Francisco Mancebo and Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing) pulled off a one-two finish in the first stage of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah on Wednesday.
The tandem sprang away from the fadiing peloton on the climb above East Canyon Dam and extended their lead to a maximum of 35 seconds before coming through the finish on the outskirts of Salt Lake City together, 25 seconds ahead of a disorganized chase group that contained overnight leader Brent Bookwalter (BMC).
The result vaulted Mancebo into the overall lead over Sevilla by 9 seconds.
Rolling out in chaos
Stage 1 got off to a rocky start at the foot of Ogden Canyon, 40 miles north of Salt Lake City. Communication issues challenged multiple teams in the race, with Felt-Holowesko Partners among the teams that lost radio contact with officials at some point during the race.
At one point in the first half of the race, a motor marshal led a group of riders, including Sunday’s race winner at Downers Grove, Ben Kersten (Fly V), off course. Kersten later abandoned the race and a portion of his group was disqualified on a time cut following the stage.
Assessing the day’s complications, one unnamed and clearly frustrated team director shrugged, “We’re at the Tour of Utah, dude.”
Attack, Chase, Catch, Repeat
The front of the race was aggressive from the start on Tuesday morning, as the peloton immediately began the moderate ascent of Ogden Canyon under mild headwinds. None of the many attacks stuck ahead of the first Hot Spot sprint at mile 17, which Sean Mazich (Team Waste Management) took ahead of the field.
The first move to grow legs came at the base of the first categorized climb on Old Snowbasin Road when Aaron Olsen (KFAN) attacked and gained a maximum of 25 seconds. Olsen stayed away for maximum points on the KOM, but was reabsorbed at the base of the descent to Morgan Valley, 33.5 miles into the race.
Sam Bewley (Trek-LiveStrong) and Brad White (OUCH-Maxxis) escaped next, in the lead-up to the second Hot Spot sprint in the town of Morgan, gaining a maximum advantage of 3:50.
BMC rode tempo at the head of the chasing peloton through the Morgan Valley and past the East Canyon Dam with Rock Racing and Felt-Holowesko keeping an eye on the leader’s squad from the safety of the pack.
Rock Storms Emigration Canyon
The peloton arrived at the base of the second KOM largely intact and 3:30 in arrears of Bewley and White. BMC upped the pace on the early reaches of the climb, shedding much of the peloton in the first five kilometers.
Sevilla snuck away from the peloton with Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko) and Darren Lill (Team Type 1) with four kilometers remaining on the climb, quickly gaining 15 seconds on the first chase group of approximately 30 riders. When the three riders’ lead hovered at 15 seconds as the top of the ascent approached, Stetina made a tactical decision that would alter the outcome of the stage and potentially the general classification.
“We were on the rivet, just sitting like 15 seconds ahead of the field and there was a headwind. I thought, ‘Oh, there’s no way this is staying away and I’ve got to conserve for the rest of the race’,” Stetina said. “So, Lill and I both dropped off and I guess Mancebo must have sprinted over the top to Sevilla.”
As Stetina and Lill reintegrated into the chase group of approximately 40 riders, Mancebo, Sevilla and Moises Aldape (Team Type 1) made contact with the lone leader, White, on the technical descent of Emigration Canyon. The Rock duo rode away from Aldape and White on a short incline 14 km from the finish.
As Sevilla and Mancebo rode toward the stage win and overall lead, Aldape and White latched on to the first chase group, which contained all of the favorites for the general classification, including Chris Baldwin (OUCH-Maxxis), Jeff Louder (BMC) and Bookwalter, Stetina, Burke Swindlehurst (Bissell) and Phil Zajicek (Fly V).
A fully gassed White, who earned the mountains jersey on the stage, went to the front of the group and pulled the chase with Matthew Busche (Kelly Benefit Strategies), Peter Salon and Kirk Carlsen (Felt-Holowesko), Dave Zabriskie (Garmin-Slipstream), Louder and Zajicek.
The gap to the breakaway shrank to 20 seconds when the leaders exited the canyon; however, the dissolving chase could not close the gap in the final kilometers and Mancebo held on for the stage win alongside Sevilla.
At the finish, Sevilla said, “Paco and me for the last 10 km (motions like he is turning a motorcycle accelerator). The road was difficult and the group is strong – the finale is perfect for the team, for me, for Paco.”
Following the stage, Louder was frustrated with the lack of cohesion in the chase. “I’m not one hundred percent sure what people were thinking,” he said. “It seemed like they were more interested in staying conservative than trying to win the race.”
The climb to Mt. Nebo
Thursday’s mountaintop finish on Mt. Nebo should force a greater selection among the general classification hopefuls. The finishing climb covers 20 miles and rises 4,000 vertical feet on the shoulders of the Wasatch Mountains’ highest point. Riders struggling to stay on pace in stage 1 will be exposed in the last 10 km.
