Tour of Utah 2016 – Stage 3 [FULL STAGE]

August 03, 2016
Tour of Utah 2016 – Stage 3 – Richfield – Payson – 191,5 km

The Tour of Utah, officially the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, is an annual multiday road cycling race; traversing the states of Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming. Since the 2011 edition, the tour holds UCI classification (2.1). Between five and six UCI ProTeams compete annually. Due to its altitude, distance, and weather conditions, the tour is nicknamed: “America’s Toughest Stage Race”. In 2010, only 71 of the initial 140 riders finished. After receiving 2.1 status in 2011, a stronger field participated; 88 of the initial 120 competitors finished. In September 2014, it was announced that the race was promoted to 2.HC status.

Lachlan Morton (Jelly Belly-Maxxis) took the stage 3 win at the Larry. H. Miller Tour of Utah Wednesday on the same course where he claimed his first pro win in 2013. Just as he did in his previous win here, the 24-year-old Australian claimed the overall lead for his efforts.

Morton escaped on the only climb of the day up Mt. Nebo and was quickly joined by Andrew Talansky (Cannondale-Drapac) and Adrien Costa (Axeon Hagens Berman). The trio put several minutes into the yellow jersey group of overnight leader Robin Carpenter (Holowesko-Citadel) over the top of the climb and then extended it during 40km descent to the finish.

Morton jumped away from Talansky and Costa inside 2km to go and opened up a slight gap that he as able to hold to the line. Costa crossed the line next, followed by Talansky to round out he top three.

“I felt pretty good, and when it’s a small group like that if you hit them hard enough they hesitate for a second and you’ve got a small gap, and then that can be it,” Morton said of his decision to attack in the finale. “It was also the only time in the last 30km that we didn’t have a headwind, so you’ve got to take advantage of that. If I had left it to a sprint, it usually doesn’t end up very well for me.”

Morton now leads Costa in the overall by seven seconds and Talansky by nine. Atapuma is fourth overall, 1:32 down. Costa now holds the mountains classification and is the race’s best young rider.

How it unfolded

The 192km stage 3 route from Richfield to Payson featured two intermediate sprints and one major obstacle, the category 1 climb up and over Mt. Nebo, which topped out at nearly 3,000 metres of elevation. The climb came after 131km of flat roads, with a cross tailwind helping the riders along for most the day.

A breakaway group formed almost immediately after the short neutral section leaving town, with Simon Pellaud (IAM Cycling), Krists Nielands (Axeon Hagens Berman), Andre Krasilnikau (Holowesko-Citadel), Stephen Bassett (Team Jamis) and Ben Perry (Silber Pro Cycling) snapping the elastic within the first few kilomteres. Rally Cycling’s Tom Zirbel was the last rider to make the group after bridging a small gap.

The group of six built an ultimate advantage of 4:10 before a chase from Cannondale-Drapac, UnitedHealthcare and BMC Racing started steadily bringing the gap down.

The leaders’ advantage was down to 2:15 when they reached the second intermediate sprint at Fountain Green with 75km to go. Pellaud and Krasilnikau used the sprint to launch themselves away from the rest of the escapees, setting off on their own as they left the small town.

The leaders extended their advantage after the sprint line, and they made the right turn onto the Mt. Nebo climb with a gap of three minutes. Krasilinkau quickly fell off the pace on the climb, leaving Pellaud to struggle on alone. The IAM Cycling rider soon succumbed to the climb and the chase behind, and the peloton hit reset for the remainder of the ascent.

Morton attacked first from the group, followed by Talansky, who quickly latched onto the wheel of his former teammate. Costa attacked the group next, bridging up to the leaders to form a new lead group of three.

“When I saw [Morton] go early I kind of figured that he knew what he as doing, considering that he had done a very similar move three years ago,” Costa said of his strategy on the climb. “I just told myself not to panic, just ride my own tempo. I was kind of keying off the BMC train, because Atapuma showed that he’s one of the best climbers in the world.”

