Stage two Tour de DVV

By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Stage two came after a rest day on Tuesday. It was also a day to check and prepare the equipment and review the route in our heads. We had a two part climb coming after a long flat approach. I for one was looking forward to it but I am not sure the other teams were as eager. The two climbs were the Col de Saint John’s and the Col de Red Mountain. We then had a two part decent and a fast run back to start finish line. Even if some riders were starting with a huge disadvantage we had new competitors joining us with a points disadvantage and at least two riders that were starting with a DNF from stage one. That gave team Superman and lead over the rest of the field. Only team Bloodhound was a big threat to the Yellow jersey. We staged at Gilmore and Florida waiting for the start light.

At the front of the starting line were Digger, Newsboy and Highlander. They were followed by Minotaur, Huntress, Socrates and Hacker. The next row had Dragon slayer, Gambler and Magic Man and the back row had Quicksilver and Surgeon. The second place rider, Bloodhound had abandoned and will not be back for the last stage on Friday. Today was a 15 point day and team Superman had a big lead heading for Acacia and the first turn west, at least a big lead in points. As we headed south on Kirby team Superman was controlling the pace. It was important not let anyone close in points set the pace in case something bad happened, like dropping Superman before the climb ever started. So it was a easy pace to Cypress and then Johnston before heading south again on Rue de Sanderson.

There was almost a disaster for team Superman at Mustang when stopped at the light when a front tire went flat with a report that sounded like a gun shot. The tube split and blew the tire right off of the rim. But the tire was changed and Superman led the group to Rue de Domenigoni and made it to the light to head east for the run to Rue de State and Rue de Sage. Superman started out pulling towards Searl and had the whole Peloton Chasing as he got close to the light.

Shortly after the light Magic Man pulled up next to Superman and started to pick up the pace. However the pace only succeeded to breaking up the peloton and causing some of the new contenders to break off from the stage itself. Socrates, Magic Man, Highlander, Huntress, Dragon Slayer and Surgeon turned left at rue de State while Gambler pulled around for a breakaway when the rest of the group headed right towards Rue de Sage. Gambler was close to Newport before Newsboy moved off to close the gap. Minotaur pulled most of the way to Newport before Superman moved to the front only to drop the group at the Cactus Valley Curve. The breakaway was working as the peloton turned onto Rue de Sage and headed for the Col de Sage climb. The peloton quickly passed a wrecked news car (looked like an F-350 on its side) and headed for the first kick on Col de Sage. Shortly after passing the Diamond Valley market we came upon a sign the chilled Superman’s blood. Bulldozer looks like he has become a mercenary and is willing to sell his considerable climbing talents to the highest bidder.

Still the climb had to be made and Superman decided not to chase the breakaway because neither Gambler of Newsboy were points contenders and all he wanted to do was keep Quicksilver and Hacker in sight and not give up many points to them. It would remain to be seen in this plan worked. As we started the climb Minotaur started taunting Quicksilver and talking smack about dropping her like a bad habit before the end of the climb. Quicksilver took it in stride and only laughed feeling she had this climb in the bag.

As they continued the Climb Digger made a short break but Superman and Hacker soon shut that break down. Minotaur made the next break but he was reeled in as well. All during this time Quicksilver had been on Superman’s wheel but soon the heat started to get to her and the team doctor had to pour cold water over her head till she cooled off enough to finish the climb of Rue de Sage. Newsboy had made the hill first and Gambler had abandoned due to illness. Hacker was second and Superman was third with Quicksilver and Minotaur shortly behind. That gave Hacker 2 more points and Newsboy got the 3 points for first. Superman got 1 for third. The climb up Rue de Red Mountain took its toll on Minotaur but he pressed forward. Newsboy flatted before the top but Hacker made another break. Hacker got another 3 points for first and 3 points for KOM, while Minotaur got 2 and 2 more for best rookie Newsboy got 1. Quicksilver got 5 bonus points for being the first woman to the top of Red Mountain and 2 for Sage. While Digger abandoned leaving Superman with a big goose egg for Red Mountain.

The decent was not good for Quicksilver and Superman had no good reason to Chase Minotaur and Newsboy off of the hill. In fact it was hard not to attack the decent for Superman but he wanted to play it safe. Soon he had caught up to Hacker and was at least 50 yards ahead of Quicksilver. Superman came off of Red Mountain in third getting another point and was third to the Diamond Valley Market for another point Newsboy and Minotaur split the points for Red Mountain and Sage so the race was getting tighter.

The peloton headed north on Rue de Sage and headed back to Cactus Valley. Supermen stayed on Newsboys’s back wheel all the way to Newport and then to Domenigoni where Newsboy had to leave for a family emergency. That left only three riders heading back to the start finish line. The group stayed together till we got back to Latham and Lyon where Quicksilver started a sprint for the start finish and managed to beat Superman by such a small margin that it was a photo finish. None the less she crossed the line first and got another 3 points while Superman got 2 and Hacker got 1 point.

The tree finishers had to stand around for the awards ceremony and to talk to fans and sign autographs and that took maybe 15 minutes. But soon they had to part their ways and go back and train for the last stage on Friday. Superman has held onto his Yellow Jersey butat least two riders are within striking distance. But Friday is another day and who knows what that day brings? At the end of Stage two the standings are. 1. Superman 17 points 2. Quicksilver 11 points 3. Hacker 11 points 4. Newsboy 8 points 5. Minotaur 8 points 6. Highlander DNF 7. Surgeon DNF 8. Digger DNF 9. Gambler DNF 10. Dragon Slayer DNF 11. Magic Man DNF 12. Huntress DNF