August 03, 2018 (Utah) – The Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling Team is proud to announce the roster for the 2018 edition of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah. Fresh off of success in last year’s race, James Piccoli and Alfredo Rodriguez will anchor the strong selection for Elevate-KHS. Joining them in St. George will be Sam Bassetti, Jordan Cheyne, George Simpson, Brian McCulloch, and Eder Frayre.
This year’s event will see the return of the short opening Prologue stage in St. George. At only 3.3 miles long, we shouldn’t see the race won in this first day, but valuable time can be lost on the short climbs on the route.
Prologues are difficult to predict, so we should see strong results from both our sprinters and our climbers when the short stage has concluded.
The first full length stage of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah sees the peloton return to Cedar City again for a hot 101 mile route. In the past, sprinters who can make it over those difficult climbs midway through the course were able to contest a fast bunch sprint from a reduced peloton. This could also be a good day for an exciting breakaway to survive all the way to the end. However, with the yellow jersey in reach of so many riders, it will be difficult to make it all the way to the line alone.
The infamous Mt. Nebo makes its triumphant return to the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah. As the tallest mountain in the Wasatch Range, can cement the legacy of any rider who conquers it. The profile leading up to this climb features a 12 mile circuit out of Payson, before heading to the Wasatch Range. After the climb the peloton will make their way down a difficult steep descent which will make attempts at rejoining the leaders extremely difficult. Expect to see the strongest riders over the top of Mt. Nebo to have a good chance of making it all the way back to Payson for the finish line.
The 2018 edition of the race sees the return of two popular destinations on stage 3 in Antelope Island and the Hill Air Force Base. This year we will enjoy a longer venture on the island as the race will start out on the far end before returning to mainland. On their way into Layton the peloton will pass through Hill Air Force Base giving our service men and women another chance to see the race up close and personal. After leaving the base the race will attempt the Bountiful Bench which is steep enough to launch a winning move or at least see several riders try as they race for the line on the Layton circuits.
Salt Lake City has become a staple of the race with its crowd friendly circuit through the streets of downtown. At only 68 miles each circuit will get faster and faster as the peloton completes the saw blade profile. This is a good day for a sprinter with the legs to stay with the bunch on those difficult short climbs, however last year we saw relentless attacks and a small breakaway just edge-out the chasing peloton for victory.
The climb to Snowbird Resort has become synonymous with the Tour of Utah, as the only constant feature of the race throughout its years as a UCI event. Before the even reach SNowbird, however, the race must cross the category 1 Guardsmen Pass. An extremely fast 15 mile descent follows the pass before the race heads back up hill towards the Snowbird Resort. In 2017 James Piccoli finished 8th on the stage and will be looking to improve upon that result in this year’s edition.
Missing from our first entry into the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah in 2017 was the beautiful Park City Circuit stage. The final stage of the 2018 race welcome’s Park City back after one year away. For the first time in the history of the race, the difficult Empire Pass with its pitches of up to 20% has been repaved; gone are the disheveled chip sealed roads of previous editions. After reaching the summit of this fabled climb the race is all downhill back into Park City to crown a new victor of America’s Toughest Stage Race, the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah!
Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling Roster:
– Sam Bassetti
– Jordan Cheyne
– Eder Frayer
– Brian McCulloch
– James Piccoli
– George Simpson
– Alfredo Rodriguez