September 05, 2013 (Red Deer, AB) – Very high speeds were on the agenda once again today as the 2013 Tour of Alberta continued with Stage two, a 174.8 km ride between Devon, outside of Edmonton, and Red Deer. The group once again today enjoyed a beautiful day to race, with sunshine and blue skies all across the course.

Despite leaving Devon 15 minutes later than originally planned due to the very fast speed from yesterday’s opening stage, where riders posted an average of 47.9 km/h, the group of 117 cyclists continued today with the high tempo, taking only 3:32:47 to complete the stage, averaging 45.3 km/hr

Two riders emerged in a break after the second sprint line in Ponoka with 75 km to go – Silvan Dillier of BMC Racing and Sergei Tvetcov of Jelly Belly Cycling Team. The break gained a maximum gap of 5:20, until the peloton decided to chase and attack. The two riders, two time trial specialists, worked well together and managed to stay ahead of the group entering the final laps.

The break managed to maintain their speeds and momentum in the three-lap circuit, and it is ultimately Sylvan Dillier who crossed the finish line first, with Tvetcov taking the second rank. The peloton sprinted for the third place, and it’s Peter Sagan of Cannondale Pro Cycling who completed the podium in third place, after launching the sprint early.

In the general classification, Peter Sagan is still sitting atop the standings, with a 0:26 lead over his closest competitor, Rohan Dennis of Team Garmin-Sharp. Rob Britton is the top member of the Canadian National Team in 27th place with a deficit of 1:07 over Sagan, while Antoine Duchesne still remains one second behind his teammate.

Canada’s Ryder Hesjedal is still sitting as the Top Canadian rider, wearing the Red Jersey in ninth place in the overall. Canada’s National Champion, Zach Bell of Champion System is sitting in 110th place of the general classification, after crashing yesterday.

Gord Fraser, the directeur sportif for the Canadian Team here at the Tour of Alberta, is impressed with with average speeds of racing: “For us, I think it was a good day. Jean-Sebastien [Perron] was on Sagan’s wheel in the finale. He said he was maxed out, but to have him up there in the hunt bodes well for the team… so far so good. Racing at approximately 50km/h for that long is difficult, and you can’t say that about races very often. They are certainly getting lots of speedwork.”

“Today was very much the same situation as it was yesterday, it was really a question of winds and how it would affect the race. With the wind turning from the north, we had a tailwind all day, with a speed in the peloton around 50km/h, for the entirety of the race.”

“Yesterday we just caught out a bit at the end, getting behind a split. We refreshed the guys this morning reminding them that it’s not over until they cross the finish line, and to encourage other riders in the peloton to keep the wheel. It happens, guys are tired and they have done their work, pulling the anchor and cause problems for others behind. These guys never stop learning, even at the professional level.”

Fraser was excited to see the break take the race today, after taking chances and launching the break attack: “Congratulations for both guys in the breakaway. It’s nice to see them rewarded for taking a chance. Sergie is a really aggressive rider. It’s too bad he couldn’t pull of the stage. It would have been good for domestic cycling and for Jelly Belly.”

The finish line spectators were treated to a great festival in Red Deer, with Country superstar band Emerson Drive entertaining the thousands of spectators awaiting the peloton to cross the finish line. Once again, the Tour of Alberta was embraced by local communities along the course, especially at start and finish locations.

This inaugural Tour of Alberta now makes its way to Southern Alberta for the last three stages. Tomorrow’s stage start in Strathmore, just east of Calgary, and end in Drumheller in the heart of the Canadian Badlands.

The Canadian broadcast partner for the Tour of Alberta, Sportsnet, will be airing the race live for two hours each day, along with daily one-hour highlights program to air in primetime each day of the race.

