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Moninger wins in Utah, Louder takes over jersey

Published: Aug. 10, 2006

The 2006 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah earned its reputation as one of the country’s toughest Thursday as the race entered the mountains of the Wasatch Front with the 67.5-mile 101.9

The End Road Race, which began in Provo and finished at Nebo Loop, pitted some of the best climbers in U.S. against each other as the stage culminated with a 20-mile ascent through Payson Canyon to the 9000-foot Nebo Loop summit.

HealthNet-Maxxis rider Scott Moninger won the stage with a time of two minutes thirty-eight seconds at an average speed of 22.48 miles per hour. Moninger's teammate and Salt Lake City native, Jeff Louder, finished second on the day 19 seconds behind the stage winner, gaining the race leader's jersey. Team Navigators rider Glen Chadwick finished third with the same time as Louder, and Chadwick's' teammate and Salt Lake City resident Burke Swindlehurst followed in fourth place 32 seconds behind Moninger.

Toyota-United covered numerous attacks on the flat rural roads from Provo to Payson as the team worked to protect race leader Chris Wherry, then received help from Team Navigators to set a 30 mile per hour tempo at the front of the group, in order to limit attacks before the climb. A break was finally able to stick as 9 riders gained just over two minutes, and held the gap into Payson for the day's only Sprint Competition, won by Team Navigators rider Phil Zajicek.

Immediately following the Sprint, the race entered Payson Canyon and the climbing began on its very steep lower section. Zajicek attacked and gained a split that grew to one minute thirty seconds at the 51-mile mark. Behind him, the field was beginning to unravel and Swindlehurst launched a solo effort from the peloton, quickly catching the remnants of the earlier break and closing on his teammate out in front.

At mile 53, a new chase formed off the front of the main field that included most of the race's best climbers. From this group, Scott Moninger accelerated and began reeling in Zajicek and Swindlehurst. Eventually it became Moninger and Swindlehurst riding together, nearly one minute ahead of the favorite's group, with Chadwick and Louder chasing hard. As the race neared the 60-mile mark, Swindlehurst was the leader on the road as he and Moninger built a lead of one minute three seconds on the chase group that included Wherry. As Louder continued to chase and gain time on the two leaders, Moninger sat on Swindlehurst's wheel, knowing his teammate was gaining ground behind.

As the finish line was coming into view, Louder caught Swindlehurst and Moninger, with a hard chasing Chadwick on their wheels. As the group of four riders came together, Moninger attacked and rode free to the uphill finish. Louder edged Chadwick in the sprint for second, gaining a six second time bonus that would move him into the overall lead. Swindlehurst followed close behind, crossing the line fourth after a terrific day at the front.

The overall lead in the race belongs to Louder, just two seconds ahead of Moninger, with Chadwick sitting third, 23 seconds back, and Swindlehurst in fourth, 52 seconds behind the leader. Wherry rounds out the top five overall at 57 seconds off the lead.

Louder will wear the race leader's yellow jersey in Friday’s Stage Five Twinlab Circuit Race in front of his hometown fans in downtown Salt Lake City. Moninger's win Thursday earned him the King of the Mountains jersey, and Team Navigators rider Sergey Lagutin retained the Sprint Leader's jersey as well as the Best Young Rider jersey.

The Stage Five Twinlab Circuit Race is a 6.2-mile course snaking through downtown Salt Lake City, where racers will complete six fast and furious laps. The race will be in the evening at 7:00 p.m. following the Freedom Peloton, a fundraising event to benefit the Larry H. Miller Charities. The Freedom Peloton starts at 6:00 and will include riders of all levels completing as many laps as they can in an hour. Riders will be joined by OLN Tour de France commentator, Bob Roll, who will also be the announcer for the evenings' pro race.