By Dave Iltis
The 2014 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, to be held from August 4-10, promises to be the most exciting yet. This year, several new events will be happening as part of, or in conjunction with the Tour.
First up, the Cedar City Gran Prix, a women’s only Pro/1/2 criterium, will run during stage 1 of the Tour of Utah. The men will start stage 1 in downtown Cedar City. Shortly thereafter at noon, the women will race a 1 hour criterium at the same location as the road race start-finish. 25,000 spectators are expected to watch the races. The men’s finish will happen at around 3 pm, making for a packed day of bike racing in Cedar City. Additionally, an expo with booths and more will be held.
“The Cedar City Grand Prix will be an exciting opportunity for women to race in a unique small town who will welcome them with open arms and cheer them on as loudly as the men,” said race organizer, former professional cyclist, and directeur sportif of the Primal Pro Women Cycling Team, Nichole Wangsgard. “So far the community has been overjoyed at the news that the top female riders will be joining the top male professional cyclists in coming to Cedar City this year to race.”
Women wishing to race the event can register online. For more information, visit cedarcitygranprix.com.
Next up, The Tour of Utah has added the Tour of Utah Women’s edition, a women’s pro and elite circuit race to be held during stage 3 of the Tour on August 6, 2014. The men will start in Lehi that day, and finish at Miller Motorsports Park (MMP) in Tooele, Utah. During the road race, the women will race a 33 mile, 15 lap circuit race at MMP giving spectators the chance to watch some of the best women in the world compete, and then watching the best men in the world shortly thereafter.
Tayler Wiles (see interview in our May issue), a Utahn who rides for Team Specialized-Lululemon said, “It’s great to see another big American race is adding a women’s race during a year, where women’s racing is really making its mark. I grew up in Utah and started my cycling career by training on all of the beautiful roads featured in the Tour of Utah. I’m excited to see the progress being made with the addition of this race to the Tour of Utah.” Wiles and her team will be participating.
Some of the best US teams that will be racing are: Colavita-Fine Cooking (ranked 3rd), Twenty16 Professional Cycling (ranked 7th), DNA Cycling p/b K4 (ranked 8th), as well as Guru Cycles p/b Haute Wheels, Pepper Palace Pro Cycling, Vanderkitten Racing and Monster Media. Two Utah-based composite teams that will be participating are LiVe Well p/b Bountiful Bicycle and Canyon Bicycles-Shimano.
Teams and riders wanting to race on a composite team must apply by June 6, 2014. For more information on the race or to apply to enter, visit TourofUtah.com.
On the same day at Miller Motorsports Park, after the Tour of Utah men’s race finishes, Chase Pinkham Memorial Criterium for Pro-1-2-3 Men and Pro-1-2-3 women, and all other amateur categories will be held on the west side of the MMP. “This is a good way to honor him in a high profile situation and raise donations to a charity chosen by the Pinkham family.” “Were hoping to draw the top local and regional racers, who will be out at the track watching, and then racing themselves,” said race organizer Jared Eborn. “Were thrilled that the women will be racing in the Tour of Utah Women’s Edition, and hope that some of them will stick around and race again later in the day.” For more information or to register to race, visit extramileracing.com/Chase.
