Rohan Dennis Takes Over US Pro Tour Challenge Lead

21 August 2015 02:23

BMC's Rohan Dennis has won the fourth stage of the US Pro Tour Challenge.

Brent Bookwalter of BMC was still in the lead of this race with a six second lead over teammate Rohan Dennis for this 203 km stage from Aspen to Breckenridge.

Straight onto the climb up Independence Pass after leaving Aspen and Roman Kreuziger (Tinkoff-Saxo).

Laurent Didier (Trek), Janier Acevedo (Cannondale-Garmin) and Phil Gaimon (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) formed a break.

They were caught by a chasing group and Kyle Murphy of Caja Rural was the first over Independence Pass with 30.8kms gone ahead of Phillip Gaimon, Roman Kreuziger, Laurent Didier and Damiano Caruso, who formed a new break.

They descended quickly through Twin Peaks increasing their lead to 2.45 and five minutes when Gaiman took the sprint at Buena Vista after 99.7kms.

As the wind picked up, the gap started to fall but was back up to 4.25 with 64 kms to go.

With Hoosier Pass and the town of Fairplay, which was the inspiration for the South Park cartoon in sight, it was the breakers who were now in sight of the peloton.

The break were 51 seconds ahead of the peloton which included Preston's Hugh Carty in the blue young rider's jersey, when Gaimon rolled through to take the sprint ahead of Kreuziger and Clark.

BMC, who were controlling the race were quite prepared to let them dangle out front until Clark tried to attack with the gap down at 15 seconds.

BMC sent Damiano Caruso with him and with six kilometres to the top of Hoosier Pass, Caruso left Clark and went away until he was caught with 27.7kms remaining.

It was a BMC rider in Michael Schar who led everyone over the climb in front of big crowds. BMC were still leading the riders, in to Breckenridge where there was one eight kilometre lap to complete.

Taylor Phinney put in an attack before Robbie Squire went off the front of a group of eight which included Rohan Dennis, who shot passed Squire with 4.4kms left and went over the climb before taking on the descent back into town.

Dennis, the winner of the first stage in the 2015 Tour De France, was in time trialling mode as race leader Brent Bookwalter caught up to Squire.

The former World Hour Record holder was away and he won in 5.10.55 to take over the lead of the race with Brent Bookwalter in second and Robbie Squire third.

Britain's Tao Geoghegan-Hart was ninth.

Dennis leads Bookwalter by thirteen seconds with Hugh Carty in fifth place.

Source: DSG