1. Francisco Mancebo Perez Rock Racing, 3:25:00
2. Oscar Sevilla Rock Racing, same time
3. David Veilleux Kelly Benfit Strategies, at 0:25
4. Hugo Pena Victor Rock Racing
5. David Clinger Cole Sport , at 0:25
6. Alex Howes Garmin-Holowesko , at 0:25
7. Alexander Hagman Ciclismo Racing , at 0:25
8. Darren Lill Team Type1 , at 0:25
9. Bjorn Selander U23 Trek-Livestrong , at 0:25
10. Moises Aldape Team Type1 , at 0:25
11. Jim Camut Land Rover-Orbea, at 0:25
12. Scott Stewart Team Waste Management , at 0:25
13. Philip Zajicek Fly V Australia , at 0:25
14. Corey Collier Team Rio Grande , at 0:25
15. Tyler Wren Colavita Olive Oil/sutter Home , at 0:25
16. Brent Bookwalter Bmc Pro Cycling Team , at 0:25
17. Scott Tietzel Kfan Composite Team , at 0:25
18. Kirk Carlsen Garmin-Holowesko , at 0:25
19. Patrick Mccarty Ouch Pro Cycling P/b Maxxis , at 0:25
20. Peter Horn Team Rio Grande , at 0:25
21. Anthony Colby Colavita Olive Oil/sutter Home , at 0:25
22. Jeff Louder Bmc Pro Cycling Team , at 0:25
23. Ben Jacques-maynes Bissell Pro Cycling , at 0:25
24. Sam Bewley U23 Trek-Livestrong , at 0:25
25. Floyd Landis Ouch Pro Cycling P/b Maxxis , at 0:25
26. Daniel Vaillancourt Colavita Olive Oil/sutter Home , at 0:25
27. Dan Bowman Kelly Benfit Strategies , at 0:25
28. Ian Gray Ciclismo Racing , at 0:25
29. Glen Chadwick Rock Racing , at 0:25
30. Peter Stetina Garmin-Holowesko , at 0:25
31. Julian Kyer U23 Trek-Livestrong
32. Bradley White Ouch Pro Cycling P/b Maxxis, at 0:25
33. Matthew Busche Kelly Benfit Strategies, at 0:25
34. Matthew Cooke Rideclean P/b Patentit.com, at 0:25
35. Christopher Baldwin Ouch Pro Cycling P/b Maxxis, at 0:25
36. Burke Swindlehurst Bissell Pro Cycling, at 0:25
37. Peter Salon Garmin-Holowesko, at 0:25
38. David Zabriskie Garmin Slipstream, at 0:25
39. Rob Britton Trek Red Truck Cycling, at 0:25
40. Andrew Bajadali Kelly Benfit Strategies, at 0:25
41. Jesse Moore California Giant Berry Farms, at 0:25
42. Chad Beyer Bmc Pro Cycling Team, at 0:25
43. Bill Demong Cole Sport, at 1:33
44. John Eisinger Ciclismo Racing, at 1:33
45. Reid Mumford Kelly Benfit Strategies, at 1:33
46. Steve Bovay Bmc Pro Cycling Team, at 1:33
47. Zach Watson Team Bobs-Bicycles.com, at 1:33
48. Benjamin Day Fly V Australia, at 1:33
49. Chase Pinkham Canyon Bicycles All Stars, at 1:33
50. Nic Hamilton Trek Red Truck Cycling, at 1:33
51. Ian Mckissick Bmc Pro Cycling Team, at 1:33
52. Nate Page Rideclean P/b Patentit.com, at 1:33
53. Max Jenkins Kfan Composite Team, at 1:33
54. Christopher Hong Team Bobs-Bicycles.com, at 1:33
55. John Hunt California Giant Berry Farms, at 1:33
56. Andrew Guptill Colavita Olive Oil/sutter Home, at 1:33
57. Chris Jones Team Type1, at 1:33
58. Kevin Noiles Trek Red Truck Cycling, at 1:33
59. Timothy Johnson Ouch Pro Cycling P/b Maxxis, at 1:33
60. Carter Jones Team Waste Management, at 1:33
61. Bernie Sulzberger Fly V Australia, at 1:33
62. Ian Macgregor Team Type1, at 1:33
63. Erik Slack Team Bobs-Bicycles.com, at 1:33
64. Justin England California Giant Berry Farms, at 1:33
65. Cameron Evans Ouch Pro Cycling P/b Maxxis, at 1:33
66. Will Routley Trek Red Truck Cycling, at 1:33
67. Roman Kilun Ouch Pro Cycling P/b Maxxis, at 1:33
68. Aaron Olsen Kfan Composite Team, at 1:33
69. Jonathan Baker Kfan Composite Team, at 25
70. Cameron Hoffman Canyon Bicycles All Stars, at 4:46
71. Andrew Talansky Kfan Composite Team, at 4:46
72. Jonathan Garcia Bmc Pro Cycling Team, at 4:46
73. Ben King U23 Trek-Livestrong, at 4:46
74. Michael Booth Canyon Bicycles All Stars, at 4:46
75. Taylor Shelden Garmin-Holowesko, at 4:46
76. Alex Candelario Kelly Benfit Strategies, at 4:46
77. Ryan Anderson Kelly Benfit Strategies, at 4:46
