Travis McCabe (Holowesko | Citadel Racing Team presented by Hincapie Sportswear) edged out his competitors in a chaotic bunch sprint to win Stage 4 presented by UnitedHealthcare at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah.

McCabe scored one of the biggest wins of his career in a time of three hours and 23 minutes in the township of Kearns. A bike length separated McCabe from runner-up Kiel Reijnen (Trek-Segafredo) and third-place finisher Sebastian Lucas Haedo (Team Jamis).

“We just waited patiently,” said McCabe, who finished third on Stage 2 presented by America First Credit Union on Tuesday.  “It was a pretty hectic finish coming into the final at 70 kilometers an hour, and it was a pretty choppy wind. It was pretty much a patience game. I stayed in good position, but not too (far) forward.”

It is the second stage win for the Holowesko | Citadel team, as teammate Robin Carpenter won Stage 2 in Torrey.

“This past week has been great for us,” Carpenter said. “The Stage 2 third place was a validation that I had the legs. I was pretty confident coming into the last 500 meters.”

Jersey game

Australian Lachlan Morton (Jelly Belly presented by MAXXIS) finished safely in the bunch and retained the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies Overall Leader jersey.

With little change in the overall standings, Morton continues to hold a seven-second lead over Adrien Costa (Axeon Hagens Berman) and a nine-second margin on Andrew Talansky (Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling). The time bonus for second place moved Reijnen into the top 10 in the general classification.

“It’s always good to be on the podium, but when the guys work hard for you, you want to win. We’ve got another shot tomorrow,” said Reijnen, who won Stage 1 at the 2015 Tour of Utah. “I did not get the stage win, lost the points jersey and the fan favorite all to one guy. What are you gonna do?”

McCabe takes over the Utah Sports Commission Sprint jersey and was voted the America First Credit Union Fan Favorite as best sprinter. Costa retained the Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain jersey and the Subaru Best Young Rider jersey.

How it played out

The start of Stage 4 presented by UnitedHealthcare began on the corporate campus of IM Flash in Lehi. The 95.7-mile (154 km) route featured two Utah Sports Commission Sprint lines along the 28-mile stretch of the Mountain View Corridor in the foothills of the Oquirrh Mountains.

Four riders were left off the front by the last of the two and a half laps of the freeway, but their four-minute lead eventually went down to 20 seconds with 12 miles to go.

Fans were treated to an action-packed finish along a four-mile circuit that finished adjacent to the Utah Olympic Oval, site of the long track speed skating events for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

The last survivor of the break, American Matthew Busche (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team), put in a final solo attack, but it was fruitless. Busche was awarded the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Most Aggressive Rider jersey for his efforts.

Friday, Aug. 5, features Stage 5 presented by Zions Bank, with 115.6 miles (186 km) from Antelope Island State Park to Bountiful. It is a repeat road race from 2015, with short, but very steep climbs and four Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain climbs — North Ogden Divide, Trappers Loop and the two ascents of the Bountiful Bench.

The start at Antelope Island State Park, which sits on the largest island in the Great Salt Lake, will begin with two three-mile circuits on the island before crossing the seven-mile causeway to the mainland. Sprint lines will be staged at Hooper, Eden and Bountiful. The two nine-mile circuits in Bountiful return this year, which include a difficult climb on 400 North along the Bountiful Bench.

Larry H.  Miller Tour of Utah Award Jerseys

• Larry H. Miller Group of Companies Overall Leader jersey – Lachlan Morton (AUS), Jelly Belly presented by MAXXIS
• Utah Sports Commission Sprint jersey – Travis McCabe (USA), Holowesko | Citadel Racing Team presented by Hincapie Sportswear
• Utah Office of Tourism King of the Mountain jersey – Adrien Costa (USA), Axeon Hagens Berman
• Subaru Best Young Rider jersey – Adrien Costa (USA), Axeon Hagens Berman
• Larry H. Miller Dealerships Most Aggressive Rider jersey – Matthew Busche (USA), Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling
• America First Credit Union Fan Favorite jersey – Travis McCabe (USA), Holowesko | Citadel Racing Team presented by Hincapie Sportswear

Results and Standings 

www.tourofutah.com/race/results

Stage 4 presented by UnitedHealthcare – Top 10

1. MCCABE Travis (USA), HOLOWESKO/CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR – 3.23’47”
2. REIJNEN Kiel (USA), TREK-SEGAFREDO – 3.23’47”
3. HAEDO Lucas Sebastian (CUB), TEAM JAMIS – 3.23’47”
4. CANOLA Marco (ITA), UNITEDHEALTHCARE PRO CYCLING TEAM – 3.23’47”
5. YOUNG Eric (USA), RALLY CYCLING – 3.23’47”
6. JOYCE Colin (USA), AXEON HAGENS BERMAN – 3.23’47”
7. JARAMILLO DIEZ Daniel Alexander (COL), UNITEDHEALTHCARE PRO CYCLING TEAM – 3.23’47”
8. RATHE Jacob (USA), JELLY BELLY pb MAXXIS – 3.23’47”
9. ZABEL Rick (GER), BMC RACING TEAM – 3.23’47”
10. DIBBEN Jonathan (GBR), CANNONDALE-DRAPAC PRO CYCLING – 3.23’47”

General Classification (After Stage 4) – Top 10

1. MORTON Lachlan (AUS), JELLY BELLY PRESENTED BY MAXXIS – 14.54’40”
2. COSTA Adrien (USA), AXEON HAGENS BERMAN – 14.54’47”
3. TALANSKY Andrew (USA), CANNONDALE-DRAPAC PRO CYCLING – 14.54’49”
4. ATAPUMA HURTADO Darwin (COL), BMC RACING TEAM – 14.56’12”
5. ROSSKOPF Joseph (USA), BMC RACING TEAM – 14.56’12”
6. BRITTON Rob (CAN), RALLY PRO CYCLING -14.56’12”
7. EISENHART Taylor (USA), BMC RACING TEAM -14.56’14″
8. CARPENTER Robin (USA), HOLOWESKO/CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR -14.56’24″
9. REIJNEN Kiel (USA), TREK-SEGAFREDO -14.58’41”
10. POWLESS Neilson (USA), AXEON HAGENS BERMAN – 14.58’47”

Photo: Casey B. Gibson/cbgphoto.com