Perfect. That’s the only way to describe how my Garmin-Chipotle teammates rode stage 2. We knew we had the team to take control of the race and we used the confidence to do exactly that. Our BMX start specialist, Will, with some Tour form to boot, hit out from the blocks causing a reaction from the field. We countered with Pate, Peterson, Stetina, and myself all going away at some point on the first climb. Just over the top, we had our entire team in a group of less than 30 and could take turns following attacks in the valley before the next climb. Danielson was in a strong move, but with Oscar Sevilla of Rock Racing in it as well, it was short lived.

The second climb was a little more mellow with Peter attacking a couple times. His acceleration opened some gaps, but all of the favorites were forced to respond and it was more or less still together. A promising breakaway of six with Danny Pate established itself following the downhill. Unfortunately for us, nobody wanted to work with him. No surprise, after all, since we all saw The Pate in stage 15 at the Tour. A reshuffling followed with a new ten-rider break going with Peterson and myself in it. Once again, Sevilla was present and that was a no go. Peterson told him that we were going to chase it as long as he was there, so he escorted Sevilla back to the field.

Now with eight left in the breakaway, we were sitting pretty. I could let the others in the breakaway do the work as Jason was the race leader. Up the final climb, I followed Lill and pretty soon it was just us two left. Back in the field, Peterson set an incredible tempo to whittle the lead group down and isolate most of the other team’s leaders. Nearing the top of the climb, the two of us still had a good advantage ahead of the chase group with Jason still amongst the favorites. It was perfect. I had the opportunity to go for the stage win, and either Jason or I would be in the jersey.

We were able to stretch out the gap some on the final downhill and came in to the last kilometer still clear. I started the sprint at 200 meters on Lill’s wheel and came around him to keep Team Garmin-Chipotle’s winning streak alive! Jason and Peter finished in the small group just behind. With that Peter established a solid lead in the Best Young Rider competition and all three of us are in contention for GC.

Up today is a 60-minute flat criterium in Salt Lake City. It’ll certainly be a crowd pleaser, but a nervous and hard-fought 60 minutes for us. We’re looking forward Saturday’s queen stage with the mountain-top finish at Snowbird. We’re going for it!

The Boulder Daily Camera interviews Taylor Phinney on his performance in the qualifying round for the 4000-meter individual pursuit.

From the article: “A sound ride against Volodymyr Dyudya of the Ukraine put aside any fear of a breakdown as Phinney claimed the seventh of eight spots in the field. ‘My goal was 4:19,’ said Phinney, who finished in 4 minutes, 22.86 seconds. ‘I thought the track would be a little hotter than it was.’ The finish means he will be facing New Zealander Hayden Roulston, a tall order. Roulston finished second to England’s Bradley Wiggins in 4:18.99.”

The Rocky Mountain News reports on Taylor Phinney’s initial qualifying round in the 4000-meter men’s individual pursuit during the Beijing Olympic Games. The article feature interviews with Taylor’s parents, Connie and Davis.

From the article: “It’s been incredible,” Carpenter-Phinney said of being at the Olympics with the entire family. “It’s (her son’s) first Olympics, and he slayed some dragons out there … One thing you need to know. I was seventh in my first Olympics, and he was seventh (in qualifying).”

This MSN Video feature profiles Taylor Phinney on his preparations for the Beijing Olympics. The video also takes an intimate look at his family background and life with father Davis Phinney and mother Connie Carpenter-Phinney.

Riding in heat 6 against Ukraine cyclist Volodymyr Dyudya, Taylor Phinney clocked the 7th fastest time during today’s qualifying heats for the 4000 meter individual pursuit. Taylor rode a 4′22.860″ qualifying time.

Taylor’s split times:
1000m - 1′07.621″
2000m - 1′04.552″
3000m - 1′04.856″
4000m - 1′05.831″

True to what Kelsey Phinney predicted for the day, the track was fast and Bradley Wiggins set a new Olympic record with his qualifying time of 4′15.031″

4000 meter individual pursuit results
1. Bradley Wiggins 4′15.031″ *new Olympic record*
2. Hayden Roulston 4′18.990″
3. Alexei Markov 4′21.498″
4. Volodymyr Dyudya 4′21.530″
5. Steven Burke 4′22.260″
6. Antonio Tauler 4′22.462″
7. Taylor Phinney 4′22.860″
8. Alexander Serov 4′23.732″

Taylor will compete tomorrow August 16 at 16:30 Beijing Time in the third heat of the semi-finals against New Zealand cyclist Hayden Roulston.

Location:
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Overview:
Finishing 2nd overall in the 2008 Tour of Utah, Blake Caldwell used his Garmin Edge 705 to record all but the final individual time trial of this five-stage race.

Stage 3 was an evening criterium through downtown Salt Lake City. The riders raced for 90 minutes on a 1-mile circuit around the Salt Palace.

Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O controlled the pace of the tight race from the gun. Hardly a sprinter, Blake Caldwell still managed to finish 4th with Jason Donald 6th and Tom Peterson 7th on the stage.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 31.15 miles

Total Elevation Gain: 1,202 ft.

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Taylor Phinney’s 14-year-old sister Kelsey is providing regular updates on events surrounding her big brother’s Olympic debut in Beijing.

I’m sitting in my hotel room trying to be patient. Taylor races in a few hours against Volodymyr Dudya from Ukraine. Both of them want to get into the top eight so they can compete in the final round tomorrow. It’s hard for me to say how Taylor is feeling right now, simply because I haven’t spoken to him in a few days. I believe, though, that he is more excited than nervous and just all around happy to be part of the Olympics.

Today is a hot day, which means the times for the pursuit should be much faster than the World Cup times in December. I spoke to my mom earlier and she told me that during Tay’s training, he is riding faster than he rode in Bordeaux. Hopefully he will make the top eight tonight, knock on wood, cross your fingers and wish him luck even…if he doesn’t need it.

I’ll write back with all the details of his first race! ~Kelsey

Our on-site Tour of Utah “reporter” Blake Caldwell (above) made good on his promise to keep Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O’s winning streak going by taking today’s mountainous stage. Soaring over four KOM’s and more than 10,000 feet of climbing, Blake’s win put him in the yellow leader’s jersey - keeping the fun all in the family.

Joining Blake on the podium today was Peter Stetina who, with his performance, took over the Best Young Rider classification. He leads the classification by a solid 1′19″. Jason Donald had to hand off his coveted yellow jersey to Blake and moved to third overall.

Team Garmin-Chipotle stage 2 results
1. Blake Caldwell 3h30′21″
9. Peter Stetina +18″
13. Jason Donald +38″
27. Tom Peterson +1′37″
39. Tom Danielson +5′27″
55. Will Frischkorn +14′15″
59. Danny Pate +16′40″

Team Garmin-Chipotle GC
1. Blake Caldwell 7h37′40″
3. Jason Donald +18″
13. Peter Stetina +28″
31. Tom Peterson +1′47″
43. Tom Danielson +5′37″
58. Will Frischkorn +14′25″
59. Danny Pate +14′25″

Best Young Rider by Vitamin Water
1. Peter Stetina 7h38′08″
2. Scott Stewart +1′19

KOM by Zion’s Bank
1. Glen Chadwick 21 pts
2. Blake Caldwell 13 pts
5. Peter Stetina 8 pts

Sprint Competition by Sinclair
1. Bradley White 24 pts
2. Sheldon Deeny 22 pts
3. Jason Donald 12 pts
4. Blake Caldwell 10 pts

Team GC
1. BMC 22h54′06″
2. Team Garmin-Chipotle +00″
3. Rock Racing +18″