Tour of Utah: Hermans goes back-to-back with masterful stage win in North Salt Lake City

Published: Aug 15, 2019, 7:36 p.m. MDT

Israel Cycling Academy rider Ben Hermans celebrates as he crosses the finish line in first during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah at Eaglewood Golf Course in North Salt Lake on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. Colter Peterson

By Rich Winter

NORTH SALT LAKE — Having won Wednesday’s stage, and leading the 2019 Tour of Utah by 26 seconds, Israel Cycling Academy’s Ben Hermans didn’t need to attack Thursday. And yet, with a 10-second time bonus and a potential stage win at stake, Hermans got out of his seat and pedaled away from the competition.

The Belgian rider broke from a group of five yellow jersey contenders, then aggressively surged past Kyle Murphy and Lawson Craddock just before reaching the summit. From there, it was all downhill to the finish and Hermans raised both hands in triumph as he crossed the finish line in front of Eaglewood Golf Course.

“Our team was under pressure, but we never lost control of the race,” Hermans said. “I didn’t have to do much until the last kilometer and I saw a 30-second gap, bridged it, and that was enough for the stage win.”

After winning Wednesday’s climb up Powder Mountain and spending time at altitude during post-stage ceremonies, Hermans wasn’t sure what to expect on Thursday.

“After the stage yesterday, I was a little scared because it was really hard and it is not easy to recover at this altitude,” he said. “Once I got to the hotel and once I got up this morning, I felt good.”

With that 10-second time bonus gained, and by finishing eight seconds in front of Elevate-KHS rider James Piccoli, Hermans stretched his overall lead in the 2019 Tour of Utah to 44 seconds.

Riders participate in Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah near Layton, Utah on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

"Fireman" Rob Verhelst runs alongside a rider dropped by the peloton on the Eagle Ridge Drive climb during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah in North Salt Lake on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

The peloton climbs Eagle Ridge Drive during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah in North Salt Lake on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

Spectators cheer for a breakaway racing down a hill during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah along 3100 South in North Salt Lake on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

Team Bridgelane rider Hayden Mccormick makes a sharp corner on a descent during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah in North Salt Lake on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

The peloton powers up a hill in a neighborhood during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah near Bountiful on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

A group of kids take a break from water sports to cheer on racers during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah near Syracuse on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

A small group of riders navigates a corner during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah on Antelope Island on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

The peloton makes its way along the coastline during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah on Antelope Island on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

Israel Cycling Academy rider Ben Hermans signs a shirt for Mark Mumm, 10, before Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah on Antelope Island on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

Worthy Pro Cycling rider Travis Mccabe poses for photos after accepting his "Fans Favorite" jersey during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah at Eaglewood Golf Course in North Salt Lake on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

Fans cheer for riders at the finish line for Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah at Eaglewood Golf Course in North Salt Lake on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

A child blows a horn in support of riders during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah at Eaglewood Golf Course in North Salt Lake on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

The peloton powers up a hill during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah in North Salt Lake on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

Women cheer on racers as they pass by during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah in North Salt Lake on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

A spectator cheers on the peloton as it powers up a hill in a neighborhood during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah near Bountiful on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

A breakaway consisting of six competitors rides through a neighborhood during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah near Layton on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. The breakaway persisted through most of the race before being absorbed near the end of the race. | Colter Peterson

The peloton rides through a neighborhood during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah near Layton on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

The peloton passes by a group waterskiing during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah near Syracuse on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

The peloton rides through a neighborhood during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah near Syracuse on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

A small breakaway navigates a corner during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah near Syracuse on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

A small breakaway group exits the Antelope Island Causeway during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah on Antelope Island on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

The peloton makes its way down the coastline during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah on Antelope Island on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

Wildlife Generation Pro Cycling rider Sam Boardman, left, shakes hands with Israel Cycling Academy and General Classification lead rider Ben Hermans at the start line before Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah on Antelope Island on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. Hermans went on to win the stage and maintain his yellow leader's jersey. | Colter Peterson

A paraglider carries an American flag to the start line before Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah on Antelope Island on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

Team Bridgelane rider Hayden Mccormick looks over at a spectator running alongside a breakaway on a hill during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah near Bountiful on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

The peloton rides along Bountiful Boulevard during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah near Bountiful on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

Craig Larson waves a flag as breakaway riders pass by his house during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah in North Salt Lake on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

A spectator watches as the peloton passes by during Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah on Antelope Island on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson

Thursday’s stage featured 85.9 miles of racing, starting at Antelope Island before weaving through Davis County. After an up-and-down jaunt over the Bountiful Bench, things got interesting as cyclists readied for four 6-mile circuits, each one summiting the steep climb before the golf course.

Six riders eventually got into an early breakaway. One of them, Alex Howes from the EF Education First team, picked up bonuses for reaching the summit first, three times. He is the leader in the King of the Mountains competition heading into Friday.

“It was pretty flat the first part of the stage, coming off the island,” Howes said. “You could tell a lot of people wanted to be in the break.”

Part of Howes’ strategy of getting in the break was putting pressure on Hermans’ Israel Cycling Academy team. Once in the break, Howes had to mentally adjust for what was ahead.

“Once I got in the breakaway I thought, well, I’m going to be up here a long time and it’s going to hurt real bad, so I might as well just go for it.”

With one circuit remaining, Howes’ teammate Lawson Craddock, who was with the lead group, bridged the gap to his teammate to assault the Eaglewood climb one more time.

“It wasn’t my intention to go with one lap to go, but I saw Alex and his group was pretty close,” Craddock said. “I took a bit of a gamble, made the jump across to Alex but in the end it wasn’t enough for the win.”

Stage 4: Salt Lake City

For anyone who has never seen a live, professional cycling race, Friday is your day. Tour of Utah organizers, for the third time, will be running the traditional circuit race in downtown Salt Lake City. In years past, this stage finished in the middle of the afternoon. Friday, the race starts at 5:55 p.m. and is expected to finish around 8 p.m. With the sun setting near the climax of Friday’s race, spectators will enjoy a spectacular race with a number of viewing areas, including City Creek Canyon and Reservoir Park. Friday’s race is an 8-lap circuit race that features a steep descent on North Virginia Avenue and a severe incline on North State Street as the race starts and finishes on East Capitol Boulevard.

Stage 3 results:

1. Ben Hermans, Israel Cycling Academy 3:20.27

2. Kyle Murphy, Rally UHC Cycling (+7 seconds)

3. Niklas EG, Trek-Segafredo (+8)

4. Keegan Swirbul, Worthy Pro Cycling (+8)

5. James Piccoli, Elevate-KHS (+8)

6. Lawson Craddock, EF Education First (+11)

7. Joe Dombrowski, EF Education First (+21)

8. Matteo Badilatti, Israel Cycling Academy (+36)

9. Scott Bowden, Team Bridgelane (+36)

10. Joao Almeida, Hagens Berman Axeon (+42)

Overall

1. Ben Hermans, Israel Cycling Academy 10:30.24

2. James Piccoli, Elevate-KHS (+44)

3. Niklas EG, Trek Segafredo (+1:06)

4. Kyle Murphy, Rally UHC Cycling (+1:46)

5. Peter Stetina, Trek-Segafredo (+2:02)

6. Joe Dombrowski, EF Education First (+2:04)

View Comments

7. Joao Almeida, Hagens Berman Axeon (+2:38)

8. Robert Britton, Rally UHC Cycling (+3:12)

9. Lawson Craddock, EF Education First (+3:17)

10. Matteo Badilatti, Israel Cycling Academy (+3:17)

Looking for comments?

Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.