Tejay van Garderen steals race lead as Danish rider Asgreen wins on mountainous Stage 2
The Deceuninck-QuickStep Dane won the Mountainous Stage 2 of the Tour of California, that included 4,500 meters of climbing up to South Lake Tahoe
Tejay van Garderen (EF Education First) and Gianni Moscon (Team Ineos) were in 2nd and 3rd.
The young Asgreen, 24, was in the final breakaway, Van Garderen attacked on the final climb, 1.6 km from the finish, and was followed by Asgreen, Moscon and Tadej Pogacar (Emirates UAE). With the finish in sight, the Dane accelerated and crossed the line first.
This was Asgreen's first win at WorldTour race.
Van Garderen secured the overall lead with Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe), the winner of the opening stage, lost time and ended up outside the Top 10.
Van Garderen is 6 seconds in the lead, ahead of Moscon and 7 seconds to Asgreen.
All the riders made the time cut including Mark Cavendish, who was dropped early on amd supported by team mate Eisel to the finish line.
VIDEO: 2019 Tour of California Stage 2 Finish
2019 Tour of California Stage 2 Top 10
1 Kasper Asgreen (Din) Deceuninck-Quick Step 6:17:11
2 Tejay van Garderen (USA) EF Education First
3 Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Ineos 0:00:04
4 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:10
5 Maximilian Schachmann (Ale) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:16
6 Jonas Gregaard Wilsly (Din) Astana Pro Team 0:00:27
7 Rob Britton (USA) Rally UHC Cycling
8 Sergio Higuita (Col ) EF Education First 0:00:31
9 Rigoberto Urán (Col) EF Education First
10 George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-Visma
2019 Tour of California CG after Stage 2
1 Tejay van Garderen (USA) EF Education First 9:31:19
2 Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Ineos 0:00:06
3 Kasade Asgreen (Din) Deceuninck-Quick Step 0:00:07
4 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:16
5 Maximilian Schachmann (Ale) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:22
6 Rob Britton (U. Rally UHC Cycling 0:00:33
7 Jonas Gregaard Wilsly (Din) Astana Pro Team
8 David de la Cruz (Esp) Team Ineos 0:00:34
9 Felix Großschartner (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:35
10 George Bennett (NZl) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:00:36