Danny Pate, TdF stage 2 breakDespite being nervous and windy, today’s short 164.5 km stage delivered few surprises. The final was a fast uphill mass sprint and most of the Garmin-Chipotle crew finished in on the same time as stage winner Thor Hushovd. Young Martijn Maaskant was the highest finisher at 14th and David Millar’s finish moved him up to 7th in the overall standings.

Tour debutant Danny Pate (above) kicked the day off in style by being the first rider to attack. Going off from the gun, he was quickly joined by a handful of others. But the break was short lived as Bouygues Telecom was having none of it.

Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O as a group is ranked fourth in the overall team classification. Stage 2 photos from our brilliant photographers Graham Watson and Casey Gibson coming soon!

Team Garmin-Chipotle H30 stage 2 results
1. Thor Hushovd 3h45′13″

14. Martijn Maaskant +00″
26. David Millar +00″
31. Christian Vande Velde +00″
71. Ryder Hesjedal +00″
73. Trent Lowe +00″
95. Will Frischkorn +00″
134. Magnus Backstedt +2′10″
159. Danny Pate +2′30″
172. Julian Dean +00″ *

*In the final K, Julian got tangled up in a crash but is fine and received the same time as his group.

Team Garmin-Chipotle H30 GC
1. Alejandro Valverde 8h21′20″

7. David Millar +1″
21. Christian Vande Velde +7″
41. Trent Lowe +7″
42. Ryder Hesjedal +7″
77. Julian Dean +52″
81. Martijn Maaskant +1′01″
122. Will Frischkorn +2′
138. Danny Pate +3′42″
174. Magnus Backstedt +7′06″

Team GC
1. Caisse D’Epargne 25h04′08″
2. Team Columbia +7″
3. Team CSC Saxo Bank +7″
4. Team Garmin-Chipotle +7″