Bountiful • It was an uneventful race for most of the distance between Antelope Island and Bountiful, but once it was within city limits, things started to get a little crazy.
For Logan Owen of Axeon Cycling, it was unbelievable. After all, the 20-year-old came out on top in another sprint finish, winning Wednesday's Stage 3 of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah with a time of 4:12:40.
"I was just focusing on being in the best position as possible, and when I was coming across the line I didn't really feel like I was winning," Owen said. "It was crazy. I knew I won, I just couldn't believe it."
Owen finished just ahead of Brent Brookwalter of BMS Racing and Edwin Alcibiades Avila Venegas from Team Colombia in what he called in the biggest win of his career.
The finish was enough to launch Owen into second place on the overall leaderboard, right behind Kiel Reijnen, who retained the yellow jacket for the second straight day despite a seventh-place finish.
While he got the win, Owen noted the end of the race was difficult even though he had a slight advantage.
"I was trying to stay ahead as far as possible down the descent because I knew it was fast and a little bit dangerous — well, a lot bit," Owen said. "I just tried to stay as far ahead as possible and making sure I was up there for the finish and, yeah, it worked out perfectly."
Although he held on to his overall lead, Reijnen acknowledged how tough it is to have a target on his back as the leader, while giving credit to his team for his personal success.
"As much as the yellow jersey is an honor, it makes it really tough to win stage," Reijnen said. "[It was] a little disappointing finish, but you can only do so much. The boys were incredible on the front, and they did most of the work."
As the race entered Bountiful's downtown for a two-lap, 9-mile circuit, there was a lot of shuffling at the head of the pack.
Joseph Rosskopf, who was in the leader group most of the race, finished the first lap ahead of the chase by about 20 seconds, but as he approached the first incline, he was swallowed up by the pack and began drifting back.
"[It was] a pretty demoralizing effort, really," said the BMC racing teammate of Brookwalter.
Rosskopf separated himself from the six-rider leader group with about 16 miles left, and he seemed in control while keeping pace. But the American started to slowly lose his lead and ended up finishing the race in 25th — still good enough for ninth overall through three stages.
For his efforts, Rosskopf received the orange jacket, for the stage's most aggressive rider. Owen was tabbed as the best young rider, Reijnen as top sprinter in addition to his yellow jacket and the King of the Mountain honor went to Johann Van Zyl of South Africa.
A number of riders held the lead in the last lap around downtown Bountiful, and the back-and-forth made for some finish-line excitement.
There was a big crash midway through the stage on the descent from the first King of the Mountain climb in the North Odgen Divide, with 20 to 25 riders going down. American Matthew Busche broke his collarbone in the accident and had to withdraw from the rest of the competition.
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2015 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah
Stage 3: Antelope Island to Bountiful: 109 miles
1. Logan Owen • Axeon Cycling, U.S.
2. Brent Brookwalter • BMC Racing, U.S.
3. Edwin Avila Vanegas • Team Colombia, Colombia
4. Jure Kocjan • Team SmartStop, SLO
5. Dion Smith • Hincapie Racing, NZL
6. Natnael Berhane • MTN-Qhubeka P/B Samsung, ERI
7. Kiel Reijnen • UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, U.S.
8. Robin Carpenter • Hincapie Racing Ream, USA
9. Adam Phelan • Drapac Pro Cycling, AUS
10. Sonny Colbrelli • Bardiani – CSF Pro Team, ITA
General classification results
1. Kiel Reijnen • UnitedHealthcare, 12:58:59
2. Logan Owen • Axeon Cycling Team, 12:59:03
3. Jure Kocjan • Team SmartStop, 12:59:03
4. Alex Howes • Team Cannondale-Garmin, 12:59:03
5. Brent Brookwalter • BMC Racing Team, 12:59:03
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune BMC rider Joseph Rosskopf grinds up 400 North in Bountiful to take the first KOM award. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune The TOU peloton fights its way up 400 North in Bountiful with a headwind. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune DRAPAC Professional Cycling rider Wouter Wippert rides along Bountiful Boulevard alone. The TOU peloton flies through Bountiful Boulevard as supporters cheer them along. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune TOU supporters lined the route along Bountiful Boulevard. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune TOU riders pass the Bountiful Temple during the second pass of the King of the Mountain. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune TOU riders head up 400 North for the first pass of the King of the Mountain. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune TOU supporters lined the route along Bountiful Boulevard. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune TOU riders crossed the causeway at Antelope Island at speeds of over 40mph. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Jason Buzzard, a tech sergeant at Hill AFB spray paints "Garmin" on one of his banners prior to the start of Wednesday's TOU Stage Three. Buzzard likes Garmin and especially its two cycling brothers Ted and Ben King. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune TOU riders crossed the causeway at Antelope Island at speeds of over 40mph. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Hailey Simmons and friend McKinley Bowers pedal bath bombs and sugar scrub along Bountiful Boulevard during the TOU Wednesday. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune The TOU peloton flies through Bountiful Boulevard as supporters cheer them along. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Grant Adair, Brock Hansen, Ashton Adair, Connor Hansen, Trevor Adair and John Hess savor their bomb pops while waiting for the TOU cyclists on Bountiful Boulevard. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune BMC rider Joseph Rosskopf grinds up 400 North in Bountiful to take the first KOM award. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Andrea Peterson makes sure her dog Trixie is comfortable along Bountiful Boulevard during the TOU Wednesday. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Ken Francis of Layton rides around a chalk artist during his grind up 400 North prior to the TOU peloton. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune A lone cyclist crosses the causeway at Antelope Island before TOU riders. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Optum team rider Jesse Anthony rides along Bountiful Boulevard. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune The TOU peloton flies through Bountiful Boulevard as supporters cheer them along. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune TOU riders crossed the causeway at Antelope Island at speeds of over 40mph. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune DRAPAC Professional Cycling rider Wouter Wippert rides along Bountiful Boulevard alone. The TOU peloton flies through Bountiful Boulevard as supporters cheer them along. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune The TOU peloton fights its way up 400 North in Bountiful with a headwind. The Tour of Utah's Stage Three began at Antelope Island with a quick pass through Weber County to the KOM at North Ogden Divide. Rider then dove down Eden Valley and up throughTrapper's Loop through Davis County before hitting a brutal climb up 400 North for a two-lap, nine-mile circuit in the city in Bountiful to the finish, August 5, 2015.
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