Lieuwe Westra | GlobalPost

Cycling: Acevedo wins stage 2 of Tour de California

Agence France-PresseMay 13, 2013 21:46

Colombian cyclist Janier Acevedo battled dehydration, steep climbs and oppressive heat to win stage two of the Tour of California, finishing 12 seconds ahead of America's Tejay van Garderen Monday. In temperatures that climbed to 46 Celsius (115 Fahrenheit), Acevedo made his move on the Tramway Road climb finishing the 200-kilometer (124-mile) stage, that began in Murrieta and ended in the desert town of Palm Springs, in five hours, seven minutes and 40 seconds. "Insane," van Garderen said of the brutal conditions. "It was unlike anything I've ever done."

Cycling: Westra wins first stage of Tour of California

Agence France-PresseMay 12, 2013 20:45

Dutchman Lieuwe Westra seized the yellow jersey at the Tour of California after winning the 165 kilometre (130 mile) opening stage on the outskirts of San Diego on Sunday. Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) outduelled Spaniard Francisco Mancebo in a sprint over the final kilometres while Slovak Peter Sagan led the chase bunch, finishing six seconds back. Cannondale's Sagan had to overcome a rear derailleur problem with just five kilometres to go.

Cycling: Gaudin wins Paris-Nice prologue

Agence France-PresseMarch 3, 2013 12:45

Frenchman Damien Gaudin, riding for Europcar, won Sunday's Paris-Nice prologue, a 2.9km time trial around Houilles west of Paris. Gaudin, a three-time French national pursuit champion, bagged the yellow jersey after seeing off compatriot Sylvain Chavanel by 0.56sec and Dutchman Lieuwe Westra as the 26-year-old garnered his first career win five years after turning professional. Monday's first stage proper is a 195km ride from Saint-Germain-en-Laye to Nemours.