August 19, 2015 (Aspen, Colorado) – The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team took on stage 3 of the USA Pro Challenge today, starting in Copper Mountain and finishing 101.4 miles and 8274 feet of climbing later in the mountain town of Aspen, Colorado. The UnitedHealthcare Blue Train went into the race marked as favorites for the stage win after Kiel Reijnen sprinted to victory in Aspen one year prior on the opening stage of the 2014 edition. Reijnen and the team met and exceeded all expectations with another triumphant sprint victory, made possible by dedicated teamwork throughout the entire stage.
The riders took a scenic but grueling route to Aspen, ascending Fremont Pass followed by a rolling traverse as the race went around Turquoise Lake and through the town of Leadville before heading up Independence Pass, the final climb of the day. The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team focused on keeping sprinter Kiel Reijnen protected throughout the stage. The team let the breakaway go for the day, but kept tabs on the move with the help of Team BMC, which currently holds the race leader’s yellow jersey. At the base of the Independence Pass climb, Jonny Clarke raced into an elite move that organized to bring back the breakaway, while Chris Jones, Danny Summerhill, Tanner Putt, and John Murphy stayed close to Reijnen, keeping his legs fresh for the climb and sprint ahead.
As the winds shifted and the pace increased on the climb up Independence Pass, Reijnen found himself in trouble, struggling to stay with the climbers. “Rather than going too hard and too deep, I just had to ride my own pace,” said Reijnen, confident that his teammates could come to his aid and return him to the front of the race. Dedicated teammate and excellent climber Janez Brajkovi? stayed with Reijnen, while Jonny Clarke covered the front of the race for the team. With about a kilometer and a half to go, Reijnen still had Brajkovi? by his side, as well as Marco Canola, who had bridged up to help pace him over the summit of the climb and protect him from the high mountain wind.
Familiar with the Colorado terrain and especially the steep, winding road into Aspen, Reijnen led the way and the trio was able to make up time on the descent and reconnect with the charging field. “It took a huge amount of teamwork to get me back. I trusted the guys to do it and they were willing to sacrifice their race to come back and get me.” The team had successfully raced Kiel back into contention for the stage win before the group came flying onto the streets of Aspen, and were still by his side to help him finish the task. “Once we were back in the group, we knew it was a good situation since we had numbers,” said Reijnen. With a total of four UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team riders present in the finale, Janez Brajkovi? and Jonny Clarke were able to cover attacks, while Marco Canola protected Reijnen for the lead out.
Around the final turn, Team Axeon rider Logan Owen jumped first out of the final corner. Kiel Reijnen was in great position, safely on the wheel of teammate Marco Canola. Sheltered by the lead out from Canola, Reijnen jumped across to Owen’s wheel and was able to overtake the rider for the win, pounding his chest with pride as he crossed the finish line. The stunning victory put Reijnen back in possession of the green jersey, signifying his lead of the sprinter’s category. Canola held on for a top-10 finish in the sprint after delivering Reijnen for the win. Jonny Clarke remains 3rd in the general classification as the road tilts up again along the 125.8-mile route from Aspen to Breckenridge on stage 4.
“It was all teamwork. We were lucky that BMC had similar tactics since they wanted to keep the race together for Bookwalker, so they helped us keep it in check, but my teammates did an unbelievable job to pace me back after the climb,” commented stage winner and green jersey leader Kiel Reijnen, “I was definitely in difficulty those last couple of kilometers, but they did a big load of work to get me back in there. We came here to win a stage and we did it. We’re not done yet, but I’m really pleased with how the team is riding here this week.”
Click here to watch an exclusive post-race interview with Kiel Reijnen.
