Source: Cycling News
Tour of Utah: McCormick celebrates victory one lap too soon
A story as old as bike racing itself claimed another victim Friday evening at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah when Team Bridgelane's Hayden McCormick successfully attacked the breakaway on the penultimate lap and then soloed across the finish line with an enthusiastic victory celebration – one lap too soon. The stage 4 route in Salt Lake City featured eight laps of a 10.8 kilometre urban course that included a punchy climb to the finish. A breakaway of 16 riders was up the road when McCormick bridged to the group with eventual stage winner Marco Canola (Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizanè) and Alec Cowan (Worthy Pro Cycling). McCormick attacked the group during the lap, opened a workable gap as they let him go away, then got confused about the number of laps remaining and posted a salute in front of a loud, cheering crowd with one to go. McCormick eventually realised his mistake, but by that time his impetus was gone and he was quickly swallowed up.ADVERTISEMENT The 25-year-old rider from New Zealand finished the stage 93rd, more than four minutes back. McCormick didn't get the stage win, but he made the podium ceremony at the end of the stage when organisers awarded him the jersey for Most Aggressive Rider on the day. "It’s pretty embarrassing, but you just have to laugh about it," McCormick told Cyclingnews back at the team RV. "For 10 seconds I was the winner in my head, so I’m getting closer. I’ve always wondered how I’d done it. Now I know." McCormick said a combination of factors led to his confusion on the road.
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