August 10, 2006 — On the first major ascent of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada’s veteran climber Dominique Perras made clear that he belongs among the race’s elite contenders as he finished 10th in the stage and moved up to 8th overall.

After watching some early attacks on the lower slopes of the nearly 20-mile climb to the 9,345-foot summit of the Mt. Nebo loop, Perras opted to stay with a group that included race leader Chris Wherry (Toyota-United) and stage winner Scott Moninger (Health Net-Maxxis).

Dominique Perras on Mt. Nebo
“Then Moninger attacked three times and I followed him,” Perras recounted, “and the fourth time he went I was in the red, and Chris Wherry, Cesar Grajales, and Jeff Louder caught me.

“Then Louder jumped across to the leaders [Moninger and Navigators’ Burke Swindlehurst and Glen Chadwick] and we picked up a few guys who attacked earlier on the climb.”

Nearing the top of the climb, Perras’ group included Wherry, Navigators’ Grajales and Phil Zajicek, Jonathan Garcia (Team Einstein’s ) and David Rodriguez (BMC Racing).

After an attack by Rodriguez with 3 kilomters to go, Perras followed and was clear of the group, but – with the finish line coming unexpectedly after a short descent – he was caught just before the line.

Now sitting behind two Health Net-Maxxis riders (Louder and Moninger), two Navigators (Chadwick and Swindlehurst), Toyota-United’s Wherry, and two more Navigators (Grajales and Sergey Lagutin), Perras is comfortable with his overall position with two stages to go.

“I’m in a perfect spot to hopefully take advantage of infighting between Health Net, Navigators, and Toyota-United,” noted the former Canadian national champion.

Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada’s Jesse Anthony, who started the day once again the KOM leader’s jersey that he earned on the first stage, rode within himself on the climb and finished 18th on the stage, moving up to 16th overall.

The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah continues tomorrow with a tough 42-mile circuit race in downtown Salt Lake City followed by the 85-mile Snowbird Road Race with 12,000 feet of climbing.

Results (brief)

1 Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 2.38.32
2 Jeff Louder (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 0.19
3 Glen Chadwick (Aus) Navigators Insurance
4 Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Navigators Insurance 0.32
5 Cesar Grajales (Col) Navigators Insurance 1.35
6 Jonathan Garcia (USA) Team Einstein’s Cycling
7 David Rodriguez (USA) BMC Racing 1.40
8 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance
9 Chris Wherry (USA) Toyota United
10 Dominique Perras (Can) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada 1.47
11 Blake Caldwell (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref 2.19
12 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance 2.35
13 Nathan Miller (USA) BMC Racing 2.40
14 Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing 2.43
15 Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref 2.46

GC after Stage 4

1 Jeff Louder (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 10.08.34
2 Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 0.02
3 Glen Chadwick (Aus) Navigators Insurance 0.23
4 Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Navigators Insurance 0.52
5 Chris Wherry (USA) Toyota United 0.57
6 Cesar Grajales (Col) Navigators Insurance 1.52
7 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance 2.06
8 Dominique Perras (Can) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada 2.46
9 David Rodriguez (USA) BMC Racing
10 Jonathan Garcia (USA) Team Einstein’s Cycling 2.49
11 Blake Caldwell (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref 3.02
12 Scott Nydam (USA) BMC Racing 3.19
13 Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref 3.34
14 Tom Zirbel (USA) Priority Health 3.47
15 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance 7.24
16 Nathan Miller (USA) BMC Racing 14.39