August 05, 2017 (Snowbird Resort, Utah) – Canadian star Robert Britton (Rally Cycling) is poised to take home the biggest win of his career as he battled to a stellar 5th-place finish on the penultimate 99km Stage 6, the queen stage from Heber Valley to Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort won by Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Bardiani CSF.
Rally Cycling Defends Overall Lead In Epic Mountain Clash
report by Rally Cycling
In a tremendous battle through the mountains east of Salt Lake City, Rally Cycling successfully defended Rob Britton’s leader’s jersey at the Tour of Utah. Under constant attack from general classification rivals, Rally Cycling fended off all challengers, and at day’s end, Britton crossed the line fifth and maintained his 26-second lead in the general classification.
“I was very confident going into today,” said Britton. “I had 100 percent faith in the team. They have been fantastic this week and today was no different. We knew the downhill off American Fork Canyon was dangerous, we made it down and then assessed the situation. Bookwalter and Eisenhart took a lot of risks and were really aggressive today – and eventually paid for it. The team was phenomenal; we were never on the back foot. Colin (Joyce), Danny (Pate) and Evan (Huffman) reeled went full gas, and at the base, we were only back 15 seconds on the Bookwalter and Eisenhart group. On the climb, I never felt like I was under pressure. I felt like I had the race under control.”
The team took control early in the day, setting a brisk tempo. On the climb of American Fork Canyon, a breakaway of 13 riders, none a threat on general classification, went clear. Over the top, a second and dangerous group of four, including general classification threat Brent Bookwalter (BMC) his teammate Kilian Frankiny and Taylor Eisenhart (Holowesko-Citadel) charged off the front. The quartet quickly established a 40-second gap, and when Tom Bohli (BMC) dropped back from the lead group of 13, the Bookwalter group’s gap to the peloton grew to 1:20 heading towards the final showdown of the day on the ascent to Snowbird Resort. With the yellow jersey threatened, Rally Cycling pushed forward with Joyce, Pate and Huffman driving the pace. At the base of the climb to Snowbird, the team had closed the gap to a mere 15 seconds.
On the lower slopes of Snowbird, the breakaway was reeled in by the strength and determination of Huffman and Sepp Kuss. With Bookwalter and Eisenhart’s threats neutralized, the battle for the stage win commenced. As numerous riders made bids for stage glory, The Bardiani CSF team and Kuss set a steady tempo, piloting Britton up the first half of the climb as riders fell from contention. With seven kilometers left, Kuss lost contact with the lead group. In the front group with Britton was six other riders, including general classification rivals Gavin Mannion (UnitedHealthcare), Serghei Tvetcov (Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis) and Neilson Powless (Axeon-Hagens Berman). Giulio Ciccone (Bardiani CSF) struck out with five kilometers remaining to take the stage win. Britton crossed the line fifth to maintain his overall lead.
“The guys went out on a hard day and got the job done,” said Performance Manager Jonas Carney. “Today the team rode with the single objective of Rob being in yellow at the end of the day. It wasn’t ideal to have three BMC and three Holowesko guys in the breakaway, but the team kept calm, and it ended up working to our advantage. The guys were solid all day and put Rob in a good position for the final climb. Rob was excellent on the final climb, he rode smart, marked any big threats and kept the pace high when needed. We have one more stage. It’s going to be difficult to control, so we are staying focused and saving any potential celebration for tomorrow after the race.”
The 2017 Tour of Utah ends tomorrow with a circuit race through the streets of Salt Lake City.
