BICYCLING: Bookwalter Wins First Mountaintop Finish in Stage 2 of Tour of Utah 2017

You can read the full story with Brent here: https://www.bicycling.com/racing/bookwalter-wins-first-mountaintop-finish-in-stage-2-of-tour-of-utah-2017

Stage 2 ended with a dramatic mountaintop finish as the BMC team surged in the final meters of the climb to Snowbasin Resort leading Brent Bookwalter to the win. Sepp Kuss of Rally Cycling finished second with the same time as Bookwalter giving him the overall lead.

In the general classification, Bookwalter moved to second overall with Piccoli in third. After winning stage 1 Ty Magner dropped to 52nd falling more than 17 minutes off the lead.

The attacks began right from the start as riders climbed Sardine Canyon with BMC's Joey Rosskopf taking the first KOM.

A breakaway formed 28 miles into the stage initiated by Rosskopf, the reigning U.S. pro time trial champion. Three riders reached a gap of five minutes and ten seconds before they were reeled in on the second KOM of the day at the North Ogden Divide.

The field was down to forty riders as they all approached the final climb to the finish line. 

“It was pretty stop and go I think. It wasn't a crazy steep uphill finish, it was a bit more tactical so it was a bit more explosive." said Neilson Powless of Axeon Hagens Berman. 

Jacob Rathe  of Jelly Belly Cycling p/b Maxxis retained the Utah Office of Tourism KOM jersey and De Vos was awarded the most aggressive rider jersey.

Stage 3 brings an individual time trial that may favor riders who excel at high altitudes. “It could be the most decisive day of the race,” said Bookwalter of Stage 3.