Tour of Utah 2017 – Stage 7 [FULL STAGE]

August 06, 2017

Tour of Utah 2017 – Stage 7 – Salt Lake City – Salt Lake City : 115 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.

Marco Canola gave Nippo-Vini Fantini its first stage win of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah with a beautifully timed acceleration on the uphill finish of the race’s final stage in Salt Lake City.

The Italian burst out of the peloton in the final 300m to take the victory – his first on US soil – over Brent Bookwalter (BMC), who won the sprint for second over Gavin Mannion (UnitedHealthcare).

Rob Britton (Rally Cycling), having led the race since the time trial on stage 3, held on to the attack-riddled chaotic stage to claim his first Tour of Utah overall victory. His final margin was 26 seconds on Mannion, with Jelly Belly’s Serghei Tvetcov in third at 35.

Canola’s burst of speed left everyone behind, including sprint leader Travis McCabe (UnitedHealthcare), who couldn’t hold his wheel throughout he final corner.

“I had legs. I knew that, so I just tried to stay in the bunch and my teammates covered the attacks,” Canola said. “Everything went good in the end. It was also the perfect finish for my power. Because I am really good in the uphill finish. It was our goal to take the win today, and everything went good.

“In the last kilometre we were all together, so it was really the legs to see who was the winner,” he said. “I’m really, really happy because we arrived in Salt Lake City and it was one of my favourite stages when I started the Tour of Utah before. In the end, we are so proud of our job. Now we go to Colorado to take another good results. It’s really important for Nippo-Vini Fantini.”

Britton, 32, registered the biggest win of is career after a long week of first earning the jersey and then defending it through four difficult stages. The soft-spoken Canadian thanked his team for the opportunity to take the win in the 2.HC race after several years of knocking on the door.

“By and large this group of guys has been together for every race more or less this year,” he said. “We changed one guy for this race out of the eight. Otherwise I’ve raced with the same seven guys this year. So we know each other really well. We’ve all ridden for each other at some point or another all year.

“So we’re very, very tight knit. I have a lot of confidence in them, and they have a lt of confidence in me. I’ve been doing this for awhile, and I know that there’s a lot of pressure that comes with that, but it’s something that I kind of thrive on. I’m just very grateful to have such a fantastic team, because without them I wouldn’t be where I am.”

How it unfolded

The final circuit race in downtown Salt Lake City took the peloton past the Utah state capitol over 11 laps of a 10.8-kilometre course that included a punchy climb through the start/finish.

Racing was fast from the start, and a group of 17 riders formed off the front in the opening laps.

Among the escapees were Gus Morton (Jelly Belly-Maxxis), Joey Rosskopf (BMC Racing), Manuel Senni (BMC Racing), Daniel Jaramillo (UnitedHealthcare), Lorenzo Rota and Simone Sterbini (Bardiani CSF), Ivan Santamorita (Nippo-Vini Fantini), Damiano Cima (Nippo-Vini Fantini), Kyle Murphy (Cylance), Eder Frayre (Elevate-KHS), Erik Slack (Hangar 15), Francisco Mancebo (Hangar 15), Chad Beyer (Hangar 15), Marco Bernardinetti (Amore & Vita), William Barta (Axeon Hagens Berman), Oscar Clark (Holowesko-Citadel), Stephen Bassett (Silber Pro Cycling) and Nigel Ellsay (Silber Pro Cycling).

The leaders had a gap of 1:05 when they went through the start-finish with eight laps to go, and with no threats to the general classification in the move, the leash continued to go out. A crash with 80km to go split the field, but things were back together quickly

Rosskopf supplied a lot of the power for the breakaway, while Israel Cycling Academy sent riders to the front of the group to keep the break in check. With the gap hovering at about a minute, the temptation to bridge to the group was high, but as the leaders went through the start/finish with six to go there numbers were down to just 16 riders and the makeup had changed. Following close behind were several small groups trying to bridge.

In the newly formed group past the start/finish were were Antonio Molina (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), who was just 4:39 down, Travis McCabe (UnitedHealthcare, Silvan Dillier (BMC), Rosskopf, Senni, Kyle Murphy (Cylance), Jaramillo, Rota, Sterbini, Mihkel Raim (Cycling Academy), Santomorita, Cima, Barta, Jhonatan Narvaez (Axeon Hagens Berman), Frayer, Beyer, Mancebo, Slack, Clark and Bassett.

The yellow jersey group with race leader Britton and the other GC contenders dangled just 1:05 behind, with Rally taking up the chase and holding the gap in check.

Slack dropped from the lead group, but his Hangar 15 teammates hot the front and pressed the pace, dislodging Barta from the group, which was down to 20 with four laps to go.