Results

1. Silvan Dillier (Sui) BMC Racing Team  3:32:47
2. Serghei Tvetcov (Mda) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
3. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale Pro Cycling   0:16
4. Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Orica-GreenEdge   0:18
5. Luka Mezgec (Slo) Team Argos-Shimano
6. Nicolai Brochner (Den) Bissell Pro Cycling
7. Eric Young (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
8. Travis McCabe (USA) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
9. Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
10. Jeremy Vennell (Nzl) Bissell Pro Cycling
11. Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
12. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling
13. Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano
14. Shane Kline (USA) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
15. Robert Sweeting (USA) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda
16. Charles Bradley Huff (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
17. John Murphy (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
18. Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Orica-GreenEdge
19. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team
20. Matthias Friedemann (Ger) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
21. Jean-Sebastien Perron (Can) Canadian National Team
22. Zachary Bell (Can) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
23. Benjamin Chaddock (Can) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
24. Michael Woods (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor
25. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
26. Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano
27. Rohan Dennis (Aus) Garmin-Sharp
28. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp
29. Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica-GreenEdge
30. Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Orica-GreenEdge
31. Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
32. Tommy Nankervis (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling
33. Shawn Milne (USA) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda
34. Ken Hanson (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
35. Tom Zirbel (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
36. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
37. Ryan Roth (Can) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
38. Moreno Hofland (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
39. Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano
40. Francisco Mancebo Perez (Spa) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda
41. Jean-Michel Lachance (Can) Canadian National Team
42. Taylor Shelden (USA) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda
43. Edward King (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling
44. Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
45. Cameron Meyer (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
46. Marc Goos (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
47. Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team
48. Luke Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
49. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
50. Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team
51. Craig Lewis (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
52. Steve Morabito (Sui) BMC Racing Team
53. Andres Diaz (Col) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda
54. Lawrence Warbasse (USA) BMC Racing Team
55. Carter Jones (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
56. Alexander Cataford (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor
57. Davide Frattini (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
58. Benjamin Day (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
59. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin-Sharp
60. Eric Marcotte (USA) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
61. Antoine Duchesne (Can) Canadian National Team
62. Frank Kevin Pipp (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
63. James Stemper (USA) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda
64. Andrew Dahlheim (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
65. Chris Butler (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
66. Bruno Langlois (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor
67. Michael Olsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano
68. Rob Britton (Can) Canadian National Team
69. Kang Jiyong (Kor) Orica-GreenEdge
70. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
71. Emerson Oronte (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
72. Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin-Sharp
73. Thomas Damuseau (Fra) Team Argos-Shimano
74. Brian Vandborg (Den) Cannondale Pro Cycling
75. Max Jenkins (USA) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda
76. Jakub Novak (Cze) BMC Racing Team
77. Pierrick Naud (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor
78. Kirk Carlsen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
79. Chad Haga (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
80. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
81. Chad Beyer (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
82. Stuart Wight (Can) Canadian National Team
83. Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale Pro Cycling
84. Clinton Robert Avery (Nzl) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
85. Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
86. Clay Murfet (Aus) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
87. Flavio De Luna (Mex) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
88. Derrick St. John (Can) Canadian National Team
89. Michael Chauner (USA) Equipe Garneau-Québecor   0:29
90. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda   0:35
91. Garrett McLeod (Can) Canadian National Team   0:58
92. Nariyuki Masuda (Jpn) Cannondale Pro Cycling
93. Kristofer Dahl (Can) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis   1:16
94. Ryan Aitcheson (Can) Canadian National Team
95. Jonas Ahlstrand (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano   1:23
96. Robert Förster (Ger) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
97. Jeffry Louder (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
98. Michael Friedman (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
99. David Williams (USA) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda
100. Adam Matthew Farabaugh (USA) Equipe Garneau-Québecor   1:40
101. Ben Wolfe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda   1:49
102. Nic Hamlton (Can) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda   1:59
103. Sean Mazich (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
104. Thomas Soladay (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
105. David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Sharp   2:15
106. William Clarke (Aus) Team Argos-Shimano
107. Thomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin-Sharp
108. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin-Sharp   2:45
109. Lachlan David Morton (Aus) Garmin-Sharp
110. Jack Bobridge (Aus) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
111. Geoffroy Dussault (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor   0:18
112. Jason McCartney (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling   3:59
113. Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team   4:00
114. Aldo Ino Ilesic (Slo) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
115. Bobby Lea (USA) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis   5:19
116. Simon-Pierre Gauthier (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor  0:10:38
117. Cheung Fu Shiu (Hkg) Champion System Pro Cycling Team  0:17:01

