American Reijnen Redeemed with Stage 5 Win at
2016 Tour of Utah
Overall Lead Retained by Morton on Eve of Queen Stage Battle
Editor’s Note: Complete stage results and overall race standings are available at TourofUtah.com
BOUNTIFUL, Utah (Aug. 5, 2016) – American Kiel Reijnen of Trek-Segafredo climbed on the top step of the podium on Stage 5 presented by Zions Bank at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah. Reijnen accelerated away from a select group of riders to claim a second stage victory in Utah in two years, in a time of four hours and 22 seconds. Tao Geoghegan Hart (Great Britain) was second and American Alex Howes (Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling) was third, both with the same time as Reijnen.
Overall race leader Lachlan Morton (Australia) of Jelly Belly presented by MAXXIS finished 26th on the 115.6-mile stage and retained the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Overall Race Leader jersey. Fourth in Stage 5, Andrew Talansky (USA) of Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling moved up to second place overall, nine seconds down. American Adrien Costa of Axeon Hagens Berman dropped to third place and retained the Subaru Best Young Rider jersey.
“Today was definitely a more emotional win for me,” said Reijnen, who finished second on Stage 4 presented by UnitedHealthcare. He was in contention near the end of Stage 1 presented by Workers Compensation Fund, but suffered a late mechanical that took him out of the sprint finish. “I didn’t really believe in myself for the first 150k (kilometers) today, but the team did. Once we hit the circuits and got to the first climb, I felt my legs. I felt I had a good chance of winning if the break came back. Big thanks to my team for believing in me.”
Stage 5 presented by Zions Bank started at Antelope Island State Park, which sits on the largest island in the Great Salt Lake. A break of 11 riders escaped early in the stage, as the riders looped around part of the island before crossing the seven-mile causeway to the mainland. Working well together, the escapees extended their lead to a maximum of five minutes. Challenges included two Utah Sports Commission Sprint lines in Hooper and Eden, two Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain climbs at North Ogden Divide and Trappers Loop.
Reijnen, Geoghegan Hart and Howes were part of a select group of 30 riders that chased down the last remaining riders of the break on the nine-mile circuits in Bountiful. Attacks flew as the riders sped around the technical loop which was lined with 4,000 American flags, distributed by the Boy Scouts of America. Ultimately, Reijnen was able to overtake a sprinting Geoghegan Hart in the final meters for the victory.
“I knew this was super technical circuit. If you make it over the climb, you can catch a breather,” Reijnen said of the finishing loop. “I did not want to take any risks and went straight to the front on the descent to make sure I wasn’t behind anyone. It does make it exciting for the fans.”
This is the third runner-up finish for the Axeon Hagens Berman squad this week in Utah. “Our team has been very attentive,” Geoghegan Hart said. “We have been in the breaks we needed to be in. We covered moves. Unfortunately, it did not go our way today.”
For the Utah riders in the race, Taylor “T.J.” Eisenhart of the BMC Racing Team remained seventh overall on General Classification and Robbie Squire of Holowesko | Citadel Racing Team presented by Hincapie Sportswear jumped two spots to 13th. Tanner Putt of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team is 83rd on G.C.
Julien Bernard (France) of Trek-Segafredo attacked the break on the first of two ascents of the Bountiful Bench above the finish line city. His efforts were awarded later with the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Most Aggressive Rider jersey. Stage 5 winner Reijnen (USA) of Trek-Segafredo took over the Utah Sports Commission Sprint jersey. Daniel Jaramillo Diez (Colombia) of UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team moved into the Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain jersey. Defending champion Joe Dombrowski (USA) of Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling was voted America First Credit Union Fan Favorite in the Tour of Utah Legends category.