When Costa decided to put more pressure n the pedals, Atapuma was unable to follow and he found himself in no-man’s land moving forward to the lead duo.

“I was really surprised to see Atapuma couldn’t follow, and that gave me the extra motivation I needed to finish closing the gap,” he said.

Five kilometres from the summit the lead trio had an advantage of 40 seconds over BMC’s Darwin Atapuma and Rally Cycling’s Rob Britton. BMC’s Joey Rosskopf and TJ Eisenhart formed the next group on the road, 1:25 behind, while the yellow jersey group of Robin Carpenter was 2:45 down.

Costa took maximum points at the KOM ahead of Talansky and Morton, and the trio started the long descent into Payson together with a lead of one minute over Atapuma and Britton. The leaders opened up their gap to more than a minute on the descent, and it became clear that the stage winner and possible new race leader would come from the group.

In the chase behind, Eisenhart and Rosskopf linked up with Atapuma and Britton, and the four-rider group came in together.

Results :
1 Lachlan David Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 4:24:49
2 Adrien Costa (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:00:03
3 Andrew Talansky (USA) Cannondale-Drapac
4 Joseph Rosskopf (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:01:22
5 Rob Britton (Can) Rally Cycling
6 Darwin Atapuma (Col) BMC Racing Team
7 Taylor Eisenhart (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:01:24
8 Kiel Reijnen (USA) Trek-Segafredo 0:03:57
9 Robin Carpenter (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
10 Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
11 Neilson Powless (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
12 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
13 Manuel Senni (Ita) BMC Racing Team
14 Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Axeon Hagens Berman
15 Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek-Segafredo
16 Peter Stetina (USA) Trek-Segafredo
17 Matthew Busche (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
18 Robbie Squire (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
19 Joe Dombrowski (USA) Cannondale-Drapac
20 Logan Owen (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:05:57
21 Lawrence Warbasse (USA) IAM Cycling
22 Emerson Oronte (USA) Rally Cycling
23 Eddie Dunbar (Irl) Axeon Hagens Berman
24 Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek-Segafredo
25 Julien Loubet (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
26 Chad Beyer (USA) Lupus Racing Team
27 Nicolae Tanovitchii (Mda) Lupus Racing Team
28 Christopher Horner (USA) Lupus Racing Team
29 Angus Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
30 Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing Team
31 Alex Howes (USA) Cannondale-Drapac
32 Hayden Mccormick (NZl) ONE Pro Cycling 0:09:43
33 Benjamin King (USA) Cannondale-Drapac
34 Joseph Chavarria (CRc) Lupus Racing Team
35 Riccardo Zoidl (Aut) Trek-Segafredo
36 Jacopo Mosca (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
37 Elie Gesbert (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
38 Evan Huffman (USA) Rally Cycling
39 David Drouin (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 0:13:41
40 Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col) Team Jamis
41 Alessandro Bisolti (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
42 Simon Pellaud (Swi) IAM Cycling
43 Kevin Ledanois (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept 0:18:09
44 Daniel Jaramillo (Col) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
45 Marco Canola (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
46 Ruben Companioni (Cub) Team Jamis
