New York - AFP
American George Hincapie captured the second stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in a crash-marred race that sent Italian rider Daniele Callegarin to hospital with facial and hand injuries. Hincapie, 38, completed the rainy 209 kilometre stage from Gunnison to Aspen in five hours, 26 minutes, 10 seconds. American Tejay Van Garderen, who rides for HTC-Highroad, became the third race leader in as many days. Van Garderen leads Hincapie by 16 seconds with four stages remaining. Another American Tom Danielson was third in the stage to move into third overall, 22 seconds adrift. Hincapie was a key teammate of Aussie Cadel Evans last month in Evans' Tour de France victory. Evans finished seventh in the stage, 45 seconds behind Hincapie and is sixth overall. Callegarin got the worst of an eight-rider crash that also involved Canadian Andrew Randell and American Sergio Hernandez. All three were taken to hospital after the riders hit a cattle guard and went down as the field began one of two ascents. Callegarin, of Team Type 1, suffered a concussion, two broken hands, severe facial injuries, according to a team spokesperson. Randell and Hernandez were treated and released. The race continues Thursday with 16-kilometre uphill individual time trial in Vail.