On the day when Ryder Hesjedal announced his retirement, young Canadian Kris Dahl (Silber Pro Cycling) delivered a major surprise on the first stage of the Tour of Utah when he beat all the pre-race favourites in a very fast downhill sprint. Coming off David Tanner’s wheel, he narrowly held Colin Joyce (Axeon) and Rick Zabel (BMC) off in the bunch kick and so both took the biggest victory of his career and became the first leader of the seven-day race.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Kris Dahl: I am surprised that nobody came around me

Silber Pro Cycling's Kris Dahl (Canada) sprinted to victory in front of a fast-charging peloton to take the overall lead at the 2016 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah. Dahl outkicked Axeon Hagens Berman's Colin Joyce (USA) and BMC Racing Team's Rick Zabel (Germany), who finished second and third respectively, for the Stage 1 presented by Workers Compensation Fund finish in Cedar City. Dahl claimed the first jersey of the 2016 Tour of Utah.

 

“For the Silber Pro Team, it's an amazing victory today,” Dahl said, whose Continental team is making its inaugural appearance in Utah. “To end up in yellow our first year at the Tour of Utah, that's really special. Everybody can expect the Silber Team to be very active the rest of this race.”

 

Dahl surprised the disorganized peloton by opening his sprint early along the downtown circuits in Cedar City to claim the biggest victory of his career.

 

“Coming into the finish it was pretty hectic. There were all sorts of things happening. There were attacks and lead out trains that were overtaken. I found myself with one (kilometer) to go on the outside of the group. I started early and just hung on for the win.

 

“It was a bit of a gong show in the sprint. It was a long sprint — I’m surprised nobody came around me.”

 

American talent bounces back from bad luck with strong sprint in Utah

Colin Joyce matched his season-best result with a runner-up finish for the Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team and earned "best young rider" honors on Monday's opening stage of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah.

Teammate Logan Owen also finished in the top 10, in fifth, after Adrien Costa was part of the day's breakaway that was only caught on three laps of a finishing circuit of Cedar City at the end of the 134.3-kilometer race.

All eight Axeon Hagens Berman riders finished in the top 45, in the same time as stage winner Kristofer Dahl (Silber Pro Cycling). BMC Racing Team's Rick Zabel finished third.

"With one kilometer to go, I was fighting for fifth wheel as we swung into that last left-hand turn," Joyce said. "It is a long straight to the finish so there was a little bit of swarming. I knew with how fast of a sprint it was, you definitely wanted to leave it a little late. Unfortunately, I left it a little too late. At the same time, I am stoked to get second."

Axeon Hagens Berman General Manager Axel Merckx said he was pleased to see Joyce score a breakout performance on such a big stage.

"He has had a lot of bad luck this season, but he is coming on strong now," Merckx said. "He was second on the last stage at the Cascade Cycling Classic, so these are important results for him. When you look at our results today, we had four guys in the top 20, so everyone was pretty much attentive and racing well at the front."

Costa helped initiate what was originally a five-man breakaway not long after a 20-km neutral rollout from Zion National Park. Teaming with Matteo Dal-Cin (Silbert Pro Cycling), Daniel Jaramillo (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team), Kyle Murphy (Team Jamis) and Simon Pellaud (IAM Cycling), the quintet initially shed Murphy on the long climb to the summit of Bristlecone, which tops out at 2,990 meters.

Costa, the youngest rider in the race and the first American to win the Tour de Bretagne in its 50-year history, said Monday marked the first time he had ever ridden in a day-long breakaway.

"It was super fun. I really enjoyed it, and it was hard," he said. "I am coming into this race with no pressure for the GC (general classification). After a long spring in Europe, I was pretty fried at nationals. So I had a nice break at home but wasn't sure what my form would be for this race. I am just here to help the team and not ride too much for myself, which is a nice change. A lot of the time I end up being the GC guy and having to save my legs."

After the breakaway's advantage reached five minutes, several teams shared the workload to chase the breakaway. And on the long descent to Cedar City, Pellaud and Dal-Cin separated themselves from Costa and Jaramillo.

"Matteo Dal-Cin got in the super tuck and I was doing everything I could to go down as fast as I could," Costa said. "But Jeremy and I - the two lighter guys - meter by meter fell back. Ont he slight downhill, the three or four percent stuff, it favors the big and more powerful guys. So those two pulled away pretty quickly."

Joyce said his result on the first day of the week-long race helps make up for what has otherwise been a bit of a disappointment.