Results
1. Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Bardiani CSF 2:45:38
2. Simone Sterbini (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:35
3. Neilson Powless (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:41
4. Gavin Mannion (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:44
5. Robert Britton (Can) Rally Cycling
6. Serghei Tvetcov (Rou) Jelly Belly-Maxxis 0:48
7. Manuel Senni (Ita) BMC Racing Team 1:14
8. James Piccoli (Can) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 1:19
9. Chris Butler (USA) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 1:27
10. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 2:06
11. Luis Lemus (Mex) Israel Cycling Academy 2:09
12. Jonny Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 2:12
13. Sepp Kuss (USA) Rally Cycling 2:37
14. Pierpaolo Ficara (Ita) Amore & Vita – SelleSMP p/b Fondriest 2:42
15. Taylor Eisenhart (USA) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear 2:49
16. Chris Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 2:52
17. Rob Squire (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 3:18
18. Nigel Ellsay (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 3:25
19. Martin Elmiger (Sui) BMC Racing Team
20. Kyle Murphy (USA) Cylance Cycling 4:03
21. Miguel Angel Benito Diez (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
22. Antonio Molina Canet (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
23. Jhonatan Narvaez (Ecu) Axeon Hagens Berman 4:05
24. Eder Frayre Moctezuma (Mex) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 4:11
25. Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 5:13
26. Ruben Companioni (Cub) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear 6:40
27. Connor Brown (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 7:07
28. Daniel Jaramillo (Col) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 7:36
29. Bryan Lewis (USA) Cylance Cycling
30. Silvan Dillier (Sui) BMC Racing Team 8:10
31. Marco Zamparella (Ita) Amore & Vita – SelleSMP p/b Fondriest 9:03
32. Marco Canola (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
33. Dennis van Winden (Ned) Israel Cycling Academy 0:10:14
34. Luca Wackermann (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:10:57
35. Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Bardiani CSF
36. Alexander Hoehn (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 0:11:01
37. Chris Winn (Aus) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:11:11
38. David Galarreta (Esp) Amore & Vita – SelleSMP p/b Fondriest
39. Kilian Frankiny (Sui) BMC Racing Team 0:11:28
40. Erik Slack (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:11:30
41. Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly-Maxxis 0:11:37
42. Redi Halilaj (Alb) Amore & Vita – SelleSMP p/b Fondriest 0:12:33
43. Travis McCabe (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:13:02
44. Lachlan Norris (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
45. Simone Velasco (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:14:24
46. Rui Oliveira (Por) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:14:28
47. Marc Antoine Soucy (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 0:15:16
48. Jonny Brown (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:15:25
49. Tom Bohli (Sui) BMC Racing Team 0:16:09
50. Gonzalo Serrano Rodriguez (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
51. Steve Fisher (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles
52. Janier Acevedo (Col) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
53. Chad Beyer (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles
54. Francisco Mancebo (Esp) Hangar 15 Bicycles
55. Vincenzo Albanese (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:17:21
56. Evan Huffman (USA) Rally Cycling
57. Tyler Williams (USA) Israel Cycling Academy 0:17:28
58. Angus Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly-Maxxis 0:17:40
59. Adam Roberge (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 0:19:01
60. Manuel Sola Arjona (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 0:19:19
61. Kaler Marshall (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:19:37
62. Patrick Mueller (Sui) BMC Racing Team 0:19:42
63. Colin Joyce (USA) Rally Cycling 0:20:16
64. Andrei Krasilnikau (Bel) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:20:20
65. Ty Magner (USA) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear
66. John Murphy (USA) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear
67. Oscar Clark (USA) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear
68. Will Barta (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
69. Keegan Swirbul (USA) Jelly Belly-Maxxis 0:21:06
70. Damiano Cima (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 0:21:26
71. Joshua Berry (USA) Jelly Belly-Maxxis
72. Adam De Vos (Can) Rally Cycling
73. Pier-Andre Cote (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
74. Andres Diaz (Col) Cylance Cycling
75. Giacomo Berlato (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
76. Cortlan Brown (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles
77. Fabio Calabria (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk
78. Logan Owen (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman
79. Michael Rice (Aus) Axeon Hagens Berman
80. Jordan Cheyne (Can) Jelly Belly-Maxxis
81. Besmir Banushi (Alb) Amore & Vita – SelleSMP p/b Fondriest
82. Sam Brand (Gbr) Team Novo Nordisk
83. Mihkel Raim (Est) Israel Cycling Academy
84. Justin Oien (USA) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
85. Guy Niv (Isr) Israel Cycling Academy
86. Marco Bernardinetti (Ita) Amore & Vita – SelleSMP p/b Fondriest
87. Diego Rubio Hernandez (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
88. Julien Gagne (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
89. Umberto Poli (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk
90. Alex Aranburu Deva (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
91. Eric Marcotte (USA) Cylance Cycling
92. Reid McClure (Can) Team Novo Nordisk
93. Emerson Oronte (USA) Rally Cycling
94. Guillaume Boivin (Can) Israel Cycling Academy
95. Andzs Flaksis (Lat) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear
96. Joseph Schmaltz (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling
97. Sebastian Haedo (Arg) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
98. Cory Lockwood (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling
99. Stephen Clancy (Irl) Team Novo Nordisk
100. Ulises Alfredo Castillo (Mex) Jelly Belly-Maxxis
101. Paolo Simion (Ita) Bardiani CSF
102. Taylor Sheldon (USA) Jelly Belly-Maxxis
103. Stephen Bassett (USA) Silber Pro Cycling
104. Orlando Garibay (Mex) Cylance Cycling
105. Danny Pate (USA) Rally Cycling
106. Eric Young (USA) Rally Cycling
107. Simone Andreetta (Ita) Bardiani CSF
108. Rik Van Ijzendoorn (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk 0:22:24
109. Alan Marangoni (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 0:23:37
110. Joey Rosskopf (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:24:00
111. Aviv Yechezkel (Isr) Israel Cycling Academy 0:24:03
112. Daniel Turek (Cze) Israel Cycling Academy 0:24:32
OTL Brian McCulloch (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling
OTL Uri Martins Sandoval (Mex) Amore & Vita – SelleSMP p/b Fondriest
OTL Karl Menzies (Aus) Cylance Cycling
OTL Alfredo Rodriguez Victoria (Mex) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling
OTL Yuma Koishi (Jpn) Nippo – Vini Fantini
DNF Gerd Keijzer (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk
DNF Chris Lawless (Gbr) Axeon Hagens Berman
DNF Scott Law (Aus) Cylance Cycling
DNF Nickolas Zukowsky (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
DNS Robin Carpenter (USA) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear
DNS Emile Jean (Can) Silber Pro Cycling
GC after Stage 6
1. Robert Britton (Can) Rally Cycling 27:43
2. Gavin Mannion (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:26
3. Serghei Tvetcov (Rou) Jelly Belly-Maxxis 0:32
4. Neilson Powless (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:35
5. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 2:06
6. Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Bardiani CSF 2:16
7. Jonny Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 2:28
8. Chris Butler (USA) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 2:34
9. James Piccoli (Can) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 2:38
10. Sepp Kuss (USA) Rally Cycling 2:55
11. Taylor Eisenhart (USA) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear 3:03
12. Pierpaolo Ficara (Ita) Amore & Vita – SelleSMP p/b Fondriest 3:11
13. Nigel Ellsay (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 4:39
14. Antonio Molina Canet (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
15. Kyle Murphy (USA) Cylance Cycling 5:28
16. Jhonatan Narvaez (Ecu) Axeon Hagens Berman 5:51
17. Eder Frayre Moctezuma (Mex) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 7:09
18. Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 0:10:24
19. Daniel Jaramillo (Col) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:11:58
20. Kilian Frankiny (Sui) BMC Racing Team 0:12:17
21. Silvan Dillier (Sui) BMC Racing Team 0:12:41
22. Manuel Senni (Ita) BMC Racing Team 0:14:54
23. Marco Zamparella (Ita) Amore & Vita – SelleSMP p/b Fondriest 0:15:54
24. Martin Elmiger (Sui) BMC Racing Team 0:16:04
25. Francisco Mancebo (Esp) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:17:31
26. Rob Squire (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:17:41
27. Manuel Sola Arjona (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 0:21:21
28. Marco Canola (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 0:21:35
29. Ruben Companioni (Cub) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:21:40
30. Adam De Vos (Can) Rally Cycling 0:22:11
31. Keegan Swirbul (USA) Jelly Belly-Maxxis 0:22:18
32. Dennis van Winden (Ned) Israel Cycling Academy 0:22:55
33. Emerson Oronte (USA) Rally Cycling 0:24:03
34. Joey Rosskopf (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:24:33
35. Luis Lemus (Mex) Israel Cycling Academy 0:24:40
36. Lachlan Norris (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:24:49
37. Luca Wackermann (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:27:11
