Jeff Louder (BMC Pro Cycling Team) took the First Endurance Best Utah Rider jersey off Dave Zabriskie (Garmin-Slipstream) on stage two of the Tour of Utah today.  The race started with speeds of 45 mph and frequent attacks. Eventually, a 6-man break developed and built a 4-minute lead. As the race approached Mount Nebo, the race shattered and the 6-man break was eventually reabsorbed and a new lead group emerged that contained eventual stage winner, Darren Lill (Team Type 1). Lill attacked the front group early in the climb and was never seen again.  Darren took the victory twenty-one seconds ahead of Rock Racing’s Francisco Mancebo and BMC’s Jeff Louder.

This year’s edition of the Tour of Utah features more climbing than any other bicycle stage race in the United States.  The brutal 325-mile course features a prologue, a time-trial and two decisive mountain top finishes and has attracted the highest quality field the race has seen in its history.

Dave Zabriskie won the First Endurance Best Utah Rider jersey by taking second overall on the day.  “I checked out the course yesterday and today just to see how they did the entry and the exit,” commented Zabriskie, who will start stage one wearing the First Endurance Best Utah Rider jersey. “It was a nice course that ran beside the capital buildings with quite a few fans out. I’m really happy to be here.”

BISSELL CYCLING TEAM RESULTS

The First Endurance sponsored Bissell Pro Cycling Team sits in good position after Tuesday’s 4.5K opening prologue. Ben Jacques-Maynes was the first Bissell rider to take the course. He was the 10th rider off and set a blistering pace of 6:16 which held as the fastest time of the day until eventual stage winner, Brent Bookwalter (BMC), came through 3 seconds faster. Tom Zirbel was the fourth last rider on the course and had a time of 6:21 in 10th place. Jeremy Vennell finished in 12th and Paul Mach rounds out the top 20. Frank Pipp, Morgan Schmitt, and Burke Swindlehurst all sit within 25 seconds of the leader. Bissell is in good shape as they head into stage one’s 85 miles of substantial climbing. Director, Eric Wohlberg says, “For once we do not have any responsibility to defend from the gun and can allocate energy into playing the cards instead of holding them.”

World Cycling Productions talks to First Endurance VP of Science and Technology, Robert Kunz, about First Endurance and why world-class cyclists like Levi Leipheimer, Alberto Contador, Dave Zabriskie and others rely on the products.  Robert also explains how amateur bike racers can benefit by using First Endurance.  The new EFS Liquid Shot is highlighted.  Four-time Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia) explains how he uses First Endurance to get the most out of his training and racing.