After just missing the podium on stage 1, Travis McCabe got his revenge by pipping the win at the line with a bike throw on Stage 2. McCabe took the win ahead of Filippo Pozzato (WIL) and Ryan Gibbons (DDD). Stage 2 was the longest day of the race with 208 km of racing. McCabe noted that the stage “definitely suited me more than yesterday’s short flat stage with a cat 1 climb half way through the stage and a short punchy cat 3 with 30 km to go.” Even though stage 2 was brutally hot, and the men went through around 100 bottles of drinks through the course of the day, the hydration paid off. McCabe added that, “the team was really strong coming into 5 km to go,” where they took control with 2 km left in the stage and pulled off an excellent lead out under command of lead out man Greg Henderson.
I was patient and punched out when I needed to and won with a bike throw. It feels really great to win and this win has more to do with the team than it does with me.
Travis McCabe
According to director Hendrik Redant, “getting McCabe and Tanner into breaks earlier in the stage let us put pressure onto other teams to work in the peloton.” Due to some pressure from the Colombian team Manzana-Postobon over the top of the climb the peloton was reduced heading into the finish, allowing the team to bring the sprint train together for a text-book finish.
All went well and Travis McCabe really put the cherry on top of the cake perfectly.
Hendrik Redant
Stage 3 continues as the shortest stage of this year’s race at 118km. Although a short stage, the 3pm start time points toward another painfully hot day in the saddle. Expectations point toward another sprint finish on stage 3, stay tuned and see how it all comes together.
Photo Credit: Le Tour de Langkawi
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