stage2

"Everything that could go wrong, did," said Etixx-Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere

Tim De Waele was out in the breeze with the bunch as they fought the blustery Dutch winds

Vigilance and quick thinking pays off as Tejay van Garderen, Chris Froome and Alberto Contador land on the right side of a big split

Two of the five-star Tour favorites lose ground — Vincenzo Nibali and Nairo Quintana — as echelons form against the howling North Sea wind

Though Dennis did not remain in yellow for a second day, he got to enjoy his stage 1 victory with a custom paint job on his stage 2 bike

Andre Greipel takes the first sprint victory of the 2015 Tour de France as Fabian Cancellara grabs the leader's jersey from Rohan Dennis

Mark Cavendish jumps first but André Greipel finishes fastest in stage 2, while Fabian Cancellara grabs the yellow jersey

Photos from stage 2 of the 2014 Tour de France

Tejay van Garderen and Andrew Talansky find themselves sitting pretty at the Tour after a brutal second stage

The Manx Missile may require surgery, and certainly needs recovery time, but it's unclear if he can regain his once-stellar form

Garmin's Alex Howes got his first Tour de France nod, and he's off and pedaling through the biggest show in pro cycling

Results from stage 2 of the 2014 Tour de France

The Italian road champ steals a march on an elite pack hunting both stage and overall, and as they hesitate, he takes the win and the jersey

Omega Pharma boss Patrick Lefevere explains why he brought director Brian Holm, acquitted on a sex charge regarding a minor, to the Tour

Netapp-Endura is on Fuji's all-new Transonic aero road frame for the Tour de France

The new yellow jersey fought through injury and four winless seasons before hitting the big time

Stage 2 was a missed chance for Millar, who took the yellow jersey in his Tour debut. But other chances remain

Sagan's team helps shell the sprinters but falls just short of the stage win

Casey B. Gibson captures the action at stage 2 of the 2013 Tour de France

Road rash and a separated shoulder from a stage-1 spill make for an unpleasant Tour debut

The Sky leader was anxious about the first three stages on Corsica, but is growing in confidence

Photos from stage 2 of the 2013 Tour de France

Results from stage 2 of the 2013 Tour de France

The RadioShack-Leopard rider jumps out of a failing last-ditch break and holds his edge to the line

The stage-2 team time trial is largely a mystery to the Giro peloton, which will get only one chance to test-ride the course

Tejay van Garderen expects attacks from Garmin and plans to remain vigilant

Brian Holcombe and Matt Beaudin give the rundown on stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge

Casey B. Gibson is on hand as the lead changes in the 2012 USA Pro Challenge

Altitude has The Shark of Messina feeling a bit like a fish out of water, but he's still on the hunt

Van Garderen and Vande Velde fought out a two-man sprint to the line

Graham Watson shoots stage 2 of the 2012 Vuelta a España

Movistar's Jonathan Castroviejo still holds the lead — but the mountains loom on Monday

Colorado gallery: 12,000 feet with Brad Kaminski

VIDEO: Finish-line analysis in Aspen

ASPEN, Colo. (VN) — With a rough cattle grate and thousands of fans lining the high mountain roads in central Colorado Wednesday a number of riders — and race staff — hit the ground.

ASPEN, Colo. (VN) — Twenty miles downhill in the rain turned the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge on its head Wednesday and with two climbs topping out over 12,000 feet, no one expected it. HTC-Highroad’s 23-year-old American Tejay Van Garderen was as surprised as anyone when he ended up the biggest winner, taking enough time on a dispatched Levi Leipheimer (RadioShack) to pull the overall leader’s jersey in Aspen.

ASPEN, Colo. (VN) — BMC's veteran George Hincapie won the queen stage of the first 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge on Wednesday, winning out of a six-man breakaway that formed on the tricky descent of Independence Pass.

Stage

• 1. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing Team, in 5:26:10
• 2. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, HTC-Highroad, at s.t.
• 3. Tom DANIELSON, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at s.t.
• 4. Eduard BELTRAN SUAREZ, Une-Epm, at s.t.
• 5. Janier ACEVEDO CALLE, Gobernacion De Antioquia-Indeportes Antiquia, at s.t.

