Matthews Dashes to Utah Stage Win!
10 August 2012
Michael Matthews of the Rabobank team won the third stage at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah Thursday, conquering a tough 138km stage with 2,174 meters of climbing. The 21-year-old Australian spent much of the day in a five-rider breakaway, and then outsprinted a lead group of 60 to take the win on his Giant TCR Advanced SL.
Matthews’ win was the Rabobank team’s second strong result in a row at the six-day stage race through the mountainous U.S. state of Utah. On Wednesday's Stage 2 the team finished second in the team time trial, putting General Classification riders Wilco Keldermann and Steven Kruijswijk in fifth and sixth place in the GC standings.
With three big climbs on the Stage 3 route from Ogden to Salt Lake City, Matthews, a sprinter, was a surprise winner. He joined a breakaway on the descent of the first climb over North Ogden Pass, and helped power the break until it was caught on the final climb.
Remarkably, after the hard day’s effort in the mountains, Matthews still managed to hold his position in the lead group as it approached the finish and then dash to the win.
“It was lucky that there was a long descent so that I could recuperate fairly well,” Mattews said. “I had to dig really deep, but I am super happy with this win.”
Matthews’ win was the Rabobank team’s second strong result in a row at the six-day stage race through the mountainous U.S. state of Utah. On Wednesday's Stage 2 the team finished second in the team time trial, putting General Classification riders Wilco Keldermann and Steven Kruijswijk in fifth and sixth place in the GC standings.
With three big climbs on the Stage 3 route from Ogden to Salt Lake City, Matthews, a sprinter, was a surprise winner. He joined a breakaway on the descent of the first climb over North Ogden Pass, and helped power the break until it was caught on the final climb.
Remarkably, after the hard day’s effort in the mountains, Matthews still managed to hold his position in the lead group as it approached the finish and then dash to the win.
“It was lucky that there was a long descent so that I could recuperate fairly well,” Mattews said. “I had to dig really deep, but I am super happy with this win.”