"This is huge for me. I am definitely very happy," he said. "This is my last year as a U23. Everyone tells you not to stress, but it is hard not to when the whole year you are thinking about contract season. This whole spring, I was in Europe and kept crashing, getting sick and having injuries. I came back to the U.S. without a single healthy race over there. I was sick at the Tour de Beauce but luckily Greg (Daniel) smashed it. Then, the Cascade Classic last week was really my first healthy race. It was nice to ride well there and into this and keep the good vibes going."

 

Rick Zabel: A podium spot is always a nice reward

The opening stage of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah came down to a thrilling final sprint on the streets of Cedar City with Rick Zabel crossing the line third behind the stage winner and opening race leader, Kris Dahl (Silber Pro Cycling). 

 

The day started with a 20 kilometer neutral start through the Zion Canyon National Park but as the race hit kilometer zero the attacks immediately followed and a breakaway quickly established an early lead over the peloton. 

 

Their advantage reached a maximum of around five minutes before the BMC Racing Team stated to apply the pressure and pull hard at the front of the peloton to close down the gap. 

 

The remaining breakaway riders were caught going into the final lap of the finishing circuit in Cedar City before the stage was set for the final sprint. 

 

Sports Director Jackson Stewart said: "We had to do a lot of work at the front of the peloton today to pull the breakaway back. It was perhaps more work than we expected to do but the guys all did a really great job. It was really positive to see how strong they were all riding and also to see them put their belief in Rick for the sprint. Rick looked really good at the end and I think taking third definitely made all of our efforts at the front of the race worthwhile." 

 

Rick Zabel said: "I was really looking forward to today's stage. I finished seventh in Cedar City two years ago and although it was a different finish I knew the climb well and was sure I could do well if it came down to a final sprint. In the end there were two riders who were quicker than me today but I'm happy with how I was riding and a podium finish is always good.

 

"The whole team did a really good job riding up front today and everyone was working really hard. We have a good bunch of guys racing here and I'm looking forward to the rest of the week." 

 

Ill Heinrich Haussler abandons the Tour of Utah

For IAM, Heinrich Haussler had been suffering from gastric disorders since last Sunday, and was forced to abandon the Tour of Utah mid-stage on Monday. The sports management and the medical staff will agree on the best date for his return to competition.

 

Having broken away from the pack after just three kilometers of racing, Simon Pellaud spent the entire day at the pointy end of the race, before being swept up with just 5.3 kilometers to go to tHe finish.

 

“On a day like today, which is also the Swiss National Day, I was even more willing than usual to get into the break,” Pellaud explained. “We took off in the Zion Park, and that is one of the nicest places I have ever had the chance to ride my bike. My only regret is that I didn’t have the resources for the final. I tried to attack the final descent with another rider. We really hoped to make it to the finish alone. But our efforts turned out to be in vain.”

 

Sports director Lionel Marie said:

 

“David Tanner has had some health concerns the past two days, so that he was able to finish in seventh place for this first stage is a source of great satisfaction,” the team’s directeur sportif admitted. “And then Simon Pellaud was rewarded for his great work and dedication by being able to get into the day’s main breakaway.

 

”The only disappointment for the day is that Heinrich Haussler was forced to abandon. He was our leader for the sprints.  But I told the riders not to feel any untoward pressure. The important thing is to finish the Tour of Utah in the best condition possible, and that will be the best way to prepare for our future goals in Europe.”

 

Daniel Jaramillo takes mountains jersey in Utah

The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team set out on stage 1 of the 2016 Tour of Utah with a clear goal: position Daniel Jaramillo for the day’s breakaway, allowing him to stretch his legs and contest the two king of the mountain competitions at Mammoth Creek and Bristlecone summits. Following a brief neutral start, the real racing commenced quickly, with an early breakaway group forming just minutes after the official racing start. With the support of his teammates, Jaramillo made the jump and joined the breakaway.

 

As the group of four neared the intermediate sprint and KOM competitions, Jaramillo focused on earning maximum points in the latter, while saving energy as the sprints neared. The Colombian climber surged on each climb, taking maximum points in each competition. With the king of the mountains jersey points locked up and a likely sprint finish in store at the end of the stage, Jaramillo was able to catch his breath and rest for the remainder of Stage 1 while the peloton worked to reel in the breakaway.

 

With the day’s main objective complete, the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team formed around Italian sprinter Marco Canola for the finale. In the final 400 meters before the line, a collision brought multiple riders down and blocked the Blue Train lead out before it got up to full speed. Tanner Putt managed to claim 10th for the squad, with Canola just behind him in 12th.

