Australian Takes Over General Classification Race Lead at Tour of Utah

r

r

rMorton attacked on the steep, lower slopes of Mount Nebo, the southernmost and highest mountain in the Wasatch Range of Utah. He was soon joined by Americans Adrien Costa of Axeon Hagens Berman and Andrew Talansky of Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team. The trio worked well together to hold off hard-changing chase groups over the only Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain climb of the day that crested to 9,300 feet above sea level. An exhilarating 22-mile descent into Payson led to a three-man showdown.

“I came here wanting to do a good race. As a domestic rider, this race is as big as it gets. Everyone is really motivated. I won this stage (Richfield to Payson) last time, so I knew it really well. This morning we just said, ‘Let’s go for it’. We hadn’t really planned for it before today. It all worked out pretty much how we wanted it to, which rarely happens,” said Morton about his Jelly Belly Team strategy. Morton soloed to victory on this same stage 3 at the 2013 Tour of Utah.

“The team came here with one big goal, and that was to help me out. So far, my team has ridden above themselves. It’s going to be exciting,” added Morton on the team plans to defend the overall leader’s jersey.

Runner-up Costa, the youngest rider in the race at 18 years of age, takes over the Subaru Best Young Rider classification jersey and the Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain jersey. Talansky finished third on Stage 3 presented by America First Credit Union.

“Honestly I was not expecting to be climbing with these guys. It was really fun,” said Costa, who turns 19 on Aug. 19. “I may have done too much work in the beginning, something I have to learn about. Lachlan, at the end, showed his experience. Every day I am learning, hopefully getting stronger.”

The win gives Morton a seven-second General Classification (G.C.) lead over Costa and nine seconds on Talansky. BMC Racing Team’s Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (Colombia) is fourth and Taylor “T.J.” Eisenhart, of Lehi, Utah, moves from 75th to seventh overall. American Robin Carpenter of Holowesko | Citadel Racing Team presented by Hincapie Sportswear dropped from first to eighth overall.

“This race is grown a lot since 2009,” said Talansky about the first time he raced at the Tour of Utah. Since then, he has raced in seven Grand Tours. “It has been fun being out here with Adrien and Lachlan. Moves like today so far from the finish rarely work. In a race like this, it actually can. It was fun.”

Simon Pellaud (Switzerland) of IAM Cycling, the last rider from the early breakaway to be reeled in after 80 miles in the saddle, was awarded the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Most Aggressive Rider jersey. American Robin Carpenter of Holowesko | Citadel Racing Team presented by Hincapie Sportswear retained the Utah Sports Commission Sprint jersey. Talansky was voted America First Credit Union Fan Favorite for Stage 3, in the category of Best Climber.

Stage 4 presented by UnitedHealthcare will find the race returning to Salt Lake County for a 10th time in 12 years. On Thursday, Aug. 4, the race will start on the corporate campus of IM Flash in Lehi. The 96-mile (154.4 km) route looks flat on paper, but will traverse a 28-mile stretch of the Mountain View Corridor (MVC) in the foothills of the Oquirrh Mountains. The racers will complete two and a half laps of the MVC freeway for two Utah Sports Commission Sprint line prizes and a total of 70 miles, then drop into the township of Kearns for the first time. There will be three challenging laps of a four-mile circuit that finishes adjacent to the Utah Olympic Oval, site of the long track speed skating events for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. This five-acre facility is known as the “Fastest Ice on Earth” and is the home to more than 100 world records in speed skating.

Larry H.  Miller Tour of Utah Award Jerseysr

r
• rLarry H. Miller Group of Companies Overall Leader jersey – Lachlan Morton (AUS), Jelly Belly presented by MAXXIS

r

• rUtah Sports Commission Sprint jersey – Robin Carpenter (USA), Holowesko | Citadel Racing Team presented by Hincapie Sportswear

r

• rUtah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain jersey – Adrien Costa (USA), Axeon Hagens Berman

r

• rSubaru Best Young Rider jersey – Adrien Costa (USA), Axeon Hagens Berman

r

• rLarry H. Miller Dealerships Most Aggressive Rider jersey – Simon Pellaud (SUI), IAM Cycling

r

• rAmerica First Credit Union Fan Favorite jersey – Andrew Talansky (USA), Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cyclingr

  r

r

rResults and Standings 

www.tourofutah.com/race/results

Stage 3 presented by America First Credit Union – Top 10r

r
1. MORTON Lachlan (AUS), JELLY BELLY PRESENTED BY MAXXIS – 4.24’49”

r

2. COSTA Adrien (USA), AXEON HAGENS BERMAN – 4.24’52”

r

3. TALANSKY Andrew (USA), CANNONDALE-DRAPAC PRO CYCLING – 4.24’52”

r

4. ROSSKOPF Joseph (USA), BMC RACING TEAM – 4.26’11”

r

5. BRITTON Rob (CAN), RALLY PRO CYCLING – 4.26’11”

r

6. ATAPUMA HURTADO Darwin (COL), BMC RACING TEAM – 4.26’11”

r

7. EISENHART Taylor (USA), BMC RACING TEAM – 4.26’11”

r

8. REIJNEN Kiel (USA), TREK-SEGAFREDO – 4.28’46”

r

9. CARPENTER Robin (USA), HOLOWESKO/CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR – 4.28’46”

r

10. CLARKE Jonathan (AUS), UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM – 4.28’46”

r

rGeneral Classification (After Stage 3) – Top 10r

r
1. MORTON Lachlan (AUS), JELLY BELLY PRESENTED BY MAXXIS – 11.30’53”

r

2. COSTA Adrien (USA), AXEON HAGENS BERMAN – 11.31’00”

r

3. TALANSKY Andrew (USA), CANNONDALE-DRAPAC PRO CYCLING – 11.31’02”

r

4. ATAPUMA HURTADO Darwin (COL), BMC RACING TEAM – 11.32’25”

r

5. ROSSKOPF Joseph (USA), BMC RACING TEAM – 11.32’25”

r

6. BRITTON Rob (CAN), RALLY PRO CYCLING – 11.32’25”

r

7. EISENHART Taylor (USA), BMC RACING TEAM – 11.32’27”

r

8. CARPENTER Robin (USA), HOLOWESKO/CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR – 11.32’37”

r

9. POWLESS Neilson (USA), AXEON HAGENS BERMAN – 11.35’00”

r

10. GEOGHEGAN HART Tao (USA), AXEON HAGENS BERMAN – 11.35’00”

r

r