47 Jean-Marc Bideau (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
48 Brayan Stiven Sanchez Vergara (Col) Team Jamis
49 Alexander Cataford (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
50 Jonathan Fumeaux (Swi) IAM Cycling
51 Alexandr Braico (Mda) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
52 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
53 Taylor Sheldon (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
54 Alberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac 0:22:59
55 Eugenio Alafaci (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
56 Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing Team
57 David Gaona Vazquez (Mex) Nippo – Vini Fantini
58 Fabian Lienhard (Swi) BMC Racing Team
59 Daniel Eaton (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
60 Ulises Alfredo Castillo Soto (Mex) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
61 Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Team Jamis
62 Benjamin Perry (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
63 Matteo Dal-Cin (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
64 Dion Smith (NZl) ONE Pro Cycling
65 Andrei Krasilnikau (Blr) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
66 Stephen Bassett (USA) Team Jamis
67 Steven Tronet (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
68 Bryan Lewis (USA) Lupus Racing Team
69 Joshua Berry (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
70 Nicolas Masbourian (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
71 Tom Bohli (Swi) BMC Racing Team
72 Marcel Aregger (Swi) IAM Cycling
73 Francis Mourey (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
74 Jordan Cheyne (Can) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
75 Keijzer Gerd De (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk
76 Nicola Bagioli (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
77 Travis McCabe (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
78 Luis Romero Amaran (Cub) Team Jamis
79 Iuri Filosi (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
80 Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
81 Phillip Gaimon (USA) Cannondale-Drapac
82 Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
83 Eric Marcotte (USA) Team Jamis
84 Matthieu Jeannes (Fra) Lupus Racing Team
85 Stephen Clancy (Irl) Team Novo Nordisk
86 Frederic Brun (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
87 Danny Pate (USA) Rally Cycling
88 Pierrick Naud (Can) Rally Cycling
89 Adam De Vos (Can) Rally Cycling
90 Eric Young (USA) Rally Cycling
91 Andzs Flaksis (Lat) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
92 Krists Neilands (Lat) Axeon Hagens Berman
93 James Oram (NZl) ONE Pro Cycling
94 Jonathan Dibben (GBr) Cannondale-Drapac
95 Javier Megias (Spa) Team Novo Nordisk
96 Joseph Lewis (Aus) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
97 Ryan Roth (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
98 Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
99 David Tanner (Aus) IAM Cycling
100 John Hornbeck (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
101 Richard Handley (GBr) ONE Pro Cycling
102 Nigel Ellsay (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
103 Kristofer Dahl (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
104 Thomas Vaubourzeix (Fra) Lupus Racing Team
105 Barry Miller (USA) Lupus Racing Team
106 Kyle Murphy (USA) Team Jamis
107 Tanner Putt (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
108 Colin Joyce (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
OTL Tom Zirbel (USA) Rally Cycling 0:32:27
DNF Julian Arredondo (Col) Trek-Segafredo
DNF Gregory Daniel (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman

