USAPCC Stage 5: Steamboat Springs > Breckenridge, 170.2 km
Another day of amazing crowds, Steamboat Springs hasn't disappointed!
An early break is away with five riders, but they'll lose most of this group on the first climb as the pace needed to stay away is high.
The peloton is now keeping a steady pace, not allowing the break to get too far up the road.
Cadel gives it a go as well, but he too is reeled back in.
The high pace continues to shell riders off the peloton.
Just below the summit, Laurens Ten Dam gives it a shot and gets away...
After cresting Rabbit Ears Pass, the lead group is down to 17; who's that shadow tho?
...Andy Shleck has attacked from the back of the pack and is trying to bridge up to the remainder of the first escape.
The break of the day is now established, Basso, Ten Dam, and Andy Schleck bring some serious power to this escape, but they are all over six and a half minutes back.
Ten Dam douses himself to fight the heat...
Dave Zabriskie is trying to bridge up, but he'll not get across...
The escape sure isn't taking time to enjoy the view...
...but neither is the peloton, as they blur through the valley.
Back in the peloton, the other Leopard Trek riders are enjoying the ride, Voigt and Mortensen share a laugh.
Viviani wears the green jersey and had talked yesterday of working for Oss today...
RadioShack has the peloton strung out, their pace is steady, but not so fast the the groups that had been dropped on Rabbit Ears couldn't join back on.
Ahead, the escape is maintaining a 4 minute lead or so.
Their pursuit is still driven by Levi's team...
Cadel and BMC seem content to sit in today.
Frank is talking to the RadioShack team car, perhaps negotiating to see if the escape can succeed today?
The escape has crossed the dam at the Green Mountain Resevoir.
...with the peloton dwarfed by the rock cliffs above the water.
The break seems to be workin well, will they succeed today?
The peloton now is stringing out again as they pass some aspen trees.
United Health Care has moved to the front en masse to try to give Christopher Jones a shot. He's the one sitting in behind team Radio Shack.
Near the top of Swan Mountain, Andy Schleck has attacked!
...by the bottom of the descent, he's built a slight lead.
There seems to be some discussion as to how the peloton should react, there is little reason for Shack to press the pace... no one up the road threatens Levi's lead.
The three remaining members of the escape work to reel Andy back in, Basso is trying to make it two wins in a row for Liquigas.
The escape ended up for naught, the peloton caught them and Viviani has made it two wins in a row!