Cycling often is played out as a game of cat and mouse. One rider or team makes a move, and the others must decide how to respond.

In the first two days of the USA Pro Challenge, attacks have been the norm. The responses haven’t necessarily been quick but — once unleashed — they’ve been powerful.

On Monday during Stage 1 from Durango to Telluride, Tom Danielson and Peter Stetina of Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda pushed the envelope. On Tuesday, that work was done by the Colombian team EPM-UNE.

“They’re always attacking,” race leader Tejay Van Garderen said. “Sometimes they can kind of break the normal flow of the race and make it unpredictable, and it adds another element to the bike race.”

Rafael Infantino Abreu received the most aggressive rider jersey for his effort in the breakaway group, particularly on a pair of ascents between Montrose to Gunnison.

The Colombians are known for their climbing, and this race’s frequent trips to high elevation aren’t a big concern.

“They’re really good at altitude,” Van Garderen said. “They all live at altitude, and they’re really adapted. It’s definitely going to be hard to keep them under control.”

Still king of the mountainDanielson retained the king of the mountains jersey even if he wasn’t exactly thrilled with the climbing in Stage 2.

“I always suffer on this climb (to Mount Crested Butte) so I’m happy to have it past me and move on to the parts of the race I like the most,” he said.

His teammate, Stage 1 winner Tyler Farrar, kept the sprint jersey. American Joseph Lloyd Drombowski of the Bontrager Livestrong Team was awarded the best young rider jersey.

Voigt renews deal with RadioShackFan favorite Jens Voigt will be riding with RadioShack Nissan Trek through the end of 2013 after renewing his contract this week.

The 40-year-old from Germany said he had good offers from two other teams but elected to stick with RadioShack.

“I really wanted to ride for one more year, and I’m convinced this is the right decision for me,” he said.

Voigt began racing as a pro in 1997 and has recorded three stage victories in the Tour de France. In 2007, he was runner-up to American Levi Leipheimer in the Amgen Tour of California. With a wealth of experience, Voigt believes he can be an asset to his younger teammates. Plus, he’s not ready to be a recreational rider.

“Retirement?” Voigt deadpanned. “That’s not in my vocabulary, sorry.”

Seen and heardMore than two hours before the start of Stage 2 in Montrose, hundreds of amateur cyclists were littered along Highway 50, climbing to the top of Cerro Summit to claim a vantage point for the first king of the mountains points line of the stage….A banner reading “We support pedal power” was stretched between a pair of trucks from Gunnison County Electric Association Inc., as the race entered Gunnison….Former Gov. Bill Ritter, who helped bring the event to the state, was decked out in Colorado-themed cycling gear at the finish….Cowbells seemingly by the hundreds welcomed the riders to Mount Crested Butte.