Tour of Utah - NE

Utah, USA, August 7-12, 2006

Main Page Results Overall standings Next Stage

Stage 1 - August 7: NuSkin Road Race, 168 km

Opportunity knocks for Lagutin

By Steve Medcroft in Provo, Utah

Sergey Lagutin
Photo ©: Steve Medcroft

Sergey Lagutin (Navigators) took advantage of a long sprint to win the first stage of the 2006 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah presented by Zions Bank on Monday. After a relatively flat, 168-kilometer road race around Utah Lake, during which twenty one year-old six-time cyclo-cross national champion Jesse Anthony (Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada) and Team Einstein Cycling's Clayton Barrow spent eighty miles together on a breakaway, the race came down to a field sprint. With teams stacked for the race's two alpine-style climbing stages, Lagutin was able to leverage other team's lead-outs to strike victory in downtown Provo.

Not your father's stage race

Run on flat, exposed and mostly straight roads around the 151-square mile Utah Lake (one of the largest freshwater lakes in the Western U.S.), the opening stage of the Tour of Utah was no easy day while riders wait to sort out the GC on the mountain stages at the end of the week. In fact, the race turned challenging some twenty miles in when a rapid storm cell blew dust and debris in sixty-mile an hour gusts sideways across the peloton.

"The wind was crazy," Jesse Anthony said at the finish. "Stuff was flying everywhere. Guys were all across the road. I had just flatted before the storm and when I finally got back intp the group, things settled down a little bit. After we got out of the wind, things got aggressive and there was a lot of attacking. I followed an attack Clayton put in and we got away." A second group of three riders hung more than a minute behind the leaders but ahead of the main pack.

Barrows and Anthony, out front for 120k
Photo ©: Steve Medcroft

In part, Anthony and Barrow owe the almost success of their break to the major teams hesitating to take control of the main peloton. "We had a guy in that group of three," says eventual second-place Andrew Pinfold (Symmetrics Cycling). "So we weren't going to chase it down. And there was a bit of a Mexican stand off between Health Net, Toyota and even other teams where no-one wanted to chase."

But the pack did bring Anthony and Barrows back - partly because the pace lifted coming into the final miles and partly because the breakaway faded after such a long, hard effort - and at the end of the day, it came down to a field sprint. With one six-kilometer finishing loops left, Lagutin, the current National Road and Time Trial Champion in his home country of Uzbekistan and former U23 World Road Race Champion (Under-23), found an enterprising wheel. "He's not a pure sprinter," says Navigator's Director Ed Beamon about his Uzbecki star. "He's a very good sprinter though. And he's one of the best sprinting climbers out there. Sergey was able to play off other guys and get around some very good sprinters."

After sprint bonus seconds and finish times were calculated, Lagutin was awarded the yellow leader's jersey, the sprint classification (for winning of two field sprints along with the finish) and the best young rider's jersey. Anthony sprinted ahead of Barrow on the stage's one King of the Mountain climb and wears the races KOM jersey for his efforts.

Navigator's ownership of the lead this early in the race doesn't put as much pressure as it might seem to spend a lot of time defending it. With local favorite Burk Swindlehurst and Tour de Georgia climbing standout Ceasar Grejales on the squad, they have more than enough power to take the jersey back in the mountain stages if Lagutin gives it up in either tomorrow's also-flat road race or Wednesday's time trial.

A Navigator in the yellow jersey after Thursday's 14-mile, 4,500-feet of climbing mountain top finish is far from assured though. A number of teams have stacked their squads with the highest caliber of American climbers; Health Net has Scott Moninger, Toyota United has U.S. Road Champion Chris Wherry, Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada will work in support of Dominique Perras. And the list goes on.