The “Queen Stage” of the Tour of Utah returns for Stage 6 presented by University of Utah Health Care. This epic journey starts at Snowbasin Resort, northeast of Ogden in Weber County. After covering 114 miles (183.4 km) and 11,165 feet of climbing, the race will finish at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort for a record ninth consecutive year. From the Snowbasin Resort, the course rolls through scenic ranch land in the Morgan Valley and through Brown’s Canyon, with Utah Sports Commission Sprint lines in Wanship and Park City. The showdown for the true climbers will begin with an 11-percent gradient, Category 1 climb across Guardsman Pass, high above Park City. This is followed by a 14-mile descent through Big Cottonwood Canyon. The race concludes with the legendary six-mile Hors Category climb of Little Cottonwood Canyon, passing throngs of fans along Tanners Flat for the finish at Snowbird Resort.
Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah Award Jerseys
Larry H. Miller Group of Companies Overall Leader jersey – Lachlan Morton (AUS), Jelly Belly presented by MAXXIS
Utah Sports Commission Sprint jersey - Kiel Reijnen (USA), Trek-Segafredo
Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain jersey - Daniel Alexander Jaramillo Diez (COL), UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
Subaru Best Young Rider jersey – Adrien Costa (USA), Axeon Hagens Berman
Larry H. Miller Dealerships Most Aggressive Rider jersey – Julien Bernard (FRA), Trek-Segafredo
America First Credit Union Fan Favorite jersey – Joe Dombrowski (USA), Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling
Results and Standings
www.tourofutah.com/race/results
Stage 5 presented by Zions Bank - Top 10
General Classification (After Stage 5) - Top 10
The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah continues to be free to all spectators. It is the first internationally-sanctioned cycling competition in North America following the Tour de France. More information about the Tour of Utah, the host venues and the teams can be found by visiting www.tourofutah.com, as well as social channels Facebook (tourofutah), Twitter (@tourofutah, #TOU16), Instagram (thetourofutah), and YouTube (tourofutah).
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Talansky Wins “Queen Stage” for Overall Lead at
2016 Tour of Utah
Showdown of Climbers Expected Sunday for Grand Finale in Park City
Editor’s Note: Complete stage results and overall race standings are available at TourofUtah.com
SNOWBIRD, Utah (Aug. 6, 2016) – American Andrew Talansky of Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling made his move on the signature climb to Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort to win Stage 6 presented by University of Utah Health Care. In the process, Talansky leaped to the top of the overall standings and into the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies Race Leader yellow jersey.
Talansky surged ahead of Colombian Darwin Atapuma of BMC Racing Team at the line to claim the 114-mile stage win in a time of four hours and 47 minutes. He and Atapuma attacked in the final kilometers of the legendary climb of Little Cottonwood Canyon and battled it out to the finish line at Snowbird Resort.
Another battle brewed behind for third place between general classification (G.C.) contenders Adrien Costa (USA) of Axeon Hagens Berman and Lachlan Morton (Australia) of Jelly Belly presented by MAXXIS. Costa out-kicked Morton for third and retained the Subaru Best Young Rider jersey. Both riders finished 31 seconds behind Talansky.
Morton, who wore the yellow race leader’s jersey on Stages 4 and 5, dropped to second place in the G.C., now 22 seconds behind Talansky. Costa remained in third place, at 56 seconds back. Atapuma and Canadian Rob Britton of Rally Cycling each moved up one spot for fourth place and fifth place overall, respectively. Defending champion Joe Dombrowski (USA) of Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling moved up six spots to ninth on G.C.
“It is a great feeling to win again. To win the stage is really special. Sitting here in yellow is great, but we have another day of racing,” said Talansky, who waited until his main competitor, Morton, was isolated to attack on the six-mile climb to Snowbird Resort. “At the end of the day, we thought the best way was to go head to head with Lachlan. Then whoever had the better day would win. I didn't know how Lachlan would be or how he would respond. This would just be one-on-one.”