A split in the break left Clark, Rosskopf, Senni, Sterbini and Santomorita in front, but that group quickly dissolved as Sterbini attacked again and only Senni could follow this time. Meanwhile, in the chase, the gap to the peloton was just 45 seconds.

Sterbini and Senni continued on in front with a 25-second gap to the remnants of the break, and 55 seconds to the field. The chasers lost their impetus on the fast, hilly course, however, and the field was quickly upon them. In front, Murphy and Molina were the only previous breakaway riders to bridge to the leaders, forming a new group of four up front.

Four riders rode into no-man’s land, but the peloton was encroaching at just 40 seconds behind the leaders. Jaramillo, Mancebo and Rota joined James Piccoli (Elevate-KHS) in the chase, and they slowly worked their way back up the leaders with just over two laps to go.

The peloton was breathing down the break’s neck as the leaders went through the start/finish with two to go, and Murphy set off on a solo flyer. He was soon joined by a handful of riders, including Jaramillo, Senni, Rota, Manuel Sola Arjona (Caja Rural), Redi Halilaj (Amore & Vita) and Janier Acevedo (UnitedHealthcare).

The new lead group quickly built a 30-second gap to the field with just over one lap to go, but Halilaj wasn’t happy with the status quo and jumped away. Murphy bridged up, and the two leaders set off with their former breakaway companion in hot pursuit

As the field was about to catch the chase, Halilaj attacked Murphy and dropped the Cylance rider. As Halilaj, Murphy and Acevedo went through the finish separated by seconds, the field was just 30 seconds behind and champing at the bit for the finale.

Senni bridged across as they crossed the line, joining Murphy in chasing down the Albanian ahead. The BMC rider managed to get to him with 7.5km to go but the peloton had all of the escapees in sight. Murphy was finally caught over the top of the climb with 5km to go, but Senni and Halilaj, the latter riding in an enormous gear, persisted.

Caja Rural-Seguros RGA hammered the breakaway back, but Senni refusing to give up kept attacking, drawing out three riders – two from the Spanish team and Halilaj. The four riders had 10 seconds with 3km to go, but the peloton swept past as the lead-out trains assembled with 2km left to race.

Israel Cycling Academy and Holowesko-Citadel kept the pace high, but it was Axeon Hagens Berman who drove the pace into the base of the final climb.

Britton stayed safely near the front but Benito (Caja Rural) opened a gap which Canola wisely followed. Canola succeeded and gave Vini fantini its sole success of the race.

