Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Sylvain Chavanel entered in a breakaway very early in the 200.7km Stage 2 of AMGEN Tour of California on Monday, in a stage from Murrieta to Greater Palm Springs. The breakaway of four riders gained a double digit gap at one point during the stage with two categorized climbs, but extreme temperatures reaching more than 43 degrees Celsius put both the break — and the peloton — under pressure.
Chavanel and his break mates were unable to stay away, getting caught just prior to the Cat. 1 summit climb on Tram Way, averaging 9%, in Greater Palm Springs. An elite group emerged of five riders (No OPQS), and inside the final 2km Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing Team) and Janier Acevedo (Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home) were left to battle it out for the stage. Acevedo attacked inside the final kilometer, winning solo. T. van Garderen was 2nd, and Phillip Deignan (UnitedHealthcare presented by Maxxis) was 3rd.
The heat was so extreme that many riders were unable to keep pedaling after the finish, and a few did not cross the finish line. OPQS rider Pieter Serry was among the riders who struggled with the temperatures approaching record highs.
OPQS looks next to a 178km Stage 3 on Tuesday, with four Category 4 climbs.
