Matthew Busche went into the queen stage of the USA Pro Challenge in fourth overall but dropped to sixth after having made a brave move into the headwin in the finale. Despite regretting the time loss, the American was pleased to have showed the jersey and given it a try.

The queen stage of the USA Pro Challenge appropriately climbed to the top of Monarch Mountain – twice – and at stage end a new race leader emerged, while the remaining top GC standings reshuffled.

Trek Factory Racing thwarted a mid-race scare with a strong, united chase, to end the eventful day with three riders in the top 20.

The 155-kilometer stage began with a furious pace that continued all the way to the top of the first ascent of Monarch Pass. There was no chance for a breakaway to stick under the intense speed, but the first pass over Monarch would change all that.

The uphill pace by Garmin Sharp ripped the peloton apart and a dangerous group of eight riders broke clear with all the top GC riders - but no pinstriped jersey. Matthew Busche, coming into the decisive third stage fourth overall, had missed the boat.

Behind a 17-strong chase group formed, with five from Trek Factory Racing, including Busche, and the chase was on.

The gap was fifty seconds. Fränk Schleck, Jens Voigt, Riccardo Zoidl and Laurent Didier put their heads down, swapped turns, and led the all-out pursuit. When they reached the town of Salida they had the eight leaders in sight. 

“It went bananas from the start and the first time up Monarch everything blew to smithereens right away," Busche said. "I was already hurting and then with six kilometers to go Danielson attacked and I could not follow the accelerations. I had cramping in my stomach and I was dropped.

"The team did a great job chasing to the top and then to bring me back on the downhill. Jens [Voigt] and Laurent [Didier] really went deep to pull the group back, and then it was just survival after that. I was not sure how I would go on the final climb, but evidently I responded okay since everyone was dead.”

Michael Rogers (Tinkoff-Saxo) launched an attack from the breakaway just before the catch was made, and set off in quest of the stage victory.

Trek Factory Racing breathed a sigh of relief with the threat tamed and the 25 riders – all that remained at the front of the race after the initial fireworks – navigated two loops around Salida and turned back to Monarch Mountain for the second and final ascent to the finish.

Rogers’ noble effort held until 8.5 kilometers remained, where he finally succumbed to the headwind and the pace set by the BMC-led chase.  A flurry of attacks began a kilometer later, but the stiff front wind coupled with the high altitude curbed all the moves, keeping 14 riders together, closely eyeing each other. 

At three kilometers to go the pace slowed and Matthew Busche jumped. He quickly opened a gap in what looked to be a promising move, before Tinkoff-Saxo took the reins and chased him down.

Under the red kite signifying one kilometer to go Tinkoff pulled off, and there was a moment of awkward hesitation before Tejay van Garderen (BMC) launched and powered to the line to seal the win and with it the yellow leader’s jersey. Even though Rafal Majka (Tinkoff Saxo) grabbed van Garderen’s wheel he was unable to muster the strength to come around and settled for second.

“It was a hard race and I did my best to follow the attacks on the climb," Busche said. "There was a big lull with three kilometers to go and I tried to go. I had a gap and I did not know what was happening behind me but when they came by Tinkoff-Saxo was pulling full gas, and they pulled hard all the way to 1km to go. I tried to get on when they came by, but was unable to stay with the group. Maybe in hindsight I could have tried to dig a little deeper – but really I gave it everything.”

Busche crossed the line in 8th place (+45”), and although he slipped to 6th in the overall (+46”) he was pleased with his fight after feeling less than stellar on the first climb.

“I basically went all-in; sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t," he said. "I am happy that at least I tried, but I am disappointed that I lost a bit of time at the end. But it is better to go down fighting than to go down not trying.

"It’s not over; there is still a long race to go. Some riders can still crack, and I can have a good time trial - lots can still happen.”

Riccardo Zoidl finished in 13th place and Fränk Schleck in 16th, which also bumped both riders into the top 20 GC.

The race continues in Colorado Springs tomorrow with a tough circuit race. It will be a chance for opportunists to take center stage as the GC contenders take a step back and wait for the next big test in the Vail time trial on Saturday.