Long-time Partner Medalist to Manage Operations of Professional Cycling Stage Race and the Tour of Utah Ultimate Challenge Endurance Ride
2021 Events Postponed due to Covid Pandemic
SALT LAKE CITY (April 29, 2021) – The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah announced today that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Medalist Sports, a full-service sports management company specializing in road cycling and cause-related events, to operate the professional cycling stage race and the Tour of Utah Ultimate Challenge, a non-competitive gran-fondo-style endurance event for amateur riders. Also, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, both the Tour of Utah and the Tour of Utah Ultimate Challenge are postponed in 2021, with plans to resume in 2022.
The Tour of Utah began in 2004 as a grassroots regional event and developed into a seven-day, internationally sanctioned race for the world’s best men’s professional cycling teams. Medalist Sports, headquartered outside of Atlanta, has been a long-time partner of the Tour of Utah since 2011.
“Our goals of bringing world-class cycling to our local communities and showcasing the beauty of our state through the eyes of sport continue,” said race chairman Steve Miller. “The Tour of Utah has grown in stature and respect through the years, and we are thankful for the support of countless volunteers, loyal corporate partners, committed host cities and fanatic cycling enthusiasts. It has been an honor to conduct this race around the state for the past 15 years.
“We are now excited to support Medalist Sports in their operations and planning of these events,” Miller said. “Medalist has familiarity with the Tour of Utah and tremendous experience and expertise in conducting cycling events. We are particularly grateful for our partnerships with the Utah Sports Commission, the Utah Office of Tourism, and USA Cycling through the years. For everyone involved, the Tour of Utah is a labor of love.”
“Medalist Sports is committed to hosting a safe, successful and quality event while maintaining the integrity and legacy of the Tour of Utah,” said Chris Aronhalt, Owner and President of Medalist Sports. “We are grateful to the Miller family for their support of the sport and the Utah community and their ongoing partnership with Medalist. We look forward to sharing more information as we plan for the future.”
Aronholt added, “With a strong foundation of support, we remain focused on building new experiences and value for all involved. Although we are taking a hiatus in 2021, we are committed to the race’s return to the UCI calendar in 2022 with a reimagined event, which integrates world-class cycling along with multiple layers of engagement for spectators and partners. The sport of cycling is a beautiful thing, and for more than a decade, the Tour of Utah has been a model of excellence and a celebration of Utah and its communities.”
Known as “America’s Toughest Stage Race” for its challenging distances and vertical climb, the Tour of Utah has been rated as a 2.HC-rated stage race by the Union Cycliste Internationale for the past five years and has been selected as part of the new UCI ProSeries. The 2020 race in August had been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2019, the field featured 115 riders from 17 teams, attracting 400,000 spectators during race week, 21 hours of national television coverage and reaching more than 400 million homes via broadcast around the world. The route covered 477 miles of racing and 37,882 feet of elevation gain.
Through the years, Tour of Utah General Classification champions have included Ben Hermans (2019), Sepp Kuss (2018), Rob Britton (2017), Lachlan Morton (2016) and Joe Dombrowski (2015) along with stage winners such as Tejay Van Garderen, Cadel Evans, Chris Horner, Travis McCabe, Brent Bookwalter, Marco Canola, Giulio Ciccone, Rob Carpenter and Levi Leipheimer.
For a history of the race, see: https://www.cyclingwest.com/category/tour-of-utah/
