
60. CamiloAndres Suarez (Col) 4-72 Colombia 08:47
61. Marijn Verschoor (Ned) Novo Nordisk 09:01
62. Maris Bogdanovics (Lat) Alpha Baltic / Unitymarathons.Com 09:15
63. James Stemper (USA) 5Hr Energy 09:24
64. Maksym Vasilyev (Ukr) Isd Continental Team 09:45
65. Jeremy Durrin (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies 09:46
66. Oscar Clark (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Cycling Team 09:47
67. Bjorn Selander (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies 10:13
68. Enrico Rossi (Ita) Christina Watches 10:21
69. Stephen Leece (USA) Jamis Hagens Berman 12:09
70. Tyler Wren (USA) Jamis Hagens Berman 12:41
71. Kris Dahl (Can) Smartstop 13:43
72. Justin Purificati (Can) Ride With Rendall P/B Biemme 13:56
73. Ryan Macdonald (Can) H&R Block 14:18
74. Federico Marchiori (Ita) H&R Block 15:00
75. Michael Torkler (Nzl) Smartstop 16:51
76. Adam Farabaugh (USA) Garneau 16:58
77. Yean Rodriguez (Col) 4-72 Colombia 17:21
78. Taylor Shelden (USA) 5Hr Energy 18:22
79. Bruno Langlois (Can) 5Hr Energy 18:25
80. Jesse Kerrison (Aus) Budget Forklifts Cycling 19:06
81. Daniel Durango (Col) 4-72 Colombia 19:20
82. Antonio Dibattista (Ita) Amore Vita 19:40
83. Julian Kyer (USA) Smartstop 20:07
84. Matteo Dal-Cin (Can) Silber Pro Cycling Team 20:07
85. Jean-Michel Lachance (Can) Silber Pro Cycling Team 20:12
86. Ian Burnett (USA) Jelly Belly P/B Maxxis 20:55
87. Alex Wohler (Aus) Budget Forklifts Cycling 21:36
88. Michael Vink (Nzl) Budget Forklifts Cycling 21:50
89. Tommy Nankervis (Aus) Budget Forklifts Cycling 21:50
90. Eric Young (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies 22:00
91. Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly P/B Maxxis 22:41
92. Bradley Huff (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies 22:41
93. Sebastian Forke (Ger) Christina Watches 22:43
94. David Williams (USA) 5Hr Energy 22:43
95. Benjamin Chaddock (Can) Garneau 22:53
96. Benjamin Chartrand (Can) Silber Pro Cycling Team 23:20
97. Patrick Lechner (Ger) Bike Aid 24:26
98. Tyler Magner (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Cycling Team 24:49
99. Yannick Mayer (Ger) Bike Aid 25:36
100. James Piccoli (Can) Amore Vita 26:35
101. Samuel Blanchette (Can) Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech 30:31
102. Joël Desgreniers (Can) Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech 33:49
103. Tom Soladay (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies 44:11
104. Jacob Kauffman (Aus) Garneau 44:16
105. Jake Tanner (Gbr) Christina Watches 49:51
106. Matthias Schnapka (Ger) Bike Aid 52:44
DNF Nicolas Lefrançois (Fra) Novo Nordisk
DNF Sandis Eislers (Lat) Alpha Baltic / Unitymarathons.Com
DNF Ingus Eislers (Lat) Alpha Baltic / Unitymarathons.Com
DNF Luke Ockerby (Aus) Garneau
DNF Simon-Pierre J Gauthier (Can) Garneau
DNF Elliot Doyle (Can) Silber Pro Cycling Team
DNF Olivier Delaney (Can) Silber Pro Cycling Team
DNF Adam De Vos (Can) H&R Block
DNF Dennis Cottreau (Can) Ride With Rendall P/B Biemme
DNF Casey Roth (Can) Ride With Rendall P/B Biemme