38. Alexander Hoehn (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 0:29:04
39. Alex Aranburu Deva (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 0:29:44
40. Travis McCabe (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:32:06
41. Cory Lockwood (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 0:34:57
42. Gonzalo Serrano Rodriguez (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 0:35:17
43. Chad Beyer (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:35:21
44. Patrick Mueller (Sui) BMC Racing Team 0:35:34
45. Simone Sterbini (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:35:56
46. Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:36:38
47. Miguel Angel Benito Diez (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 0:37:22
48. Redi Halilaj (Alb) Amore & Vita – SelleSMP p/b Fondriest 0:37:50
49. Chris Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:38:01
50. Logan Owen (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:40:38
51. Jacob Rathe (USA) Jelly Belly-Maxxis 0:41:13
52. David Galarreta (Esp) Amore & Vita – SelleSMP p/b Fondriest 0:41:19
53. Will Barta (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:42:10
54. Simone Velasco (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:42:51
55. Rui Oliveira (Por) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:43:01
56. Guillaume Boivin (Can) Israel Cycling Academy 0:44:03
57. Stephen Bassett (USA) Silber Pro Cycling 0:44:20
58. Connor Brown (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling 0:44:51
59. Steve Fisher (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:45:59
60. Erik Slack (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:46:12
61. Andrei Krasilnikau (Bel) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:46:26
62. Chris Winn (Aus) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:46:48
63. Orlando Garibay (Mex) Cylance Cycling 0:47:38
64. Adam Roberge (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 0:47:51
65. Diego Rubio Hernandez (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 0:48:02
66. Giacomo Berlato (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 0:48:09
67. Jonny Brown (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:48:56
68. Kaler Marshall (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:49:07
69. Simone Andreetta (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:49:08
70. Janier Acevedo (Col) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:49:39
71. Marco Bernardinetti (Ita) Amore & Vita – SelleSMP p/b Fondriest 0:49:56
72. Tyler Williams (USA) Israel Cycling Academy 0:50:51
73. Justin Oien (USA) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 0:50:52
74. Eric Marcotte (USA) Cylance Cycling 0:51:17
75. Andzs Flaksis (Lat) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:51:33
76. Umberto Poli (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk 0:51:41
77. Ulises Alfredo Castillo (Mex) Jelly Belly-Maxxis 0:51:50
78. Fabio Calabria (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk
79. Mihkel Raim (Est) Israel Cycling Academy 0:51:54
80. Michael Rice (Aus) Axeon Hagens Berman 0:51:57
81. Joshua Berry (USA) Jelly Belly-Maxxis 0:52:04
82. Besmir Banushi (Alb) Amore & Vita – SelleSMP p/b Fondriest 0:52:46
83. Tom Bohli (Sui) BMC Racing Team 0:53:06
84. Vincenzo Albanese (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:53:07
85. Bryan Lewis (USA) Cylance Cycling 0:53:29
86. Cortlan Brown (USA) Hangar 15 Bicycles 0:53:39
87. Evan Huffman (USA) Rally Cycling
88. Taylor Sheldon (USA) Jelly Belly-Maxxis 0:54:50
89. Oscar Clark (USA) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:55:04
90. Guy Niv (Isr) Israel Cycling Academy 0:56:18
91. John Murphy (USA) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:56:20
92. Ty Magner (USA) Holowesko-Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear 0:56:34
93. Andres Diaz (Col) Cylance Cycling 0:57:18
94. Paolo Simion (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:57:59
95. Sebastian Haedo (Arg) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 0:58:03
96. Colin Joyce (USA) Rally Cycling 0:58:07
97. Eric Young (USA) Rally Cycling 0:59:44
98. Angus Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly-Maxxis 1:01:59
99. Daniel Turek (Cze) Israel Cycling Academy 1:02:41
100. Sam Brand (Gbr) Team Novo Nordisk 1:03:55
101. Rik Van Ijzendoorn (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk 1:04:31
102. Jordan Cheyne (Can) Jelly Belly-Maxxis 1:05:17
103. Alan Marangoni (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 1:05:22
104. Damiano Cima (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 1:08:56
105. Joseph Schmaltz (USA) Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling
106. Pier-Andre Cote (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 1:09:08
107. Julien Gagne (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 1:09:34
108. Stephen Clancy (Irl) Team Novo Nordisk 1:10:21
109. Reid McClure (Can) Team Novo Nordisk 1:11:04
110. Marc Antoine Soucy (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 1:12:38
111. Danny Pate (USA) Rally Cycling 1:13:31
112. Aviv Yechezkel (Isr) Israel Cycling Academy 1:23:28