UHC’s Sutherland Wins 1st Stage of Tour of Utah
8/08/2012Team UnitedHealthcare’s Rory Sutherland won the first stage of the Tour of Utah, held August 7 in Ogden, Utah.
Sutherland’s victory came by way of a sprint in the last 200 meters of the five-and-a-half-hour race, after repeated climbs in temperatures nearing 98 degrees. He said that the efforts of his teammates were a key factor in his victory: “Today was a super-hard, super-hot start to the tour. This was a long stage, 211km with a lot of serious climbs on a ‘flat day,’ so to speak. We have done it a lot this year and just continue to come together really well as a group. We look after each other.”
“We came into the last climb all grouped up, and once I hit that one, I knew I was feeling good, and I could go with it. I just had to make it over with the top 10-20 guys and just wait…I told [Ben Day and Philip Deignan] ‘You have to close down every single gap you see, because I need to get to the last corner grouped up with the other guys.’ They were tremendous and did a great job, so you feel it on your shoulders that it’s your responsibility to finish your job.” Sutherland’s victory allowed him to take the leader’s jersey into the Stage 2 team time trial.
Maxxis congratulates Rory Sutherland on his victory and thanks all the members of Team UnitedHealthcare for their fine performances.