78. Roman Van Uden Land Rover-Orbea
79. Justin Laue Zteam, at 4:46
80. Jared Gilyard Rideclean P/b Patentit.com, at 4:46
81. Jose Erique Gutierrez Cataluna Rock Racing, at 4:46
82. Jesse Sergent U23 Trek-Livestrong, at 4:46
83. Paul Esposti Ciclismo Racing, at 4:46
84. Chris Winn Team Rio Grande, at 4:46
85. David Glick Rideclean P/b Patentit.com, at 4:46
86. Tom Zirbel Bissell Pro Cycling, at 4:46
87. James Mattis California Giant Berry Farms, at 4:46
88. Ivan Dominguez Rock Racing, at 4:46
89. Christopher Phipps Zteam, at 6:13
90. David Harward Canyon Bicycles All Stars, at 7:35
91. Todd Hageman Cole Sport, at 7:35
92. Jared Barrilleaux California Giant Berry Farms, at 7:35
93. Jesse Gordon Canyon Bicycles All Stars, at 7:35
94. Colt Trant Kfan Composite Team, at 7:35
95. Stevie Cullinan Team Waste Management, at 7:35
96. Will Dugan Team Type1, at 7:35
97. Evan Hyde Cole Sport, at 7:35
98. Jamie Sparling Trek Red Truck Cycling, at 7:35
99. David Talbott Team Waste Management, at 7:35
100. Paul Mach Bissell Pro Cycling, at 7:35
101. Stefano Barberi Zteam, at 7:35
102. Ryohei Komori U23 Trek-Livestrong, at 7:35
103. Omer Kem Bissell Pro Cycling, at 7:35
104. Brandon Lynch Team Bobs-Bicycles.com, at 7:35
105. Dave Vukets Trek Red Truck Cycling, at 7:49
106. Kiel Reijnen Team Rio Grande, at 7:49
107. Jeremy Vennell Bissell Pro Cycling, at 7:49
108. Nick Frey Ciclismo Racing, at 7:51
109. Bobby Sweeting Land Rover-Orbea, at 7:51
110. Frank Pipp Bissell Pro Cycling, at 7:51
111. Ryan Baumann U23 Trek-Livestrong, at 7:51
112. Evan Elken Land Rover-Orbea
113. Guido Palma Colavita Olive Oil/sutter Home, at 9:53
114. Paul Thomas Rideclean P/b Patentit.com, at 9:59
115. Vincent Owens Zteam, at 7:51
116. Benjamin Kneller Ciclismo Racing, at 7:51
117. Sergio Hernandez Rock Racing, at 7:51
118. Adam Thuss Trek Red Truck Cycling, at 7:51
119. Nathaniel English Zteam, at 7:51
120. Daniel Ramsey Zteam, at 7:51
121. Morgan Schmitt Bissell Pro Cycling, at 10:22
122. Chris Barton Bmc Pro Cycling Team, at 11:07
123. Benjamin King Fly V Australia, at 11:07
124. Josh Bartlett Land Rover-Orbea, at 11:07
125. Corey Carlson Team Rio Grande, at 11:07
126. Raymond Kreder Garmin-Holowesko, at 11:07
127. Allen Krughoff Team Rio Grande, at 11:07
128. James Wingert Zteam, at 11:07
129. Aaron Tuckerman Land Rover-Orbea, at 11:07
130. Kai Applequist Team Bobs-Bicycles.com, at 12:36
131. Eric Jeppsen Cole Sport, at 12:39
132. Daniel Workman Ciclismo Racing, at 13:16
133. Sean Mazich Team Waste Management, at 13:16
134. Eric Pardyjak Canyon Bicycles All Stars, at 13:16
135. Walker Savidge Garmin-Holowesko, at 13:16
136. Troy Heithecker Team Rio Grande, at 13:16
137. John Murphy Ouch Pro Cycling P/b Maxxis, at 13:16
138. Norman Bryner Canyon Bicycles All Stars, at 13:16
139. Nick Clayville Team Bobs-Bicycles.com, at 15:24
140. Brad Bingham Team Rio Grande, at 15:41
141. Daniel Holt Team Type, at 15:411
142. Michael Telega California Giant Berry Farms, at 16:55
143. Chris Stuart Team Bobs-Bicycles.com, at 16:55
144. Alex Rock Canyon Bicycles All Stars, at 16:58
145. Alessandro Bazzanna Fly V Australia, at 19:37
146. Zack Simons Cole Sport, at 19:37
147. Tom Soladay Rideclean P/b Patentit.com, at 21:34
148. Kevin Kirkwood Rideclean P/b Patentit.com, at 21:34
149. Bradley Gehrig Cole Sport, at 24:04
150. Tad Hamilton Team Bobs-Bicycles.com, at 26:17
151. Osvaldo Olmos California Giant Berry Farms, at 26:17
Time Cut
152. Lewis Fellas Rideclean P/b Patentit.com, at 32:51
153. Ryan Good Ciclismo Racing, at 32:51
154. Lucas Binder Zteam, at 32:51
155. Logan Hunn Land Rover-Orbea, at 32:51
156. Mike Northey Land Rover-Orbea, at 32:51