GC after Stage 2

1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale Pro Cycling  7:03:34
2. Rohan Dennis (Aus) Garmin-Sharp   0:26
3. Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano   0:28
4. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team   0:36
5. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team   0:37
6. Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica-GreenEdge   0:43
7. Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano   0:44
8. Tom Zirbel (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies   0:46
9. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp
10. Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team   0:47
11. Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano   0:48
12. Chad Haga (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies   0:49
13. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling
14. Silvan Dillier (Sui) BMC Racing Team   0:51
15. John Murphy (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
16. Cameron Meyer (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge   0:55
17. Shawn Milne (USA) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda
18. Robert Sweeting (USA) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda   0:58
19. Benjamin Day (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
20. Francisco Mancebo Perez (Spa) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda   0:59
21. Serghei Tvetcov (Mda) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
22. Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies   1:01
23. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin-Sharp
24. Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team   1:03
25. Lawrence Warbasse (USA) BMC Racing Team   1:05
26. Eric Young (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies   1:06
27. Rob Britton (Can) Canadian National Team   1:07
28. Michael Olsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano
29. Antoine Duchesne (Can) Canadian National Team   1:08
30. Ryan Roth (Can) Champion System Pro Cycling Team   1:10
31. Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
32. Travis McCabe (USA) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis   1:11
33. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda   1:12
34. Luka Mezgec (Slo) Team Argos-Shimano
35. Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin-Sharp   1:13
36. Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Orica-GreenEdge
37. Andres Diaz (Col) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda   1:15
38. Matthias Friedemann (Ger) Champion System Pro Cycling Team   1:16
39. Clinton Robert Avery (Nzl) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
40. Moreno Hofland (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team   1:18
41. Taylor Shelden (USA) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda
42. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team   1:19
43. Kirk Carlsen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
44. Edward King (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling   1:22
45. Bruno Langlois (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor
46. Nicolai Brochner (Den) Bissell Pro Cycling
47. Jakub Novak (Cze) BMC Racing Team   1:24
48. Clay Murfet (Aus) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis   1:25
49. Alexander Cataford (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor   1:26
50. Jean-Michel Lachance (Can) Canadian National Team   1:28
51. Shane Kline (USA) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
52. Tommy Nankervis (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling
53. Michael Woods (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor   1:29
54. Craig Lewis (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team   1:30
55. Marc Goos (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team   1:36
56. Steve Morabito (Sui) BMC Racing Team   1:38
57. Thomas Damuseau (Fra) Team Argos-Shimano   1:39
58. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
59. Flavio De Luna (Mex) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
60. Pierrick Naud (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor   1:42
61. Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Orica-GreenEdge   1:43
62. Frank Kevin Pipp (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
63. Emerson Oronte (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda   1:44
64. Andrew Dahlheim (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling   1:48
65. Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
66. Chris Butler (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
67. Luke Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team   1:59
68. Chad Beyer (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team   2:00
69. Derrick St. John (Can) Canadian National Team   2:02
70. Davide Frattini (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
71. Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Orica-GreenEdge   2:10
72. Charles Bradley Huff (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda   2:11
73. Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team   2:15
74. Jean-Sebastien Perron (Can) Canadian National Team   2:17
75. Benjamin Chaddock (Can) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
76. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Belkin Pro Cycling Team   2:21
77. Max Jenkins (USA) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda   2:22
78. Garrett McLeod (Can) Canadian National Team
79. Eric Marcotte (USA) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis   2:26
80. Ken Hanson (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies   2:30
81. Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team   2:31
82. Michael Chauner (USA) Equipe Garneau-Québecor   2:37
83. Adam Matthew Farabaugh (USA) Equipe Garneau-Québecor   2:46
84. Carter Jones (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling   2:48
85. Jeffry Louder (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team   2:52
86. David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Sharp   2:57
87. Robert Förster (Ger) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team   3:02
88. Ryan Aitcheson (Can) Canadian National Team   3:13
89. Jonas Ahlstrand (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano   3:17
90. Stuart Wight (Can) Canadian National Team   3:18
91. Geoffroy Dussault (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor   3:19
92. Kang Jiyong (Kor) Orica-GreenEdge   3:40
93. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin-Sharp   3:42
94. Kristofer Dahl (Can) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis   3:43
95. Lachlan David Morton (Aus) Garmin-Sharp   3:45
96. Sean Mazich (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda   3:49
97. Michael Friedman (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies   4:09
98. Ben Wolfe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda   4:15
99. David Williams (USA) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda   4:16
100. Thomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin-Sharp   4:21
101. Jack Bobridge (Aus) Belkin Pro Cycling Team   4:24
102. Thomas Soladay (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies   4:38
103. Jason McCartney (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling   5:13
104. Jeremy Vennell (Nzl) Bissell Pro Cycling   5:17
105. Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale Pro Cycling   5:20
106. Brian Vandborg (Den) Cannondale Pro Cycling   5:25
107. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda   5:35
108. Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team   6:29
109. Nariyuki Masuda (Jpn) Cannondale Pro Cycling   6:58
110. Zachary Bell (Can) Champion System Pro Cycling Team   7:12
111. William Clarke (Aus) Team Argos-Shimano   7:46
112. James Stemper (USA) 5-hour Energy p/b Kenda   8:46
113. Nic Hamlton (Can) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda   8:56
114. Aldo Ino Ilesic (Slo) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team   9:46
115. Bobby Lea (USA) Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis  0:10:45
116. Simon-Pierre Gauthier (Can) Equipe Garneau-Québecor  0:13:47
117. Cheung Fu Shiu (Hkg) Champion System Pro Cycling Team  0:20:23