OGDEN -- In a frenzy of speed and spandex, a peloton of world-renowned professional and local cyclists began Stage 1 of the 2010 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah in front of Union Station Wednesday morning. The peloton of 144 riders built a crescendo of speed with hundreds of spectators cheering around the Historic 25th Street block before heading up Ogden Canyon for 83 miles of racing that ended in Salt Lake City Medical Research Park.
Salt Lake City native Jeff Louder, the 2008 TOU winner and a member of the BMC racing team, was at the front of the pack as riders logged their parade laps.
"This is probably my favorite race just for the fact that it's racing in my backyard," said Louder while getting ready for the start. "I know almost all the roads. You know, so many times I've been riding, going up over Big Mountain and thinking, 'It'd be so cool to race up this.' And to get to do it is just such a treat for me. It's a lot of fun to show the peloton where I'm from, and to race in front of friends and family is a really big deal."
Although BMC is racing with just five riders on their team instead of the normal eight, Louder's team packs a star-studded punch with Brent Bookwalter, who has done two grand tours this year, including the Tour de France, and U.S. National Champion George Hincapie.
Hincapie signed autographs and posed for pictures in front of the BMC support van while waiting for the start.
"I wanted to be able to do a race to stay in shape and not go back to Europe," he said of why he chose Tour of Utah. "I heard a lot of good things about this race, so I decided to come here. So far I've enjoyed it. I raced here a long time ago, about 20 years ago, and I remember it as being a really nice place and my expectations have not been left down so far," he said laughing.
Hincapie said that he wasn't able to tour the course beforehand, but would rely on Louder for direction.
"We have local knowledge on our team with Jeff," he said. "We'll just follow his lead today."
Other riders that joined Hincapie at the front of the peloton parade included Levi Leipheimer, racing solo in a yellow Radio Shack jersey, and last year's TOU winner Francisco Mancebo Perez. Perez is riding with local favorite Canyon Bicycles Utah All-Stars.
Standing amid the spectators surrounding the riders at the start, Michael Ackley and his wife Sharyl waved a large yellow flag. They'd watched Hincapie and Leipheimer in May during the Tour of California and said they were thrilled to be able to watch them in their own city.
"We go around and follow all the big races all over the world," said Michael. "I think this race is a big start for the whole country as far as major cycling goes, and Utah is a good base for it."
Kristy Hatt, from Clinton, brought her husband and kids to the start to see the riders.
"It's a lot of fun to see these guys," she said. "And my kids they watch the Tour de France with us and all the big races, so to be here and see all the real riders is actually really fun for them. We didn't know what to expect, but it's been cool to walk around and hear the kids say, 'That's like what they did on TV.' "
Stage 1 was won by David Tanner of Fly V Australia in a sprint finish over Alex Dowsett ofTrek-Livestrong. Today's Stage 2, the Mount Nebo Road Race, will begin at Thanksgiving Point at 10 a.m. and finish at the summit of Mount Nebo. For more information visit www.tourofutah.com
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