Cedar City • With downtown Cedar City coming into focus in the distance and the finish line rapidly approaching, Kris Dahl made his move. In an all-out scramble through the Southern Utah University campus, Dahl managed to out-pedal the pack in the final seconds to take Stage 1 of the 2016 Tour of Utah.
"Coming into the finish, it was really quite hectic," Dahl said. "I kind of found myself with one kilometer to go on the outside of the group and gained a bunch of spots and opened up the sprint really early and managed somehow to hang onto the win."
Dahl was immediately surrounded by a pack of Silber Pro Cycling teammates — who rode alongside him on a celebratory cool-down cruise — while sipping on a Fanta that matched his orange jersey.
"After the race, it's kind of just get sugar hits so you can somewhat function. … Fanta was the choice for today to match the jerseys," Dahl said, laughing.
The 24-year-old is part of an all-Canadian team in its third year that is making its first appearance at the Tour of Utah. But even as the winner, Dahl correctly attributed much of his win to teammate Matteo Dal-Cin — was named Stage 1's most aggressive rider — who had broken ahead for much of the race with IAM Cycling's Simon Pellaud, and powered through most of the day's legwork.
"My teammate Matteo luckily made the breakaway for us," Dahl said. "He's a real strong guy — he won Redlands this year — and has really showcased how strong he can be, so we were super happy letting him go up the road."
Up until about a mile before the finish, Dal-Cin and Pellaud had led for roughly 90 kilometers before being absorbed by the peloton. In a challenging opening stage, which spanned 84 miles and climbed roughly 7,000 feet in vertical elevation, Dal-Cin and Pellaud simply ran out of gas after their fast start.
"Is that the profile from today?" asked six-time Tour of Utah veteran Benjamin King, gazing after the race at a graphic showing Stage 1's difficulty. "It a felt a lot harder than that."
Colin Joyce of Axeon Hagens Berman finished second, while BMC Racing Team's Rick Zabel closely followed behind in third.
Colombia's Daniel Alexander Jaramillo Diez earned the blue jersey after winning King of the Mountain honors early in the race as part of the original four-man break away group with Dal-Cin, Pellaud and Axeon Hagens' Berman's Adrien Costa.
Pellaud was able to console himself with the purple jersey for winning the sprint classification.
hkim@sltrib.com
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune The official start of racing kicks off just outside of Zion National Park during the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune In a blur of speed, power and color, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016 that kicked off in Zion National Park.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, which started in Zion National Park before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A breakaway forms shortly after the official start of racing just outside of Zion National Park during the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Christopher Horner, left, of the Lupus Racing Team moves with the peloton during the first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Heather Pugh with team Rally works the feed station as she hands out bags of food for the team during the first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Heather Pugh with team Rally works the feed station as she hands out bags of food for the team during the first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Team Rally takes a turn at the front of the peloton during the first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Volcanic rock covers the landscape as cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Foreign visitors get a special treat as they take in the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Alberto Bettiol of team Cannondale-Drepac is helped with a mechanical while traveling at high speed during the first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Starting at Zion Canyon Village in Springdale, cyclists compete in the scenic first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. Covering 84 miles with 6,679 feet of vertical climbing, the seven-day, world-class professional cycling race, passes lava fields, high alpine forests, Cedar Breaks National Monument and more before the finish in Cedar City.
Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Racers line up as they get ready to do a neutral start though the scenic Zion National Park for the first stage of the 2016 Tour Of Utah on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016.
