Carter Jones Does It Again!

Image credit: VeloNews

Optum pro Carter Jones, coached by PCG master coach Dr. Stephen McGregor, notched three top-ten performances at the 2014 Tour of Utah that culminated with a sixth place on the final stage and seventh on GC. The Tour of Utah has come to be known as America’s toughest stage race, and this year it lived up to its billing. With most of the race above 6,500 feet and including climbs with extensive grades between 10 and 20% topping out at 9,000 feet, it’s a race for the toughest of stage racers.

Jones was the Optum team’s GC hope, and he didn’t disappoint, with an eighth place finish on the first critical stage (stage 4) that finished on the brutal Powder Mountain climb. On stage 6 to Snowbird ski resort, a break including former Tour de France champion Cadel Evans got away, and although Carter was fifth out of the main contenders, Evans jumped over him on GC. On the final stage that climbed Empire Pass and finished in Park City, Jones and Evans battled up the climb in an effort to reel in the leading four riders, including overall winner Tom Danielson and second place Chris Horner. They didn’t make contact before the final descent. Evans put on a descending clinic to get the win, and Jones finished sixth, just ten seconds back and five seconds behind Danielson. In the end, Jones finished seventh overall, the top-placed non-World Tour rider.

Next up is the USA Pro Challenge, another opportunity for Carter to demonstrate his climbing prowess. Hats off to you, Carter!

Image credit: VeloNews

Click here to read more about Carter's win: http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-utah-2014/stage-7/results.