General classification after stage 3 :
1 Lachlan David Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 11:30:53
2 Adrien Costa (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:00:07
3 Andrew Talansky (USA) Cannondale-Drapac 0:00:09
4 Darwin Atapuma (Col) BMC Racing Team 0:01:32
5 Joseph Rosskopf (USA) BMC Racing Team
6 Rob Britton (Can) Rally Cycling
7 Taylor Eisenhart (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:01:34
8 Robin Carpenter (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team 0:01:44
9 Neilson Powless (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:04:07
10 Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Axeon Hagens Berman
11 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
12 Manuel Senni (Ita) BMC Racing Team
13 Robbie Squire (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
14 Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
15 Kiel Reijnen (USA) Trek-Segafredo
16 Peter Stetina (USA) Trek-Segafredo
17 Joe Dombrowski (USA) Cannondale-Drapac
18 Matthew Busche (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
19 Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek-Segafredo
20 Logan Owen (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:06:07
21 Chad Beyer (USA) Lupus Racing Team
22 Julien Loubet (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
23 Lawrence Warbasse (USA) IAM Cycling
24 Christopher Horner (USA) Lupus Racing Team
25 Eddie Dunbar (Irl) Axeon Hagens Berman
26 Emerson Oronte (USA) Rally Cycling
27 Nicolae Tanovitchii (Mda) Lupus Racing Team
28 Alex Howes (USA) Cannondale-Drapac
29 Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek-Segafredo
30 Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing Team
31 Angus Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
32 Evan Huffman (USA) Rally Cycling 0:09:52
33 Hayden Mccormick (NZl) ONE Pro Cycling 0:09:53
34 Joseph Chavarria (CRc) Lupus Racing Team
35 Riccardo Zoidl (Aut) Trek-Segafredo
36 Benjamin King (USA) Cannondale-Drapac
37 Elie Gesbert (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
38 Jacopo Mosca (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 0:11:13
39 Simon Pellaud (Swi) IAM Cycling 0:13:42
40 Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col) Team Jamis 0:13:51
41 David Drouin (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
42 Alessandro Bisolti (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
43 Ruben Companioni (Cub) Team Jamis 0:16:08
44 Marco Canola (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:18:19
45 Kevin Ledanois (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
46 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
47 Alexander Cataford (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
48 Jonathan Fumeaux (Swi) IAM Cycling
49 Brayan Stiven Sanchez Vergara (Col) Team Jamis
50 Alexandr Braico (Mda) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
51 Jean-Marc Bideau (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
52 Taylor Sheldon (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
53 Daniel Jaramillo (Col) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
54 Kristofer Dahl (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 0:22:58
55 Colin Joyce (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:23:03
56 Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing Team 0:23:05
57 Travis McCabe (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
58 Stephen Bassett (USA) Team Jamis 0:23:06
59 Andrei Krasilnikau (Blr) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team 0:23:07
60 Ulises Alfredo Castillo Soto (Mex) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 0:23:09
61 Dion Smith (NZl) ONE Pro Cycling
62 Pierrick Naud (Can) Rally Cycling
63 David Tanner (Aus) IAM Cycling
64 Alberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac
65 Javier Megias (Spa) Team Novo Nordisk
66 Krists Neilands (Lat) Axeon Hagens Berman
67 Nicola Bagioli (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
68 Iuri Filosi (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
69 Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
70 Tanner Putt (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
71 John Hornbeck (USA) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
72 Frederic Brun (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept
73 Bryan Lewis (USA) Lupus Racing Team
74 Jonathan Dibben (GBr) Cannondale-Drapac
75 James Oram (NZl) ONE Pro Cycling
76 Richard Handley (GBr) ONE Pro Cycling
77 Ryan Roth (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
78 Barry Miller (USA) Lupus Racing Team
79 Luis Romero Amaran (Cub) Team Jamis 0:23:28
80 Eugenio Alafaci (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 0:23:42
81 Marcel Aregger (Swi) IAM Cycling 0:23:54
82 David Gaona Vazquez (Mex) Nippo – Vini Fantini 0:23:55
83 Francis Mourey (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept 0:24:17
84 Thomas Vaubourzeix (Fra) Lupus Racing Team
85 Fabian Lienhard (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:24:22
86 Matthieu Jeannes (Fra) Lupus Racing Team 0:25:13
87 Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:25:37
88 Daniel Eaton (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:26:44
89 Steven Tronet (Fra) Fortuneo – Vital Concept 0:27:47
90 Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
91 Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Team Jamis
92 Eric Marcotte (USA) Team Jamis
93 Tom Bohli (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:28:10
94 Andzs Flaksis (Lat) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team 0:28:17
95 Jordan Cheyne (Can) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 0:28:20
96 Joshua Berry (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 0:28:42
97 Phillip Gaimon (USA) Cannondale-Drapac 0:30:46
98 Nigel Ellsay (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
99 Joseph Lewis (Aus) Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team 0:32:20
100 Matteo Dal-Cin (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 0:33:05
101 Nicolas Masbourian (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 0:33:07
102 Danny Pate (USA) Rally Cycling 0:35:02
103 Benjamin Perry (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 0:38:19
104 Adam De Vos (Can) Rally Cycling 0:42:18
105 Stephen Clancy (Irl) Team Novo Nordisk 0:42:22
106 Eric Young (USA) Rally Cycling 0:44:48
107 Kyle Murphy (USA) Team Jamis 0:45:12
108 Keijzer Gerd De (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk 0:47:56