 

Despite the misfortune in the finale, general manager and sporting director Mike Tamayo was pleased with the work and accomplishments of the squad on day 1, concluding:

 

“We’re very happy with how the Tour of Utah has started for the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team. With clear goals set for stage 1, the riders started executing immediately. Morale is high on among the riders and we’re ready to fight on stage 2.” 

 

Joe Dombrowski: The teams were looking to us to do the work

Joe Dombrowski gives his take on Tour of Utah stage one: "It was a pretty standard first day. The ony thing that shook things up was that there were a couple dangerous guys in the breakaway. There aren't so many sprinters' teams here so teams were a little reluctant to ride. Many of the teams were looking to us to do the lion's share of the work. We were all riding really strong and it looks good for the rest of the week."

 

Ben King talks about being voted TOU stage one fan favorite: "It's an honor to be chosen as fan favorite. There were some really quality guys in the running who are also good friends of mine. As a team we are proud of our relationship with Bicycles for Humanity Colorado and personally I am involved in home builds in the off season every year with Hope Sports. That sort of thing means a lot to me and it's what this team is about. It's a nice honor to celebrate that with this jersey."

 

Broken pedal sets ONE sprinter back in Utah

For ONE, Kiwi rider Hayden McCormick went to the front on the long descent to help with the chase before BMC really took control to bring the remaining two riders back with just 5km to go. Protected by his teammates and brought to the front of the bunch, Dion Smith was in a good position as they headed into the sprint. However with the wide roads and lots of riders eager to impress on the first stage things got a little messy. Smith was placed within the top 10 heading into the last 500m but after getting tangled up with another rider at the 400m mark and loosing a chunk out of his shoe, Dion Smith crossed the line in 14th place having sprinted in with only one foot attached to his pedals. Hayden McCormick put in a solid performance, crossing the line close behind his Kiwi teammate in 18th position.

 

Novo Nordisk captain remains in contention on first stage in Utah

“The pace was steady until the final KOM at 94km,” said Team Novo Nordisk Sport Director, Pavel Cherkasov. “Corentin [Cherhal] was our first rider to struggle at the climb and wasn’t able to finish today. The rest of our young riders struggled as well, but were able to finish the race.”

 

Javier Megias was Team Novo Nordisk’s best-placed rider, crossing the finish line just two seconds behind the stage winner, Kris Dahl (Silber Pro Cycling).

 

Bad luck takes Kiel Reijnen out of contention in Utah opener

Until the final 250 meters of stage one at the Tour of Utah, everything had played out in textbook fashion for Trek-Segafredo.

 

The team united in its effort to end the first day with a bunch sprint: they pulled enough on the long climb to rid the peloton of a few fast legs before kicking into high gear on the run-in to the line and aid in catching back the last two remnants of the breakaway. Then Eugenio Alafaci added the finishing touches, leading sprinter Kiel Reijnen to the final meters before disaster struck.

 

"It was a big effort from the guys to bring back the last of the breakaway and Eugenio took the front with one-kilometer to go, and it was really a perfect lead-out," explained Reijnen. "I slotted in with 250 meters to go, like fourth or fifth wheel, and from the left side a guy came across, and his derailleur went into my front wheel and broke some spokes. It's lucky we didn't crash, but really disappointing because it was a good day for a result: the legs were good, the guys were perfect, and I was in the right position."

 

Instead of jumping for the line, Reijnen found himself struggling to keep the bike upright. Incredibly, he did not crash, but in one instant, mere meters from the end, his chance for victory was gone.

 

"It's definitely a disappointing day when we had the legs to win the stage," he continued. "The stage was not that easy today, but my legs felt really good. The guys went all-in for me for the stage, they were perfect. I followed a small attack on the little kicker on the circuit, and it didn't stick, but I still felt really good, so we lined up for the sprint."

 

The Tour of Utah is known for a week of hilly stages, and Trek-Segafredo came prepared with some strong climbing legs. Laurent Didier and Julien Bernard helped trim the peloton of fast finishers on the long climb, with the others joining other teams on the long descent to tame the two relics who still held a sizeable gap.

 

"We managed the best to have a bunch sprint today," explained director Alain Gallopin. "In the big climb we waited until the top to pull, and some sprinters were dropped. Then we pulled full gas to the end to bring back the two leaders. The team was perfect, and Eugenio made a perfect lead-out and brought Kiel to the final 300 meters. Then Kiel broke his front wheel, and we were lucky that he did not crash. It was a big opportunity for us today, and we could have had the jersey, too, but anyway it is like this. You need to be lucky, also."