Truckee, CA - Karl Menzies of the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis left behind his two breakaway companions coming out of the final turn to win the Downtown Truckee Criterium, the second stage of the Tour de Nez, Thursday evening.

Menzies, Andrew Bajadali (Jelly Belly) and Tony Cruz (Toyota-United) went off the front of a crash-splintered peloton about half-way through the 60-minute race after Menzies followed an attack by Bajadali.

The trio quickly opened up an eight-second lead. And with the three main teams in the race represented, the remaining group of 30 couldn't - or wouldn't - organize a serious chase and the gap expanded.

Despite having raced nearly non-stop since late April, Menzies showed why he earned the nickname "Ten" Menzies by repeatedly accelerating and riding his companions off his wheel.

When it came down to the final lap, Menzies got on the front, came through the final corner in that position and never let go. Cruz finished second and Bajadali third.

Combined with his 6th place finish in the opening TT, Menzies took over the red leader's jersey with 72 points. Cruz's third place finish in the morning time trial helped to put him in second overall behind Menzies with 67 points.

The Tour de Nez continues today with a grueling 173 km road race that features over 10,000 feet of climbing through the Sierra Nevada range around Tahoe City. The thin air at altitude and abundance of climbing favors Scott Moninger of Health Net Presented by Maxxis, who won this stage last year en route to winning the overall of the Tour de Nez.

Notes

The Tour de Nez is raced as an omnium, awarding points for each stage. The rider with the most accumulated points over the four stages wins the overall title.