Tour of Utah 2010

The Tour of Utah was back in town this week. I was looking forward to this week because BMC Racing was bringing a team that included George Hincapie. Since George is my favorite cyclist it was exciting to know he would be racing locally. Unfortunately, Thursday's stage was a mess and George crashed out. The last reports I saw sounded like he would be ok, but he had to abandon the race. So going into Friday's time trial and Saturday's criterium in Park City I still had Billy Demong (2010 Nordic Combined gold and silver medalist) and Levi Leipheimer to cheer for.

My friend Courtney agreed to go out to the time trial with me and my friend Jessica joined us there later. It was a beautiful night, although too hot down in the Salt Lake area. (I'm definitely spoiled up in Park City.) Billy was one of the early riders to go out but we were there in time to see him leave the start gate. Sadly I missed Taylor Phinney so I didn't realize that it was him going by us leading into the finish until he had crossed the finish line. He had been another early departure. Taylor ended up leading the whole time and won the time trial stage. Not too shabby for someone who is only 20 years old. One of the announcers was saying that the Trek LiveStrong team was formed for Phinney. So he is obviously one to watch in the future. For a long time Taylor was ahead by a minute, then other riders started getting closer to his time. Levi Leipheimer finally finished in 2nd place 2 seconds behind Taylor's time.

Saturday the criterium was in Park City along Main Street. The course was crazy. They went up Main Street, down Swede Alley, crossed at Heber Avenue before going down lower Main Street and then circled back up using Park Avenue to Heber and then headed back up Main Street. The course would have make me puke to do it once. To do it as many times as they did would have killed me. It seemed to take a lot out of many riders and the numbers had shrunk by the finish. I swear one guy went by us and looked like he could start crying. I certainly wouldn't have blamed him. Jeff Louder ended up winning the stage by quite a bit of time. It was amazing to see him out in front alone for so many laps. Levi kept the yellow jersey.

Billy Demong

Levi Leipheimer

The jersey winners with the Heidens (left side) and Connie Carpenter-Phinney (right)

The last stage left from Park City and went 100 miles before ending at Snowbird Ski Resort. It would be a killer. I decided since I was in town after church this morning that I would just drive out by the Jordanelle Reservoir to see them on one of the early hills. I heard another woman say that it would take her an hour to leave the start and get to where we were standing at a view area. It took the cyclists in this race barely 30 minutes. They had already split into two groups by the time they passed us.

An early climb on the 100 mi last stage

I am looking forward to next year's race. The Tour of Utah is a great race to watch if you have any interest. All the stages are close enough together that you could see them all. Just saying... let me know if you are coming to visit.