DNF Étienne Samson (Can) Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech
DNF Logan Cornel (Can) Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech
DNF Sébastien Rousseau (Can) Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech
DNF Kevin Archambault (Can) Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech
DNF Edouard Dumas-Longpre (Can) Team Veloselect
DNF Jules Cusson-Fradet (Can) Team Veloselect
DNF Shawn Turcotte (Can) Team Veloselect
DNF Cameron Mcphaden (Can) Team Veloselect
GC after Stage 2
1. Tom Skujins (Lat) Hincapie Sportswear Development Cy 9:34:59
2. Michael Woods (Can) Amore Vita 00:53
3. Carter Jones (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies 01:51
4. Rob Britton (Can) Smartstop 01:57
5. Serghei Tvetcov (Rou) Jelly Belly P/B Maxxis 02:08
6. Javier Megias (Esp) Novo Nordisk 02:09
7. Luca Benedetti (Ita) Amore Vita 02:11
8. Asbjorn Kragh (Den) Christina Watches 02:13
9. Timothy Roe (Aus) Budget Forklifts Cycling 02:15
10. Jonathan Hornbeck (USA) 5Hr Energy 02:15
11. Maxim Jenkins (USA) Team Veloselect 02:19
12. Anatoliy Pakhtusov (Ukr) Isd Continental Team 02:19
13. David Lozano (Esp) Novo Nordisk 02:21
14. Garrett Mcleod (Can) H&R Block 02:23
15. Kirk Carlsen (USA) Jelly Belly P/B Maxxis 02:23
16. Dion Smith (Nzl) Hincapie Sportswear Development Cy 02:28
17. Robert Squire (USA) Jamis Hagens Berman 02:34
18. Fernando Orjuela (Col) 4-72 Colombia 02:39
19. Jordon Cheyne (Can) Ride With Rendall P/B Biemme 02:43
20. Chad Beyer (USA) 5Hr Energy 02:44
21. Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Christina Watches 02:48
22. Joshua Berry (USA) Smartstop 02:52
23. Yors Santofimio (Col) 4-72 Colombia 03:07
24. Viesturs Luksevics (Lat) Amore Vita 03:08
25. Joshua Prete (Aus) Budget Forklifts Cycling 03:18
26. Ryan Roth (Can) Silber Pro Cycling Team 03:25
27. Timothy Rugg (USA) Ride With Rendall P/B Biemme 03:27
28. Antoliy Budyak (Ukr) Isd Continental Team 03:36
29. EdsonArturo Calderon (Col) 4-72 Colombia 03:41
30. Joseph Schmalz (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Cy 03:47
31. Nigel Ellsay (Can) H&R Block 03:50
32. Daniel Bichlmann (Ger) Bike Aid 03:57
33. Carson Miller (USA) Jamis Hagens Berman 03:58
34. Joonas Henttala (Fin) Novo Nordisk 03:59
35. Joseph Rosskopf (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Cy 04:00
36. Eloy Teruel (Esp) Jamis Hagens Berman 04:11
37. Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Jelly Belly P/B Maxxis 04:16
38. Jure Kocjan (Slo) Smartstop 04:18
39. Gavin Mannion (USA) 5Hr Energy 04:22
40. Robin Carpenter (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Cy 04:27
41. Volodymyr Dzhus (Ukr) Isd Continental Team 04:31
42. Marius Bernatonis (Ltu) Alpha Baltic / Unitymarathons.Com 04:37
43. Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukr) Isd Continental Team 04:39
44. Charles Planet (Fra) Novo Nordisk 05:09
45. Vitaliy Popkov (Ukr) Isd Continental Team 05:19
46. Kyle Buckosky (Can) H&R Block 05:45
47. Richard Stockhausen (Ger) Bike Aid 06:14
48. Jimmy Schurman (USA) Ride With Rendall P/B Biemme 06:19
49. Shane Kline (USA) Smartstop 06:21
