American Sepp Kuss dominates the Tour of Utah
Sepp Kuss (Lotto NL Jumbo) dropped everyone on the final climb of Empire Pass to take his third win on the final stage
The American showed once again his amazingform by soloing to the finish line on his own for the third time in the race after attacking on the big climb of Empire Pass.
The 126 km stage saw several attempts to form a breakaway, which was finally went away after 30 km.
In the breakaway were Sam Bewley, Rob Power, Nate Brown, Daniel Jaramillo, Gavin Mannion and Brayan Sanchez and they built a for minute lead over the peloton. Behind, LottoNL-Jumbo took controlled the pace to protect Sepp Kuss' overall lead.
The final climb of the HC climb of Empire Pass took its toll on the breakaway, with four riders remaining, Brown attacked and left the others behind.
With around 11 miles to go, Kuss and Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott) attacked from the peloton and went on to chase down all of the breakaway.
With 10 miles to go, Kuss accelerated and dropped Haig who couldn't hold the pace and one kilometre later, passed Brown. The rider of EF Education First tried to stay on the wheel of Kuss, but he couldn't maintain the pace of the American.
Hugh Carthy (EF Education First) soon got to Haig and left him behind to go on the chase for the leader, meanwhile BMC's Brent Bookwalter and Keegan Swirbul (Jelly Belly), joined Haig and Carthy in the chase.
Kuss soloed across the finish line for the third time and secured his overall victory, he also took the lead of the Mountains Classification.
Bookwalter and Haig were second and third on the stage, Ben Hermans (Israel Cycling Academy) and Haig completed the final podium of the race with Bookwalter finishing fourth overall.
Sepp Kuss confirmed to be riding the Vuelta a Espana starting August 25 until September 16.
2018 Tour of Utah Stage 6 Top 5
1 Sepp Kuss (USA) LottoNL-Jumbo 3:09:22
2 Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:00:08
3 Jack Haig (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott
4 Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale 0:00:27
5 Keegan Swibul (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
2018 Tour of Utah Final GC
1 Sepp Kuss (USA) LottoNL-Jumbo 21:41:11
2 Ben Hermans (Bel) Israel Cycling Academy 0:02:09
3 Jack Haig (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott 0:02:22
4 Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:02:40
5 Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale 0:02:42