The Tour of Utah’s “Queen Stage” lived up to its reputation as one of cycling’s most demanding days in the saddle, with 11,165 feet of climbing, and two legendary Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain climbs. The early 13-rider break battled it out for the two Utah Sports Commission Sprint lines in Wanship and Park City. The 11-percent gradient, Category 1 climb across Guardsman Pass high above Park City decimated both the break and the peloton. After the 14-mile descent through Big Cottonwood Canyon, there were just 30 riders left to chase down the four-man break, who had a one-minute lead with six miles (10 km) to go.
American Ben King of Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling, the last rider of the break to be reeled in, was awarded the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Most Aggressive Rider jersey. Kiel Reijnen (USA) of Trek-Segafredo retained the Utah Sports Commission Sprint jersey.
For the Utah riders in the race, Taylor “T.J.” Eisenhart of the BMC Racing Team remained seventh overall on G.C. and Robbie Squire of Holowesko | Citadel Racing Team presented by Hincapie Sportswear jumped five spots to eighth. Tanner Putt of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team is 74th on G.C. Eisenhart was voted the America First Credit Union Fan Favorite in the Most Promising Rookie category. Costa took back the Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain jersey.
Stage 7 presented by Utah Sports Commission uses the same course that became a classic in 2013, with Park City hosting the Tour for an eighth time. The Sunday finale on Aug. 7 covers 78 miles (125.5 km) with a new start and finish on Upper Main Street in Park City. Spectators can see a flash of the peloton in Kamas and Midway for Utah Sports Commission Sprint lines. Stage 7 has 7,883 feet of climbing, including one of the toughest climbs in the world at Empire Pass, the second of two Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain climbs of the day. This six-mile section of rough pavement through the Aspen trees has a gradient that averages 10 percent, with pitches greater than 20 percent. At the bottom of a technical descent into Park City, the racers will navigate a quick lap using Main Street, 9th Street, Park Avenue and Heber Avenue in downtown Park City for a final grinding climb to the top of Main Street.
Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah Award Jerseys
Larry H. Miller Group of Companies Overall Leader jersey – Andrew Talansky (USA), Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling
Utah Sports Commission Sprint jersey - Kiel Reijnen (USA), Trek-Segafredo
Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain jersey - Adrien Costa (USA), Axeon Hagens Berman
Subaru Best Young Rider jersey – Adrien Costa (USA), Axeon Hagens Berman
Larry H. Miller Dealerships Most Aggressive Rider jersey – Ben King (USA), Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling
America First Credit Union Fan Favorite jersey – Taylor Eisenhart (USA), BMC Racing Team
Results and Standings
www.tourofutah.com/race/results
Stage 6 presented by University of Utah - Top 10
General Classification (After Stage 6) - Top 10
The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah continues to be free to all spectators. It is the first internationally-sanctioned cycling competition in North America following the Tour de France. More information about the Tour of Utah, the host venues and the teams can be found by visiting www.tourofutah.com, as well as social channels Facebook (tourofutah), Twitter (@tourofutah, #TOU16), Instagram (thetourofutah), and YouTube (tourofutah).
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About the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah
The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, referred to as "America's Toughest Stage RaceTM," is a week-long, professional cycling stage race for the best men’s teams in the world. The 2016 event will be held Aug. 1-7. Now in its 12th year, the event was elevated in 2015 as a 2.HC-rated UCI stage race, making it one of the premier events in North America. The 2016 Tour of Utah will cover 705 miles of racing and 52,825 feet of climbing. The 2015 Tour of Utah men’s champion was Joe Dombrowski (USA) of Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team. The Tour of Utah is owned by Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment. More information about the Tour of Utah, host venues and professional teams can be found by visiting www.tourofutah.com, as well as social channels Facebook (tourofutah), Twitter (tourofutah), Instagram (thetourofutah) and YouTube (tourofutah).
Photo Credit
Jonathan Devich, EpicImages.us
Media Contact
Jackie Tyson, Media Relations Manager, Tour of Utah
TourofUtahPR@pelotonsports.net, 678-362-6228