50. Julien Gagné (Can) Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech 06:25
51. Christopher Prendergast (Can) H&R Block 06:44
52. Aurélien Passeron (Fra) Silber Pro Cycling Team 06:51
53. Brodie Talbot (Aus) Budget Forklifts Cycling 07:21
54. Jimmi Sorensen (Den) Christina Watches 07:40
55. Pierrick Naud (Can) Garneau 07:42
56. Rémi Pelletier-Roy (Can) Garneau 08:01
57. O’Brien Conor (Can) Team Veloselect 08:06
58. CamiloAndres Suarez (Col) 4-72 Colombia 09:00
59. Marijn Verschoor (Ned) Novo Nordisk 09:14
60. Leonardo Pinizzotto (Ita) Amore Vita 09:16
61. Maris Bogdanovics (Lat) Alpha Baltic / Unitymarathons.Com 09:28
62. James Stemper (USA) 5Hr Energy 09:37
63. Maksym Vasilyev (Ukr) Isd Continental Team 09:56
64. Jeremy Durrin (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies 09:56
65. Oscar Clark (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Cy 10:00
66. Bjorn Selander (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies 10:26
67. Enrico Rossi (Ita) Christina Watches 11:09
68. Stephen Leece (USA) Jamis Hagens Berman 12:22
69. Tyler Wren (USA) Jamis Hagens Berman 12:54
70. Kris Dahl (Can) Smartstop 13:56
71. Ryan Macdonald (Can) H&R Block 14:31
72. Michael Torkler (Nzl) Smartstop 17:04
73. Adam Farabaugh (USA) Garneau 17:11
74. Yean Rodriguez (Col) 4-72 Colombia 17:34
75. Taylor Shelden (USA) 5Hr Energy 18:35
76. Bruno Langlois (Can) 5Hr Energy 18:37
77. Daniel Durango (Col) 4-72 Colombia 19:33
78. Antonio Dibattista (Ita) Amore Vita 19:53
79. Félix Côté-Bouvette (Can) Team Veloselect 20:02
80. Matteo Dal-Cin (Can) Silber Pro Cycling Team 20:20
81. Julian Kyer (USA) Smartstop 20:20
82. Jean-Michel Lachance (Can) Silber Pro Cycling Team 20:25
83. Michael Vink (Nzl) Budget Forklifts Cycling 22:03
84. Eric Young (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies 22:07
85. Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly P/B Maxxis 22:54
86. Federico Marchiori (Ita) H&R Block 22:57
87. David Williams (USA) 5Hr Energy 23:21
88. Benjamin Chaddock (Can) Garneau 23:31
89. Justin Purificati (Can) Ride With Rendall P/B Biemme 24:10
90. Tyler Magner (USA) Hincapie Sportswear Development Cy 25:02
91. Jesse Kerrison (Aus) Budget Forklifts Cycling 31:10
92. Ian Burnett (USA) Jelly Belly P/B Maxxis 32:59
93. James Piccoli (Can) Amore Vita 33:12
94. Alex Wohler (Aus) Budget Forklifts Cycling 33:40
95. Tommy Nankervis (Aus) Budget Forklifts Cycling 33:54
96. Sebastian Forke (Ger) Christina Watches 34:47
97. Bradley Huff (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies 37:09
98. Benjamin Chartrand (Can) Silber Pro Cycling Team 37:48
99. Joël Desgreniers (Can) Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech 41:46
100. Jacob Kauffman (Aus) Garneau 44:29
101. Jake Tanner (Gbr) Christina Watches 50:04
102. Patrick Lechner (Ger) Bike Aid 51:25
103. Samuel Blanchette (Can) Norco Bicycles/Premier Tech 52:30
104. Yannick Mayer (Ger) Bike Aid 52:35
105. Tom Soladay (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit Strategies 58:39
106. Matthias Schnapka (Ger) Bike Aid 07:14