August 18/19 19:42 pm - Piccoli Finishes Tour of Utah Second Overall

Posted by Editoress on 08/18/19
 

Belgian Ben Hermans (Israel Cycling Academy) successfully fended off all challengers to earn the top prize at the 2019 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah in front of huge crowds in Park City on Sunday. Hermans rode a masterful race to finish fourth on Stage 6 and take the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies Overall Leader title.  Canada's James Piccoli (Elevate KHS) was fifth on the final stage to finish second overall, and won the Most Aggressive Rider jersey.

"From the first time that I did this race in 2014, I had a good feeling with this race and I kept getting better results in the G.C.," said Hermans, who was fourth overall in 2014 and runner-up in 2017. "It's really amazing. I really enjoy it here. It's amazing to ride for these crowds. And to be there on the podium in the yellow jersey is really, really nice."

Stage 6 found a select group of riders battling for the overall victory on the Hors Category climb of Empire Pass, followed by the thrilling descent into Park City. American Joe Dombrowski (EF Education First) attacked multiple times on Empire Pass before blasting downhill solo at speeds reaching 70 kilometres per hour and took his first victory in four years.

"I wanted to win the stage today. I know Empire. I've done this climb a number of times in training and obviously have done this climb quite a few times in the race," said Dombrowski, whose last time on the top step of the podium came in 2015 at the Tour of Utah at Snowbird Resort, when he also won the G.C. title.

"Eventually I decided to ease off on the climb and hopefully some guys would come back. And then, maybe it would present another opportunity to go just at the very top (of the climb), because if you have a gap on the descent, normally you can keep it to the line. And it worked out." Dombrowski finished the 78.2-mile (125.9-kilometre) stage in a time of 3 hours and 11 minutes.

João Almeida (Hagens Berman Axeon) led the four-rider chase group across the finish line, 24 seconds behind Dombrowski for second place. Keegan Swirbul (Floyd's Pro Cycling) was third and Hermans fourth.

The 15th edition of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, known as "America's Toughest Stage Race," included 477 miles (767.66 km) of racing and 37,882 feet (11,546 metres) of elevation gain. Over the course of seven days of hard racing, three different riders wore the Overall Leader's yellow jersey. Hermans climbed into the lead on Stage 2 in Powder Mountain Resort and never lost time.

"I think now it's for sure the toughest race," Hermans noted. "It's even the toughest race of Europe I think. It's hard to climb at this altitude."

The final G.C. time for Hermans was 18 hours and 46 minutes. James Piccoli (Elevate - KHS Pro Cycling), who won the Prologue, was fifth on Stage 6 and finished second in the G.C. With the stage win, Dombrowski moved to third overall. Placing fourth overall was Almeida, who claimed the WCF Insurance Best Young Rider jersey. Swirbul jumped up three spots to finish eighth overall.

The start of Stage 6 presented by Utah Sports Commission featured a group of 23 riders who broke away from the 101-rider peloton at the first of two Utah Sports Commission Sprint lines in Kamas. Kept on a short leash by Israel Cycling Academy, the escapees were reeled back in at the bottom of Empire Pass, the second Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain climb before the battle for stage and G.C. podium places.

Hayden McCormick (Team BridgeLane) defended the Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain Leader jersey. Racing aggressively throughout the seven days of racing, Piccoli was awarded the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Most Aggressive Rider jersey. Fans selected Tony Baca (303 Project) as the America First Credit Union Fan Favorite in the Overall Fan Favorite category. EF Education First finished as the best overall team.

Jerseys
Overall: Ben Hermans (Bel) Israel Cycling Academy
Sprinter: Travis Mccabe (USA) Floyd's Pro Cycling
KoM: Hayden Mccormick (NZl) Team Bridgelane
Best Young Rider: Joao Almeida (Por) Hagens Berman Axeon
Most Agressive: James Piccoli (Can) Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling

Results from the sixth and Final stage in Utah

Piccoli Wins Tour of Utah Prologue

Piccoli Loses Lead at Utah After Poorly Timed Puncture

Piccoli 2nd after Stage 2 of Tour of Utah

Piccoli Holds On To Second After Stage 3 at Utah

Boivin 5th in Stage 4 at Tour of Utah

Tour of Utah: Stage 5