Tuesday's Steve Williams Memorial Road Race is a 150-kilometer flat stage starting at Miller Motorsports Park and running to Thanksgiving Point, Utah. There will be two opportunities for sprinters to gain time and points and no KOM.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Steve Medcroft/Cyclingnews.com

The field rolls through Provo before heading out onto the roads around Utah Lake
With heavy weather behind them, small groups began to get traction chasing down the lead break of two riders
Open fields and a lake made for an exposed ride on Monday
Bryson Perry (Team Successful Living), part of a three-man chase group that spent most of the day together
A lonely chase Second group on the road.
Jesse Anthony (Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada) and Clayton Barry (Team Einsteins Cycling) stayed away for 90 miles before being swallowed in the final five miles.
The BMC Racing team spent some time setting tempo in the pack to control the two-man breakaway's gap
Utah is a scenic backdrop for a road race
Bryson Perry (Team Successful Living) Brandon Chrichton (Symmetrics) and Nathan Miller (BMC Racing) gave a chase but never quite caught the two leaders.
Barrows and Anthony
Looking for fuel
Clayton Barrows (Team Einstein's Cycling)
Jesse Anthony (Kodakgallery.com/Sierra Nevada)
Barrows leads Anthony
Sergey Lagutin (Navigators) wins the first stage in the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah presented by Zions Bank
Jesse Anthony in the post-race press conference

Results

1 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance             3.50.22
2 Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling
3 Michael Friedman (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref
4 Cesar Grajales (Col) Navigators Insurance
5 Jeff Louder (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis
6 Michael Sayers (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis
7 Chris Wherry (USA) Toyota United
8 Dominique Perras (Can) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada
9 Ken Hanson (USA) Bmc Racing
10 Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance
11 Kirk O'Bee (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis
12 Alexi Martinez (USA) Team Successful Living
13 Jonathan Garcia (USA) Team Einstein's Cycling
14 Charles Coyle (USA) Vitamin Cottage
15 Neil Shirley (USA) Kjzz - Pro Composite Team
16 Andrew Randell (Can) Symmetrics Cycling
17 Joshua Thornton (USA) Toyota United
18 Chris Baldwin (USA) Toyota United
19 Adam Curry (USA) Broadmark
20 Curtis Gunn (USA) Team Successful Living
21 Owen Laine (USA) Bmc Racing
22 Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref
23 Sandy Perrins (USA) Sienna Dev/Goble Knee Clinic
24 Jason Donald (USA) Team Einstein's Cycling
25 Chris Stockburger (USA) Toyota United
26 Blake Caldwell (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref
27 Mike Dietrich (USA) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada
28 Jacob Rytlewski (USA) Priority Health
29 Cory Collier (USA) Team Einstein's Cycling
30 Jacob Erker (Can) Symmetrics Cycling
31 Christopher Jones (USA) KJZZ Composite Team
32 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling
33 Stefano Barberi (Bra) Toyota United
34 Justin England (USA) Toyota United
35 Max Jenkins (USA) California Giant Strawberries
36 Glen Chadwick (Aus) Navigators Insurance
37 Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Navigators Insurance
38 Craig Mccartney (USA) Vitamin Cottage
39 Douglas Ollerenshaw (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis
40 Dave Harward (USA) Team 101.9 The End (Utah Allstars)
41 Mike Telega (USA) California Giant Strawberries
42 Scott Nydam (USA) Bmc Racing
43 Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis
44 Calvin Allen (USA) Broadmark
45 John Hunt (USA) California Giant Strawberries
46 Eric Pardyjak (USA) Team 101.9 The End (Utah Allstars)
47 Timmy Duggan (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref
48 Ryan Yee (USA) Team Successful Living
49 Todd Hageman (USA) Team 101.9 The End (Utah Allstars)
50 Zachary Grabowski (USA) Kjzz - Pro Composite Team
51 Steven Cozza (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref
52 Michael Creed (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref
53 Andrew Bajadali (USA) Kjzz - Pro Composite Team
54 Kirk Eck (USA) Sienna Dev/Goble Knee Clinic
55 Ryan Hamity (USA) Team Einstein's Cycling
56 Omar Kem (USA) Priority Health
57 Mitchell Moreman (USA) Vitamin Cottage
58 Clayton Barrows (USA) Team Einstein's Cycling
59 Mark Santurbane (USA) Broadmark
60 Matt Cooke (USA) Kjzz - Pro Composite Team
61 David Rodriguez (USA) Bmc Racing
62 Brian Sheedy (USA) Priority Health
63 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance
64 Jesse Anthony (USA) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada
65 Brandon Chrichton (Can) Symmetrics Cycling
66 Jared Berger (USA) Vitamin Cottage
67 Ryan Barrett (USA) Sienna Dev/Goble Knee Clinic
68 Scott Zwizanski (USA) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada
69 Cameron Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling
70 Jesse Gordon (USA) Team 101.9 The End (Utah Allstars)
71 Skyler Bingham (USA) Team 101.9 The End (Utah Allstars)
72 Daniel Wilson (USA) Sierra Dev/Goble Knee Clinic
73 Drew Miller (USA) Team Successful Living
74 Tom Zirbel (USA) Priority Health
75 Evan Lawrence (USA) Broadmark
76 Daniel Ramsey (USA) Team Successful Living
77 Kevin Rowe (USA) California Giant Strawberries
78 Jason Allen (USA) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada
79 David Robinson (USA) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada
80 James Mattis (USA) California Giant Strawberries
81 Chris Lieto (USA) California Giant Strawberries
82 Ian Ayers (USA) Kjzz - Pro Composite Team
83 Jacob Rosenbarger (USA) Bmc Racing
84 Chris Brennan (USA) Vitamin Cottage                     0.45
85 Thomas Cooke (USA) Sienna Dev/Goble Knee Clinic         0.47
86 Alex Rock (USA) Team 101.9 The End (Utah Allstars)      1.22
87 Bryson Perry (USA) Team Successful Living               4.17
88 Dan Timmerman (USA) Priority Health                     7.22
89 Joby Siciliano (USA) Team Einstein's Cycling            8.01
90 Nathan Miller (USA) Bmc Racing
91 Glen Mitchell (NZl) Priority Health                     8.23
 
