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United States | Midwest | Ohio >> Robin Carpenter wins Stage 2 of the Tour of Utah from breakaway and takes the Yellow Jersey

Robin Carpenter wins Stage 2 of the Tour of Utah from breakaway and takes the Yellow Jersey

Robin Carpenter (Holowesko-Citadel) and Ruben Companioni (Team Jamis) held off the peloton on stage 2 of the Tour of Utah to deny the sprinters. Carpenter got the better of his Cuban breakaway companion while Travis McCabe (Holowesko-Citadel) won the bunch sprint

Stage 2 found familiar territory along Scenic Byway 12, an All-American Road that weaves its way through picturesque Garfield and Wayne counties. A new start this year will be hosted in Escalante, famous for its slot canyons and close proximity to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the nation’s largest national monument. Escalante, which has seen the race pass through in 2013 and 2014, sets the stage for 99 miles (159.3 km) of racing.

An early attack after 12 miles of racing from 8 riders was brought back. Cannondale-Drapac didn't like the composition. Carpenter was active in thew first attempt, but after 30 miles he attacked off the front on the big climb up to Boulder Mountain, maxing out at 9,600 feet.

The fast pace for the first hour of racing at over 26 mph saw a large group drop off the back.

Carpenter who had 3 Top 10 finishes in last year's Tour of Utah and won this year's Cascade Cycling Classic, was eventually joined by Cuban Reuben Companioni (JAM). Companioni is noted to have won the 2011 Vuelta International Costa Rica.

The pair worked together and crested the climb of Boulder Mountain with Carpenter taking the maximum KOM points.

From there it was all downhill into Torrey, which hosted the Tour for a third time. The gap opened up to over 7 minutes. 

Silber Pro Cycling started to chase. Trek-Segafredo and Rally took up the chase with the gap coming down to 5 minutes.

With the gap not coming down quickly enough, the pair reached the 17-mile circuit in Torrey with over 4 minutes.

Companioni led out the sprint but Carpenter had the best legs and opened up a gap on Campanioni in the last quarter mile.

VIDEO: Tour of Utah Stage 2 - Attack of the day - Peloton never saw them again!

HIGHLIGHTS: Tour of Utah Stage 2

Stage 2 Top 10, Tour of Utah

1 CARPENTER Robin Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team 03:56:48
2 COMPANIONI Ruben Team Jamis
3 MCCABE TravisHolowesko-Citadel Racing Team 2:07
4 REIJNEN Kiel Trek - Segafredo ,,
5 TANNER David IAM Cycling ,,
6 ZABEL Rick BMC Racing Team ,,
7 CANOLA Marco UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team 2,,
8 OWEN Logan Axeon Hagens Berman 1,,
9 JOYCE Colin Axeon Hagens Berman  ,,
10 FILO SIIuri Nippo - Vini Fantini

General Classification after Stage 2, Tour of Utah

1. Robin Carpenter , Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team 07:03:50
2. Rueben Companioni, Team Jamis, + 12s
3. Kristohper Dahl +2m 12s
4. Colin Joyce + 2m 17s
5. Rick Zabel BMC Racing + 2m 19s

Robin Carpenter wins Stage 2 of the Tour of Utah from breakaway and takes the Yellow Jersey