• 1. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, HTC-Highroad, in 10:04:08
• 2. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing Team, at 00:16
• 3. Tom DANIELSON, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 00:22
• 4. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Team RadioShack, at 00:34
• 5. Christian VANDEVELDE, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 00:45

Stage

• 1. Kristin Armstrong Savola, Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty 12, in 1.35'58"
• 2. Janel Holcomb, Colavita / Forno D'asolo, at 40  
• 3. Anne Samplonius, Now Cycling/now And Novartis For Ms, at 2:37  
• 4. Kristin Mcgrath, Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty 12, at 2:37  
• 5. Andrea Dvorak, Colavita / Forno D'asolo, at 2:37  

Graham Watson captures the action in stage 2 of the 2011 Vuelta a España.

HTC-Highroad promises to ride its last grand tour with its collective head held high as Tim Duggan hopes to clinch an extension with Liquigas-Cannondale.

Tyler Farrar found himself forced to choose between the Vuelta and the Vattenfall this year.

Stage 2

• 1. Christopher Sutton, Team Sky, at 4:11:41
• 2. Vicente Reynes, Omega Pharma-Lotto, same time
• 3. Marcel Kittel, Skil-Shimano, s.t.
• 4. Tyler Farrar, Garmin-Cervélo, s.t.
• 5. Matti Breschel, Rabobank Cycling Team, s.t.

Chris Sutton sprints to victory in Vuelta's 2nd stage; Daniele Bennati takes lead.

Nick Legan feasts his eyes (and lens) at the stage-2 team time trial of the 2011 Tour de France.

VeloNews polls the players after the stage-2 team time trial in the 2011 Tour de France.

VeloNews.com's Andrew Hood and Ben Delaney break down the team time trial.

North Americans young and old are turning in fine performances early on in the 2011 Tour de France.

LES ESSARTS, France (VN) - Alberto Contador tried to put a positive spin after a second consecutive day of time losses to his rivals at the 2011 Tour de France.

This time the UCI is making sure that saddles are "horizontal."

Jonathan Vaughters says Garmin-Cervélo's victory in Sunday's team time trial is confirmation that cycling is cleaning up its act.

Graham Watson captures Garmin-Cervélo's maiden stage win in the team time trial at the 2011 Tour de France.

Dan Wuori is one of the funniest Twitter bards in the cycling world (follow him at @dwuori. This month, he will be expanding a bit beyond 140 characters to share periodic journals during the Tour de France. Today's is the third.

Stage Result

• 1. TEAM GARMIN-CERVELO, in 24:48
• 2. BMC RACING TEAM, in 24:52
• 3. SKY PROCYCLING, in 24:52, at 00:04
• 4. TEAM LEOPARD-TREK, in 24:52, at 00:04
• 5. HTC-HIGHROAD, in 24:53, at 00:05

Garmin-Cervélo finally won its first stage in a Tour de France on Sunday, claiming victory in the stage-2 team time trial and putting world champion Thor Hushovd into the race leader's yellow jersey.

Inside the sprawling 3,430km Tour de France, stage 2 is a mere 23km; however, the team time trial could well be decisive for the overall.

Dan Wuori is one of the funniest Twitter bards in the cycling world (follow him at @dwuori. This month, he will be expanding a bit beyond 140 characters to share periodic journals during the Tour de France. Today's is the second.

A five-minute video highlight of stage 2 of the Amgen Tour of California.

Ben Swift (Sky) took the first stage Monday, but weather remained the big story for at the Amgen Tour of California. Monday’s stage covered just 61 miles from Nevada City to Sacramento after winter weather forced changes to the race for the second consecutive day.

BMC's Mike Sayers talks about his emotions upon returning to his hometown of Sacramento in the Amgen Tour of California.

• 1. SWIFT Ben SKY GBR 2:47:02 00
• 2. *SAGAN Peter LIQ SVK 2:47:06 04
• 3. GOSS Matthew Harley THR AUS 2:47:08 06
• 4. LACOMBE Kevin CSM CAN 2:47:12 10
• 5. HAEDO Juan Jose SBS ARG

Taylor Phinney California diary, stage two

After a commanding last-lap leadout from Team Sky, 23-year-old Ben Swift launched off the wheel of teammate Greg Henderson to take his fifth stage win of the year. After the finish, the young man from Rotherham, England was quick to track down his teammates for bear hugs.

Team Sky's Ben Swift won the opening stage of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California on Monday, coming off a long leadout train on a shortened stage from Nevada City to Sacramento.

Tyler Farrar and VeloNews' European scribe Andrew Hood discuss the stage-two sprint in the 2011 Giro.

Caley Fretz got up close and personal with the Specialized Venges of Marco Pinotti and Mark Cavendish on stage 2.

Mark Cavendish blasts race commissaires and officials after losing the stage-two sprint to Alessandro Petacchi, suggesting he is being “singled out” when it comes to jury decisions.