General classification after stage one
 
1 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance             3.50.12
2 Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling                  0.04
3 Jesse Anthony (USA) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada
4 Michael Friedman (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref                    0.06
5 Clayton Barrows (USA) Team Einstein's Cycling
6 Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance            0.09
7 Brandon Chrichton (Can) Symmetrics Cycling
8 Cesar Grajales (Col) Navigators Insurance                0.10
9 Jeff Louder (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis
10 Michael Sayers (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis
11 Chris Wherry (USA) Toyota United
12 Dominique Perras (Can) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada
13 Ken Hanson (USA) Bmc Racing
14 Kirk O'Bee (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis
15 Alexi Martinez (USA) Team Successful Living
16 Jonathan Garcia (USA) Team Einstein's Cycling
17 Charles Coyle (USA) Vitamin Cottage
18 Neil Shirley (USA) Kjzz - Pro Composite Team
19 Andrew Randell (Can) Symmetrics Cycling
20 Joshua Thornton (USA) Toyota United
21 Chris Baldwin (USA) Toyota United
22 Adam Curry (USA) Broadmark
23 Curtis Gunn (USA) Team Successful Living
24 Owen Laine (USA) Bmc Racing
25 Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref
26 Sandy Perrins (USA) Sienna Dev/Goble Knee Clinic
27 Jason Donald (USA) Team Einstein's Cycling
28 Christoph Stockburger (USA) Toyota United
29 Blake Caldwell (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref
30 Mike Dietrich (USA) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada
31 Jacob Rytlewski (USA) Priority Health
32 Cory Collier (USA) Team Einstein's Cycling
33 Jacob Erker (Can) Symmetrics Cycling
34 Christopher Jones (USA) Kjzz - Pro Composite Team
35 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling
36 Stefano Barberi (Bra) Toyota United
37 Justin England (USA) Toyota United
38 Max Jenkins (USA) California Giant Strawberries
39 Glen Chadwick (Aus) Navigators Insurance
40 Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Navigators Insurance
41 Craig Mccartney (USA) Vitamin Cottage
42 Douglas Ollerenshaw (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis
43 Dave Harward (USA) Team 101.9 The End (Utah Allstars)
44 Mike Telega (USA) California Giant Strawberries
45 Scott Nydam (USA) Bmc Racing
46 Scott Moninger (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis
47 Calvin Allen (USA) Broadmark
48 John Hunt (USA) California Giant Strawberries
49 Eric Pardyjak (USA) Team 101.9 The End (Utah Allstars)
50 Timmy Duggan (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref
51 Ryan Yee (USA) Team Successful Living
52 Todd Hageman (USA) Team 101.9 The End (Utah Allstars)
53 Zachary Grabowski (USA) Kjzz - Pro Composite Team
54 Steven Cozza (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref
55 Michael Creed (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref
56 Andrew Bajadali (USA) Kjzz - Pro Composite Team
57 Kirk Eck (USA) Sienna Dev/Goble Knee Clinic
58 Ryan Hamity (USA) Team Einstein's Cycling
59 Omar Kem (USA) Priority Health
60 Mitchell Moreman (USA) Vitamin Cottage
61 Mark Santurbane (USA) Broadmark
62 Matt Cooke (USA) Kjzz - Pro Composite Team
63 David Rodriguez (USA) Bmc Racing
64 Brian Sheedy (USA) Priority Health
65 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance
66 Jared Berger (USA) Vitamin Cottage
67 Ryan Barrett (USA) Sienna Dev/Goble Knee Clinic
68 Scott Zwizanski (USA) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada
69 Cameron Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling
70 Jesse Gordon (USA) Team 101.9 The End (Utah Allstars)
71 Skyler Bingham (USA) Team 101.9 The End (Utah Allstars)
72 Daniel Vinson (USA) Sienna Dev/Goble Knee Clinic
73 Drew Miller (USA) Team Successful Living
74 Tom Zirbel (USA) Priority Health
75 Aaron Tuckerman (USA) Broadmark
76 Daniel Ramsey (USA) Team Successful Living
77 Kevin Rowe (USA) California Giant Strawberries
78 Jason Allen (USA) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada
79 David Robinson (USA) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada
80 James Mattis (USA) California Giant Strawberries
81 Chris Lieto (USA) California Giant Strawberries
82 Ian Ayers (USA) Kjzz - Pro Composite Team
83 Jacob Rosenbarger (USA) Bmc Racing
84 Chris Brennan (USA) Vitamin Cottage                     0.55
85 Thomas Cooke (USA) Sienna Dev/Goble Knee Clinic         0.57
86 Alex Rock (USA) Team 101.9 The End (Utah Allstars)      1.32
87 Bryson Perry (USA) Team Successful Living               4.47
88 Dan Timmerman (USA) Priority Health                     7.32
89 Joby Siciliano (USA) Team Einstein's Cycling            8.11
90 Nathan Miller (USA) Bmc Racing
91 Glen Mitchell (NZl) Priority Health                     8.53
 
Points classification
 
1 Jesse Anthony (USA) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada          4 pts
2 Clayton Barrows (USA) Team Einstein's Cycling               3
3 Scott Nydam (USA) Bmc Racing                                2
4 James Mattis (USA) California Giant Strawberries            1
 
Sprints calssification
 
1 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance                  15 pts
2 Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling                    12
3 Jesse Anthony (USA) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada         10
4 Michael Friedman (USA) Team Tiaa-Cref                      10
5 Cesar Grajales (Col) Navigators Insurance                   7
6 Clayton Barrows (USA) Team Einstein's Cycling               6
7 Jeff Louder (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis            6
8 Michael Sayers (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis         5
9 Chris Wherry (USA) Toyota United                            4
10 Dominique Perras (Can) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada      3
11 Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance              2
12 Ken Hanson (USA) Bmc Racing                                2
13 Brandon Chrichton (Can) Symmetrics Cycling                 1
 
Teams classification
 
1 Navigators                                                 15 pts
2 Health Net                                                 22
3 Toyota United                                              42
4 Symmetrics Cycling                                         48
5 TIAA CREF                                                  51
6 Team Einstein's Cycling                                    66
7 BMC Racing                                                 72
8 Successfulliving.com                                       80
9 KJZZ - Composite Team                                      96
10 Kodakgallery.com/Sierra N                                 99
11 Vitamin Cottage                                          109
12 CA Giant/Village Peddler                                 121
13 Broadmark/Hagens-Berman                                  122
14 Team End (Utah Allstars)                                 135
15 Sienna Dev't/Goble Knee C                                144
16 Priority Health                                          146