Sepp Kuss attacks to win Queen Stage at Snowbird

Kuss rode away from his rivals on the final climb up to Snowbird to win the stage and extends his lead

Today's Queen stage was tough with the huge climb of the Category 1 Guardsmans Pass after 60 miles before descending down to reach the final climb up to Snowbird.

A group of ten riders got away in the breakaway; Ruben Plaza (Israel Cycling Academy), Evan Huffman (Rally Cycling), Cam Meyer (Mitchelton-Scott), Kilian Frankiny (BMC Racing), Niklas Eg (Trek-Segafredo), Kiel Reijnen (Trek-Segafredo), Daniel Jaramillo (UnitedHealthcare), Jonny Clarke (UnitedHealthcare), Taylor Shelden (Jelly Belly-Maxxis) and Ivan Santaromita (Nippo-Vini Fantini).

They built up a maximum lead of 4m 10 secs with 60 km to go.

With Lotto NL Jumbo setting the pace, the gap fell  to 1m 5s as the breaakway crested the top of Guardsmans Pass  with Daniel Jaramillo taking the maximum KOM points.

EF Drapac set a hard pace, shedding riders and by the base of Snowbird, starting attacking Kuss. Michael Woods first and then Joe Dombrowski countering. Kuss rode away, from Dombrowski and then van Garderen with only Israel Cycling Academy's Ben Hermans able to chase.

Hermans chased but to no avail, Kuss was too strong, behind Peter Stetina (Trek-Sagafredo) was ahead of the next group containing Dombrowski, Hugh Carthy (EF-Drapac), Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott) and Luis Villalobos (Aevolo). 

Kuss celebrated by hand pumping specatators to easily win the stage and consolidate his overall lead.

Behind Ben Hermans crossed the lije ahead of  Peter Stetina .

2018 Tour of Utah Stage 5 Top 10

1 Sepp Kuss (USA) LottoNL-Jumbo 4:02:00 
2 Ben Hermans (Bel) Israel Cycling Academy 0:00:39 
3 Peter Stetina (USA) Trek-Segafredo 0:01:18 
4 Rob Britton (Can) Rally Cycling 0:01:27 
5 Jack Haig (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott   
6 Joe Dombrowski (USA) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale   
7 Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale   
8 Luis Villalobos (Mex) Aevolo 0:01:43 
9 Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:01:47 
10 Michael Woods (Can) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale 0:02:04

2018 Tour of Utah GC after Stage 5

1 Sepp Kuss (USA) LottoNL-Jumbo 18:32:00 
2 Ben Hermans (Bel) Israel Cycling Academy 0:01:21 
3 Joe Dombrowski (USA) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale 0:02:05 
4 Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale   
5 Jack Haig (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott 0:02:07