MT. CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. (AP) — Tejay van Garderen of Tacoma, Wash., moved to the front in the final 500 uphill yards and claimed the second stage and the race lead Tuesday at the USA Pro Challenge.
Van Garderen, who rides for BMC, completed the 99.2-mile Telluride to Mt. Crested Butte road race in 3 hours, 52 minutes and 24 seconds.
Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Sharp) of Lemont, Ill., finished second in the same time. Ivan Rovny (Rusvelo) of Russia was third, trailing the stage winner by six seconds.
Van Garderen, who was fifth and was the highest American finisher last month in the Tour de France, has the same overall time as Vande Velde. But van Garderen is the race leader based on his higher Stage 2 finish.
Defending race titlist Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) of Santa Rosa, Calif., finished fourth in the stage and is fourth overall, trailing by eight seconds.