Results :
1 Marco Canola (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 2:40:18
2 Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:00:02
3 Gavin Mannion (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
4 Patrick Müller (SWI) BMC Racing Team
5 Simone Andreetta (Ita) Bardiani CSF
6 Robert Britton (Can) Rally Cycling
7 Travis McCabe (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
8 Martin Elmiger (Swi) BMC Racing Team
9 Taylor Eisenhart (USA) Holowesko / Citadel Racing p/b Hincapie Sportswear
10 Neilson Powless (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
11 Sepp Kuss (USA) Rally Cycling
12 Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Bardiani CSF
13 Serghei Tvetcov (Rom) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
14 Miguel Benito (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:00:11
15 Jhonnatan Manuel Navaez Prado (Ecu) Axeon Hagens Berman
16 Robert Squire (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles
17 Pierpaolo Ficara (Ita) Amore & Vita – Selle SMP p/b Fondriest 0:00:15
18 Christopher Butler (USA) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
19 Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
20 Diego Rubio (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
21 Ruben Companioni (Cub) Holowesko / Citadel Racing p/b Hincapie Sportswear
22 Marco Bernardinetti (Ita) Amore & Vita – Selle SMP p/b Fondriest
23 Kilian Frankiny (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:00:19
24 Luca Wackermann (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:00:22
25 Nigel Ellsay (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 0:00:24
26 James Piccoli (Can) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling
27 Marco Zamparella (Ita) Amore & Vita – Selle SMP p/b Fondriest
28 Adam De Vos (Can) Rally Cycling
29 Simone Velasco (Ita) Bardiani CSF
30 Eder Frayre Moctezuma (Mex) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling
31 Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team
32 Keegan Swirbul (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
33 Eric Marcotte (USA) Cylance Cycling 0:00:33
34 David Galarreta Ugarte (Spa) Amore & Vita – Selle SMP p/b Fondriest 0:00:36
35 Antonio Molina (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
36 Colin Joyce (USA) Rally Cycling
37 Alex Hoehn (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling
38 Manuel Sola Arjona (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
39 Fabio Calabria (Aus) Team Novo Nordisk 0:00:45
40 Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 0:00:47
41 Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 0:00:51
42 Connor Brown (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 0:01:02
43 Andrei Krasilnikau (Blr) Holowesko / Citadel Racing p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:01:04
44 Tom Bohli (Swi) BMC Racing Team
45 Chris Winn (Aus) Hangar 15 Bicycles
46 Kyle Murphy (USA) Cylance Cycling 0:01:06
47 Sebastian Haedo (Arg) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:01:14
48 Jordan Cheyne (Can) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 0:01:19
49 Evan Huffman (USA) Rally Cycling
50 Stephen Bassett (USA) Silber Pro Cycling 0:01:23
51 Lachlan Norris (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
52 Hendrikus Van Ijzendoorn (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk
53 Manuel Senni (Ita) BMC Racing Team 0:01:25
54 Giacomo Berlato (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 0:01:29
55 Steve Fisher (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:01:37
56 Logan Owen (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
57 John Murphy (USA) Holowesko / Citadel Racing p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:01:38
58 Ulises Alfredo Castillo Soto (Mex) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
59 Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Israel Cycling Academy
60 Joseph Schmalz (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 0:01:41
61 Joey Rosskopf (USA) BMC Racing Team
62 Kaler Marshall (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:01:42
63 Chad Beyer (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:01:45
64 Joshua Berry (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
65 Justin Oien (USA) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
66 Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:01:56
67 Michael Rice (Aus) Axeon Hagens Berman
68 Vincenzo Albanese (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:01:57
69 Gonzalo Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:01:59
70 Mihkel Räim (Est) Israel Cycling Academy 0:02:01
71 Redi Halilaj (Alb) Amore & Vita – Selle SMP p/b Fondriest
72 Andzs Flaksis (Lat) Holowesko / Citadel Racing p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:02:04
73 Cortlan Brown (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:02:27
74 Janier Alexis Acevedo Calle (Col) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:02:29
75 Alex Aranburu Deba (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
76 Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:02:33
77 Adam Roberge (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
78 Rui Oliveira (Por) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:02:41
79 Sam Brand (GBr) Team Novo Nordisk 0:02:46
80 Emerson Oronte (USA) Rally Cycling 0:02:56
81 Guillaume Boivin (Can) Israel Cycling Academy 0:03:19
82 Francisco Mancebo Perez (Spa) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:03:27
83 Luis Lemus (Mex) Israel Cycling Academy 0:03:31
84 Jonathan Brown (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:04:00
85 Bryan Lewis (USA) Cylance Cycling 0:04:35
86 Daniel Jaramillo (Col) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:05:25
87 Andres Miguel Diaz Corrales (Col) Cylance Cycling
88 Damiano Cima (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 0:05:29
89 Alan Marangoni (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
90 Pier-André Côté (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 0:05:35
91 Erik Slack (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:06:19
92 Simone Sterbini (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:06:23
93 Tyler Williams (USA) Israel Cycling Academy
94 Paolo Simion (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:06:28
95 Oscar Clark (USA) Holowesko / Citadel Racing p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:07:31
96 Umberto Poli (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk 0:08:48
97 Besmir Banushi (Alb) Amore & Vita – Selle SMP p/b Fondriest
98 Stephen Clancy (Irl) Team Novo Nordisk
99 Taylor Shelden (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 0:08:52
100 Eric Young (USA) Rally Cycling 0:11:43
DNF Angus Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
DNF Reid Mcclure (Can) Team Novo Nordisk
DNF Guy Niv (Isr) Israel Cycling Academy
DNF Aviv Yechzkel (Isr) Israel Cycling Academy
DNF William Barta (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
DNF Orlando Trinidad Garibay Contreras (Mex) Cylance Cycling
DNF Cory Lockwood (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling
DNF Tyler Magner (USA) Holowesko / Citadel Racing p/b Hincapie Sportswear
DNF Danny Pate (USA) Rally Cycling
DNF Julien Gagne (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
DNF Marc-Antoine Soucy (Can) Garneau Québecor
DNS Daniel Turek (Cze) Israel Cycling Academy

