Today’s stage was aggressive from the gun according to SRAM’s David Zimberoff, who was in SRAM NRS Support car #1 just behind the Pro leaders (driven by Ben Raby). Four riders, including SRAM RED-equipped Floyd Landis (OUCH), got away on the backside of the 80 mile loop and drove to a lead of nearly three minutes. Apparently Floyd was going so fast down the second technical descent the entire field, less three riders, were unable to stay on his wheel. The Mellow Johnny and Bissell squads kept it all in check and pulled the remnants of the escapees back within site of the finish. Lucas Haedo took sprint win, no change in the GC overall.

DZ described the course as incredibly beautiful, treacherous, winding, with brutal climbs and wicked fast descents where riders easily exceeded 50 mph.

DZ hopped on the Mellow Johnny’s bus today before the start (he took no pics for us too post…), he is their biggest fan we think, gave Levi his leaders jersey (Levi wears Small or XS depending the cut).

At the finish Lance crossed the line and immediately reflected to DZ how hard the stage was. Levi maintains his 49 second lead and the overall.

In the Women’s race it was SRAM-equipped Webcor rider Gina Grain taking the finishing sprint with time enough to celebrate. The overall lead is still held by Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo).

2009 SRAM Tour of the Gila - Silver City, NM
Men Pro 1 Individual GC after stage 2
1 6:48:21 0:00:00 Levi Leipheimer Mellow Johnny’s - SRAM
2 6:49:10 0:00:49 Peter Stetina Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin
3 6:49:21 0:01:00 Christopher Baldwin
4 6:49:33 0:01:12 Matt Cooke RideClean
5 6:49:39 0:01:18 Burke Swindlehurst Bissell Pro Cycling
6 6:49:44 0:01:23 Florian Stalder Team B
7 6:49:53 0:01:32 Sutherland Rory OUCH Pro Cycling Team - SRAM
8 6:50:01 0:01:40 Lance Armstrong Mellow Johnny’s - SRAM
9 6:50:07 0:01:46 Chad Beyer Team B
10 6:50:07 0:01:46 Tyler Wren Colavita Sutter Home

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