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America's toughest stage race is off and running. Two Colombians and a Spaniard owned the podium in yesterday's Tour of Utah Prologue at the Utah Olympic Park. Compared to the rest of the stages the prologue's a short burst of a race, just one and a quarter mile. Top local riders was Salt Lake Cities Levi Leipheimer, who won a bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics. He finished 6th just 7 seconds off the lead. Twelve seconds separated the top 12 riders in the prologue.
On the heels of Tuesday's Prologue where Colombian Sergio Henao rode to a razor close win (just 12 seconds separating the top 12 finishers) the field had to duel in the dry but intense heat of a 113 mile Stage 1 road race.
Braving temps in the mid-nineties the best riders in the world attacked "America's Toughest Stage Race" all day.
In the end Jesse Anthony made up for what he called a stupid early attack, holding on to win Stage 1 in a wild 5-man sprint to the finish. Right behind overall leader (yellow jersey) Sergio Henao, Prologue 3rd placer Oscar Sevilla and in the same group, 6th place, defending Tour of Utah Champion and 2008 Beijing Olympic Bronze medalist Levi Leipheimer, who grew up in Salt Lake City.
Tomorrow, Stage 2 is a 100 mile ride almost entirely around Utah Lake.
