I was just focusing on being in the best position as possible and when I crossed the line, I couldn’t really believe that I had won. – Logan Owen
By Rich Winter
For the Deseret News
After 109 miles of racing, 6,400 feet of climbing and two massively difficult loops around the city of Bountiful, Wednesday’s Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah came down to a manic sprint to the finish line.
With 1,000 meters remaining, 20 riders, spread wide, looked like they had a shot. With 100 meters to go, that number had dwindled to ten and by the finish seven riders came across the line within a bike length of stage winner, Axeon’s Logan Owen.
“It was all reaction,” Owen said. “I was just focusing on being in the best position as possible and when I crossed the line, I couldn’t really believe that I had won.”
The former BMX and cyclocross rider is just 20 years old. Wednesday’s win came after Owen stayed out of trouble on the technical descents after the final climbs and vaulted Owen into the Best Young Rider jersey.
“That descent was fast and a little dangerous,” Owen said. “I was just trying to stay up front as long as possible and make sure I was there for the finish.”
Early in Wednesday’s stage, a group of six riders that included BMC’s Joseph Rosskopf and Samsung rider, Johann Van Zyl broke away from the peloton. Rosskopf attacked on the first ascent up the climb on 400 North, and held a slim lead through the second ascent on the two-lap loop before being swallowed up by the field.
“It was pretty demoralizing really as the UHC guys kept us at three minutes all day,” Rosskopf said. “When you see teams riding like that you know you have a very small chance to get away.”
Van Zyl found himself in the breakaway group a bit unexpectedly, but decided to go with it once he was there.
“It wasn’t the plan but somehow I ended up being there,” Zyl said. “There are lots of climbs to come so I’ll have to see how my legs feel over the next few days and see if I can’t get out there again.”
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cyling rider Kiel Reijnen held onto the yellow jersey for a third straight day, finishing seventh in Wednesday’s crowded finish.
“As much as the yellow jersey is an honor, it makes it tough to win stages,” he said. “I was disappointed with the finish but you can only do so much after following attacks and covering moves all day.”
On each of the first three days of the Tour of Utah, small groups of riders have attempted to break away. Thus far, the UHC team has covered every move to perfection.
“The last few days we’ve had a couple of guys riding up front and that’s not usually enough to keep the break in check, but they’ve been pulling it off,” Reijnen said. “I just ride behind someone’s wheel all day and it’s really inspiring for me to come down to the final 1K and follow the moves of my teammates that are making it easy for me.”
Thursday’s stage is a 127-mile jaunt from Soldier Hollow to the Heber Valley featuring 8,173 feet of elevation gain.