Results
1. Kiel Reijnen (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 3:56:52
2. Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team
3. Ruben Zepuntke (Ger) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
4. Logan Owen (USA) Axeon Cycling Team
5. Julian Arredondo Moreno (Col) Trek Factory Racing
6. Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
7. Dion Smith (Nzl) Hincapie Racing Team
8. Toms Skujins (Lat) Hincapie Racing Team
9. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team
10. Marco Canola (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
11. Alexandr Braico (Mda) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
12. Miguel Angel Benito Diez (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
13. Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek Factory Racing
14. Jaime Roson (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
15. Robbie Squire (USA) Hincapie Racing Team
16. Lachlan Norris (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
17. Gavin Mannion (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
18. Timothy Roe (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
19. Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
20. Bruno Pires (Por) Tinkoff-Saxo
21. Tao Geoghegan Hart (Gbr) Axeon Cycling Team
22. Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
23. Lachlan David Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
24. Daniel Alexander Jaramillo Diez (Col) Jamis – Hagens Berman
25. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
26. Rob Britton (Can) Team SmartStop
27. Hugh Carthy (Gbr) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
28. Jack Bobridge (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts
29. Daniel Eaton (USA) Axeon Cycling Team
30. Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo
31. Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek Factory Racing
32. Kyle Murphy (USA) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
33. Michael Schär (Sui) BMC Racing Team
34. Evan Huffman (USA) Team SmartStop 02:14
35. Nicolae Tanovitchii (Mda) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 02:25
36. Calvin Watson (Aus) Trek Factory Racing
37. Flavio De Luna (Mex) Team SmartStop
38. Felix Grossschartner (Aut) Tinkoff-Saxo
39. Ivan Rovny (Rus) Tinkoff-Saxo
40. Jure Kocjan (Slo) Team SmartStop
41. Wojciech Migdal (Pol) Cycling Academy Team 04:08
42. Jasper Bovenhuis (Ned) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
43. Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing Team
44. Leonardo Basso (Ita) Trek Factory Racing
45. Travis Mccabe (USA) Team SmartStop
46. Chad Young (USA) Axeon Cycling Team
47. Tom Zirbel (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
48. Jack Anderson (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts
49. Dylan Girdlestone (RSA) Drapac Professional Cycling
50. Fabricio Ferrari Barcelo (Uru) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
51. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo
52. Guillaume Boivin (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
53. Andzs Flaksis (Lat) Hincapie Racing Team 07:34
54. Angus Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
55. Adam Phelan (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
56. Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
57. Joseph Lewis (Aus) Hincapie Racing Team
58. Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo 09:55
59. Emerson Oronte (USA) Team SmartStop 10:24
60. Taylor Shelden (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
61. Nathan Brown (USA) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
62. Manuel Senni (Ita) BMC Racing Team
63. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Jamis – Hagens Berman 11:33
64. Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
65. Charles Planet (Fra) Team Novo Nordisk
66. Antonio Molina (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
67. Bartosz Warchol (Pol) Cycling Academy Team
68. Walter Gaston Trillini (Arg) Jamis – Hagens Berman
69. Gregory Daniel (USA) Axeon Cycling Team
70. Killian Frankiny (Sui) BMC Racing Team
71. Peter Stetina (USA) BMC Racing Team
72. Matthew Busche (USA) Trek Factory Racing
73. Martin Kohler (Sui) Drapac Professional Cycling
74. Michael Torckler (Nzl) Team Budget Forklifts
75. Eduard Beltran Suarez (Col) Tinkoff-Saxo
76. Will Routley (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
77. Robin Carpenter (USA) Hincapie Racing Team 12:51
78. Stephen Leece (USA) Jamis – Hagens Berman
79. Oscar Clark (USA) Hincapie Racing Team 12:52
80. Fabio Silvestre (Por) Trek Factory Racing 13:21
81. William Clarke (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
82. Samuel Spokes (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
83. Kristoffer Skjerping (Nor) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
84. Edward King (USA) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
85. David Lozano Riba (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk
86. Javier Megias Leal (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk 13:29
87. Kevin De Mesmaeker (Bel) Team Novo Nordisk 14:21
88. Pierrick Naud (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
89. Steve Fisher (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
90. Tanner Putt (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
91. Brendan Canty (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts
92. Julian Kyer (USA) Team SmartStop
93. John Murphy (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
94. Daniel Summerhill (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
95. Jordan Kerby (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
96. Gregory Brenes Obando (CRc) Jamis – Hagens Berman
97. Phillip Gaimon (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
98. James Oram (Nzl) Axeon Cycling Team
99. Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing Team
100. Chris Putt (USA) Axeon Cycling Team
101. David Williams (USA) Jamis – Hagens Berman
102. Yoav Bear (Isr) Cycling Academy Team 14:30
103. Brodie Talbot (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts
104. Joseph Schmalz (USA) Hincapie Racing Team
105. Carson Miller (USA) Jamis – Hagens Berman
106. Daniel Barry (Nzl) Team Budget Forklifts
107. Daniel Turek (Cze) Cycling Academy Team 20:55
108. Emanuel Piaskowy (Pol) Cycling Academy Team
109. Erik Slack (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
DNF Brian Kamstra (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk
DNF Eric Young (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
DNF Eric Marcotte (USA) Team SmartStop
DNF Guy Gabay (Isr) Cycling Academy Team
GC after Stage 3
1. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 12:13:02
2. Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing Team 00:06
3. Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 00:10
4. Hugh Carthy (Gbr) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
5. Robbie Squire (USA) Hincapie Racing Team 00:13
6. Lachlan David Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 00:25
7. Jaime Roson (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 00:27
8. Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team 00:31
9. Julian Arredondo Moreno (Col) Trek Factory Racing 00:33
10. Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek Factory Racing 00:38
11. Toms Skujins (Lat) Hincapie Racing Team 00:44
12. Rob Britton (Can) Team SmartStop 00:47
13. Gavin Mannion (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 00:53
14. Tao Geoghegan Hart (Gbr) Axeon Cycling Team 00:54
15. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
16. Alexandr Braico (Mda) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 00:57
17. Lachlan Norris (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling
18. Bruno Pires (Por) Tinkoff-Saxo 00:59
19. Dion Smith (Nzl) Hincapie Racing Team 01:22
20. Daniel Alexander Jaramillo Diez (Col) Jamis – Hagens Berman 01:30
21. Ruben Zepuntke (Ger) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team 01:49
22. Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 03:43
23. Flavio De Luna (Mex) Team SmartStop 04:42
24. Ivan Rovny (Rus) Tinkoff-Saxo 04:48
25. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo 05:30
26. Logan Owen (USA) Axeon Cycling Team 07:14
27. Evan Huffman (USA) Team SmartStop 07:35
28. Kiel Reijnen (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 07:55
29. Marco Canola (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
30. Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing Team 08:27
31. Timothy Roe (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 08:41
32. Michael Schär (Sui) BMC Racing Team
33. Daniel Eaton (USA) Axeon Cycling Team 09:10
34. Leonardo Basso (Ita) Trek Factory Racing 09:14
35. Felix Grossschartner (Aut) Tinkoff-Saxo 09:39
36. Calvin Watson (Aus) Trek Factory Racing 10:09
37. Miguel Angel Benito Diez (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 11:36
38. Jack Bobridge (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts 11:37
39. Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo 11:38
40. Emerson Oronte (USA) Team SmartStop 11:46
41. Nicolae Tanovitchii (Mda) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 12:13
42. Taylor Shelden (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 12:30
43. Travis Mccabe (USA) Team SmartStop 12:37
44. Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team 13:00
45. Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek Factory Racing 13:17
46. Michael Torckler (Nzl) Team Budget Forklifts 13:56
47. Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Esp) Tinkoff-Saxo 14:10
48. Kyle Murphy (USA) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 15:10
49. Nathan Brown (USA) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team 15:37
50. Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing Team 15:43
51. Fabricio Ferrari Barcelo (Uru) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 15:44
52. Dylan Girdlestone (RSA) Drapac Professional Cycling 16:19
53. Matthew Busche (USA) Trek Factory Racing 16:39
54. Jure Kocjan (Slo) Team SmartStop 17:35
55. Adam Phelan (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 17:39
56. James Oram (Nzl) Axeon Cycling Team 18:13
57. Chad Young (USA) Axeon Cycling Team 18:18
58. Tom Zirbel (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 18:53
59. Guillaume Boivin (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 19:00
60. Andzs Flaksis (Lat) Hincapie Racing Team 19:10
61. Angus Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
62. Tanner Putt (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 21:50
63. Jasper Bovenhuis (Ned) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team 22:43
64. Joseph Lewis (Aus) Hincapie Racing Team 22:44
65. Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 23:09
66. Gregory Daniel (USA) Axeon Cycling Team 23:29
67. Charles Planet (Fra) Team Novo Nordisk 25:43
68. Bartosz Warchol (Pol) Cycling Academy Team
69. Peter Stetina (USA) BMC Racing Team
70. Walter Gaston Trillini (Arg) Jamis – Hagens Berman
71. Eduard Beltran Suarez (Col) Tinkoff-Saxo
72. Jack Anderson (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts 26:27
73. Javier Megias Leal (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk 27:35
74. Chris Putt (USA) Axeon Cycling Team 28:31
75. Killian Frankiny (Sui) BMC Racing Team 29:07
76. Antonio Molina (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 29:17
77. John Murphy (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 29:31
78. Phillip Gaimon (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
79. Brendan Canty (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts
80. Daniel Turek (Cze) Cycling Academy Team 29:34
81. Jordan Kerby (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 30:10
82. Daniel Summerhill (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling 30:29
83. Manuel Senni (Ita) BMC Racing Team 30:32
84. Wojciech Migdal (Pol) Cycling Academy Team 31:00
85. Fabio Silvestre (Por) Trek Factory Racing 31:05
86. Kristoffer Skjerping (Nor) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team 31:56
87. Edward King (USA) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
88. Julian Kyer (USA) Team SmartStop 32:05
89. David Williams (USA) Jamis – Hagens Berman
90. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Jamis – Hagens Berman 32:26
91. William Clarke (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 32:31
92. Will Routley (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 33:21
93. Samuel Spokes (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling 33:32
94. Martin Kohler (Sui) Drapac Professional Cycling 33:42
95. Gregory Brenes Obando (CRc) Jamis – Hagens Berman 33:43
96. Stephen Leece (USA) Jamis – Hagens Berman 33:44
97. Carson Miller (USA) Jamis – Hagens Berman 33:52
98. David Lozano Riba (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk 34:06
99. Joseph Schmalz (USA) Hincapie Racing Team 35:14
100. Robin Carpenter (USA) Hincapie Racing Team 36:09
101. Oscar Clark (USA) Hincapie Racing Team 36:10
102. Kevin De Mesmaeker (Bel) Team Novo Nordisk 37:37
103. Steve Fisher (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 37:39
104. Emanuel Piaskowy (Pol) Cycling Academy Team 39:30
105. Pierrick Naud (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 40:34
106. Erik Slack (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis 41:03
107. Daniel Barry (Nzl) Team Budget Forklifts 46:15
108. Brodie Talbot (Aus) Team Budget Forklifts 46:35
109. Yoav Bear (Isr) Cycling Academy Team 52:12
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