Young Wins Stage 5 of 2014 Tour of Utah; Danielson Retains Overall Lead; Report, Results, Photos

By Jared Eborn

KAMAS, Utah (August 8, 2014) – The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah reached new heights during Stage 5 presented by Subaru. In the end, however, it was raw horsepower that proved to be the difference maker.

(For a full photo gallery, see https://www.cyclingwest.com/racing/road-racing/2014-tour-utah-stage-5-photo-gallery-cottonsoxphotography-com/ )

Eric Young (USA), Optum presented by Kelley Benefit Strategies surged past the field in Kamas to cap off a fast 101.4 miles which started in Evanston, Wyoming – the first time the Tour of Utah visited roads outside the Beehive State.

“It’s totally unbelievable for me personally and for the team as well,” Young said after covering the 101.3 mile course in just three hours, 49 minutes and 29 seconds. “It’s really nice. We brought some sprinters here and we wouldn’t be happy without a stage win. So to come away with this, we’re pretty happy.”

Jure Kocjan (SLO) of Team SmartStop p/b CyLance retained his Utah Sports Commission spring leader’s jersey by finishing second in Stage 5. UnitedHealthcare’s Kiel Reijnan was third.

Tom Danielson (USA) is still the overall race leader. The Garmin-Sharp leader finished safely in the bunch to not lose any time on his general classification competition.

After climbing the highest peak in Tour of Utah history, the 10,759-foot summit atop Bald Mountain Pass, the peloton began a long, fast descent to the Kamas Valley. This set the stage for a final 24.1 mile loop through the valley and the finish in downtown Kamas.

Young’s Optum team spent a lot of time on the front of the peloton to bring back a strong six-man breakaway that included pro tour favorites Jens Voigt (GER) of Trek Factory Racing and Brent Bookwalter (USA) of BMC Racing Team. The breakaway was caught shortly after exiting the tricky Democrat Alley dirt-road section a few miles away from the finish line.

Utah rider’s had an active day as Jeff Louder (UHC) was named the Most Aggressive Rider after spending most of the day in the breakway. Tanner Putt had a long solo attempt to bridge a long gap but was reeled back in but still finished strongly with a 12^th place result for Bissell Development. Robbie Squire, Jamis-Hagens Berman, finished 30^th. Chris Putt (Bissell) also rolled in with the peloton in 33^rd.

“It’s always a treat to get to race at home in front of my family and on my home roads. There’s no reason to leave anything in the tank,” Louder said.  “There is definitely a home court advantage. Even on the stage today I could sit up and take a break and know when I could catch back on because I knew what was coming up.”

Louder said the long day in the breakaway was fun, but unfortunately wasn’t meant to be.

“I was willing myself to the line. The other five guys were really strong. I was a little surprised to get the jersey because the other guys were so strong,” he said. “We just didn’t have the horsepower to hold them off.”

Danielson said the pressure of defending his Tour of Utah title is beginning to mount.

“It’s been a lot different from day number one,” he said. “Having the number one on your jersey and admitting you have really good form really puts a lot of pressure on your team.”

Garmin-Sharp’s ability to handle that pressure will be put to test on Saturday’s Stage 6 presented by University of Utah Health Care.

The 2014 Tour of Utah “Queen Stage” not only covers new territory on the 107.2-mile route, but has added even more climbing this year. Close to 13,000 feet of elevation gain and four KOMs will make Stage 6 a true challenge. Salt Lake City will host the start for Stage 6 outside Rice-Eccles Stadium, the site of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and home for University of Utah football games. Riders will begin climbing almost immediately with the gradual ascent up Emigration Canyon, followed by the tougher climb on Big Mountain. The race will travel through rural Morgan and Summit counties before reaching the resort town of Park City and making the arduous ascent over Guardsman Pass, with an 11-percent gradient. Following a 14-mile descent through Big Cottonwood Canyon, the route concludes with the legendary six-mile climb into Little Cottonwood Canyon for the finish at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort.

Emigration Canyon eastbound in Salt Lake City will have a rolling closure from about 10:55 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Little Cottonwood Canyon, Highway 201, will close to motor vehicles for the race at 1:30 p.m.

Tour of Utah Award Jerseys

Larry H. Miller Dealerships Leader’s Jersey – Tom Danielson (USA), Garmin-Sharp

Utah Sports Commission Sprint Leader Jersey – Jure Kocjan (SLO), Team SmartStop p/b CyLance

Ski Utah King of the Mountain Leader Jersey – Robin Carpenter (USA), Hincapie Sportswear Development

Subaru Best Young Rider Jersey – Clement Chevrier (FRA), Trek Factory Racing

Vivint Most Aggressive Rider Jersey – Jeff Louder (USA), United HealthCare

America First Credit Union Fan Favorite Jersey – Dion Smith (NZL), Hincapie Sportswear Development

Washakie Renewable Energy Best Team – Lampre-Merida

Stage 4 presented by Workers Compensation Fund Top 10

1. YOUNG Eric (USA), OPTUM P/B KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES 3.49’29”

2. KOCJAN Jure (SLO), TEAM SMARTSTOP –

3. REIJNEN Kiel (USA), UNITEDHEALTHCARE PRO CYCLING TEAM –

4. WAGNER Robert (GER), BELKIN-PRO CYCLING TEAM –

5. ZABEL Rick (GER), BMC RACING TEAM –

6. 24 BEL 19860608HERMANS Ben BMC RACING TEAM –

7. SMITH Dion (NZL), HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR DEVELOPMENT TEAM –

8. KIRSCH Alex (LUX), TREK FACTORY RACING –

9. TVETCOV Serghei (ROU), JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS –

10. MARANGONI Alan (ITA), CANNONDALE –

2014 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah overall leaders as of August 7

1. DANIELSON Thomas TEAM GARMIN-SHARP 22.32’22”

2. HORNER Christopher LAMPRE-MERIDA +57″

3. HERMANS Ben (BEL), BMC RACING TEAM –

4. ANACONA GOMEZ Winner (COL), LAMPRE-MERIDA + 1’47”

5. KELDERMAN Wilco (NED), BELKIN-PRO CYCLING TEAM + 2’07”

6. DINIZ CORREIA Alex (BRA), FUNVIC BRASILINVEST-SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS –

7. BENNETT George (NZL), CANNONDALE + 2’26”

8. JONES Carter  (USA),OPTUM P/B KELLY BENEFITSTRATEGIES + 2’31”

9. EVANS Cadel (AUS), BMC RACING TEAM + 2’43”

10. NORRIS Lachlan (AUS), DRAPAC PROFESSIONAL CYCLING +2’51”

 Complete Results