Final General Classification :
1 Robert Britton (Can) Rally Cycling 22:48:03
2 Gavin Mannion (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:00:22
3 Serghei Tvetcov (Rom) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 0:00:32
4 Neilson Powless (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:00:35
5 Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:02:00
6 Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:02:16
7 Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:02:41
8 Christopher Butler (USA) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:02:47
9 Sepp Kuss (USA) Rally Cycling 0:02:55
10 James Piccoli (Can) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 0:03:00
11 Taylor Eisenhart (USA) Holowesko / Citadel Racing p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:03:03
12 Pierpaolo Ficara (Ita) Amore & Vita – Selle SMP p/b Fondriest 0:03:24
13 Nigel Ellsay (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 0:05:01
14 Antonio Molina (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:05:13
15 Jhonnatan Manuel Navaez Prado (Ecu) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:06:00
16 Kyle Murphy (USA) Cylance Cycling 0:06:32
17 Eder Frayre Moctezuma (Mex) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 0:07:31
18 Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 0:11:09
19 Kilian Frankiny (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:12:34
20 Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:13:03
21 Martin Elmiger (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:16:04
22 Marco Zamparella (Ita) Amore & Vita – Selle SMP p/b Fondriest 0:16:16
23 Manuel Senni (Ita) BMC Racing Team 0:16:17
24 Daniel Jaramillo (Col) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:17:19
25 Robert Squire (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:17:50
26 Francisco Mancebo Perez (Spa) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:20:55
27 Marco Canola (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 0:21:23
28 Ruben Companioni (Cub) Holowesko / Citadel Racing p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:21:53
29 Manuel Sola Arjona (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:21:55
30 Adam De Vos (Can) Rally Cycling 0:22:33
31 Keegan Swirbul (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 0:22:40
32 Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Israel Cycling Academy 0:24:31
33 Lachlan Norris (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:26:10
34 Joey Rosskopf (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:26:11
35 Emerson Oronte (USA) Rally Cycling 0:26:57
36 Luca Wackermann (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:27:31
37 Luis Lemus (Mex) Israel Cycling Academy 0:28:09
38 Alex Hoehn (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 0:29:38
39 Travis McCabe (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:32:03
40 Alex Aranburu Deba (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:32:11
41 Patrick Müller (SWI) BMC Racing Team 0:35:34
42 Chad Beyer (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:37:04
43 Gonzalo Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:37:14
44 Miguel Benito (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:37:31
45 Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:38:29
46 Redi Halilaj (Alb) Amore & Vita – Selle SMP p/b Fondriest 0:39:49
47 Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:40:32
48 David Galarreta Ugarte (Spa) Amore & Vita – Selle SMP p/b Fondriest 0:41:53
49 Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 0:42:02
50 Logan Owen (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:42:13
51 Simone Sterbini (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:42:15
52 Simone Velasco (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:43:13
53 Rui Oliveira (Por) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:45:40
54 Stephen Bassett (USA) Silber Pro Cycling 0:45:41
55 Connor Brown (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 0:45:51
56 Guillaume Boivin (Can) Israel Cycling Academy 0:47:20
57 Andrei Krasilnikau (Blr) Holowesko / Citadel Racing p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:47:28
58 Steve Fisher (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:47:34
59 Chris Winn (Aus) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:47:50
60 Diego Rubio (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:48:15
61 Simone Andreetta (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:49:08
62 Giacomo Berlato (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 0:49:36
63 Marco Bernardinetti (Ita) Amore & Vita – Selle SMP p/b Fondriest 0:50:09
64 Adam Roberge (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 0:50:22
65 Kaler Marshall (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:50:47
66 Eric Marcotte (USA) Cylance Cycling 0:51:48
67 Janier Alexis Acevedo Calle (Col) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:52:06
68 Fabio Calabria (Aus) Team Novo Nordisk 0:52:33
69 Justin Oien (USA) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:52:35
70 Erik Slack (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:52:49
71 Jonathan Brown (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:52:54
72 Ulises Alfredo Castillo Soto (Mex) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 0:53:26
73 Andzs Flaksis (Lat) Holowesko / Citadel Racing p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:53:35
74 Joshua Berry (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 0:53:47
75 Michael Rice (Aus) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:53:51
76 Mihkel Räim (Est) Israel Cycling Academy 0:53:53
77 Tom Bohli (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:54:08
78 Evan Huffman (USA) Rally Cycling 0:54:56
79 Vincenzo Albanese (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:55:02
80 Cortlan Brown (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:56:04
81 Tyler Williams (USA) Israel Cycling Academy 0:57:12
82 John Murphy (USA) Holowesko / Citadel Racing p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:57:56
83 Bryan Lewis (USA) Cylance Cycling 0:58:02
84 Colin Joyce (USA) Rally Cycling 0:58:41
85 Sebastian Haedo (Arg) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 0:59:15
86 Umberto Poli (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk 1:00:27
87 Besmir Banushi (Alb) Amore & Vita – Selle SMP p/b Fondriest 1:01:32
88 Oscar Clark (USA) Holowesko / Citadel Racing p/b Hincapie Sportswear 1:02:33
89 Andres Miguel Diaz Corrales (Col) Cylance Cycling 1:02:41
90 Taylor Shelden (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 1:03:40
91 Paolo Simion (Ita) Bardiani CSF 1:04:25
92 Hendrikus Van Ijzendoorn (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk 1:05:52
93 Jordan Cheyne (Can) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 1:06:34
94 Sam Brand (GBr) Team Novo Nordisk 1:06:39
95 Joseph Schmalz (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 1:10:35
96 Alan Marangoni (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 1:10:49
97 Eric Young (USA) Rally Cycling 1:11:25
98 Damiano Cima (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 1:14:23
99 Pier-André Côté (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 1:14:41
100 Stephen Clancy (Irl) Team Novo Nordisk 1:19:07