2015 Tour of Utah Stage 2: SmartStop’s Kocjan triumphs in Odgen, Hannah Barnes takes women’s title

Team SmartStop’s Jure Kocjan (Slovenia) prevailed in a frenetic end to Tuesday’s second stage of the Tour of Utah. Monday’s winner Kiel Reijnen (USA/UnitedHealthcare) kept the race lead. In the women’s race, the second of two stages, UnitedHealthcare’s Coryn Rivera took the day’s champagne, but her teammate Hannah Barnes won the two-day event.

The skies were clear on Tuesday as the men and women headed out on their respective courses. The men had 161.8-km to ride, with a Cat. 3 climb in the final third of the stage and three circuits around Odgen. Two breakaways failed to take root, but an attack from John Jay Thomson (South Africa/MTN-Qhubeka) initiated the escape that stuck. Canadian Pierrick Naud of Optum was part of the quintet of fugitives.

The women’s second and last stage was another crit, with a 2.4-km, six-corner lap in Ogden. UnitedHealthcare covered all the early moves. Allie Dragoo (TeamTwenty16), Monday’s winner led the omnium competition, but the first points sprint went to Rivera.

Rivera’s British teammate Barnes took the second points sprint and therefore grabbed the virtual race lead. Rivera looked like she was leading Barnes out for the stage win, but the Joe Martin Stage Race points competition winner stayed clear. Barnes’ second place ensured her the all-around win.

Congrats to @bannahharnes for winning the 2015 #TOUWE! @CorynRivera took 2nd, and Samantha Schneider 3rd. #TOU15 pic.twitter.com/Hm50Az161Q

— The Tour of Utah (@TourofUtah) August 4, 2015

Thomson took the two intermediate sprints on the men’s side as the breakaway stayed away from the UnitedHealthcare-powered peloton. The gap was a very manageable 2:50 with 64-km and the climb to go. The gradual climb to the ascent of the North Ogden Divide sent the lead below 2:00.

Naud and another rider fell back on the 9% grade and the peloton drew within touching distance. Dan Eaton (Axeon Cycling) was first over the peak. Brent Bookwalter (USA/BMC) bridged over after the descent, the duo only 30-seconds ahead with 25-km remaining. SmartStop was prominent on the nose of the climb-reduced peloton.

The fugitives were lassoed in the first of three finishing laps. SmartStop continued to whip along the group. A flurry of attacks in the final 10-km failed to stick. BMC took over the front in the final kilometre. Kocjan rounded Bookwalter in the final 200-metres for the victory. Top Canadian was Michael Woods of Optum in 19th.

Wednesday’s third stage features five climbs on the way to Bountiful.

2015 Tour of Utah Stage 2
1) Jure Kocjan (Slovenia/Team SmartStop) 3:37:27
2) Robin Carpenter (USA/Hincapie) s.t.
3) Brent Bookwalter (USA/BMC) s.t.

2015 Tour of Utah GC
1) Kiel Reijnen (USA/UnitedHealthcare)
2) Alex Howes (USA/Cannondale-Garmin) +0:04
3) Jure Kocjan (Slovenia/Team SmartStop) s.t.