Tour of Utah Wrap

I promise not to rag on ToU again.  Much.

ToU Wrap
The Tour of Utah finished with a couple great stages.  The 33 mile circuit of Salt Lake City on Friday got rave reviews from the peleton.  It created something very different for the racers and the fans, and was a success.  But the Queen stage the next day provided the first real fireworks of the tour.  Finishing up the very steep Little Cottonwood Canyon to Snowbird, the riders were ripped apart, huge time gaps were created, and at the end there were only 2 men left standing... or, uh, riding.  Chris Horner pulled the ultimate jerk move in cycling, and stayed on Tommy Ds wheel the entire way up the climb, never once pulled... And then predictably got the last laugh by accelerating in final hundred meters for the win.

Yeah, I'm just gonna stay back here, k?  Promise I won't pass later.

Joke was still on Chris, though, as the final stage proved too tough. Tommy D still had the legs, and even though a fairly lengthy descent to the finish followed the climb up Empire Pass (some 3500 feet of climbing in 12 miles), the split up the pass held.  Danielson got 3rd on the day, Horner finish 1'25" back, and big Tommy D took home the GC title.

What Does It All Mean?

As usual, the Americans came to play on their home course.  Though there wasn't much in the way of top name rivals, but Chris Horner looked well back from his injury (he can blame lack for losing it up the last pass of the tour) and Tom Danielson looked like the climbing man we know and love.  Also, Lucas Euser, a common sight in the American tours, looked very strong.  Tommy D and Lucas Euser are expected at the US Pro Challenge, Chris Horner was not on the original release, but if he's feeling good after Utah it wouldn't surprise me if they slide him in.

The Complaints

OK, ToU announcers, you just really need to stop comparing this Tour to a Grand Tour.  Yes, Cottonwood Canyon was wicked, and yes there was a section of road where you could see the fans... but just don't.  More than that, however, Jens Voigt blasted the race organizers and race judge on Twitter.  He was not impressed with the neutral support cars or rule enforcement.  One one stage a rider fell over the edge of the road, and actually got help from an opponent's car to get going again.  He finished the stage just slightly outside the time limit, and got cut.  The rule for the time limit makes allowances for "Unanticipated extreme circumstances" and there's an unwritten "showed a lot of heart" rule.  And in the end, the Chief Referee gets to override anything.  But, as it was for Ted King at TdF, no such luck.  Bummer man, show some heart.

USAPCC REVIEW IS COMING SOON

Parting Thoughts: Anna Kendrick is just cool.  I want her back to judge on SYTYCD.