The Tour of Utah promotes itself as America’s toughest stage race.  There are five stages, three of which are mountain stages with big climbs, plus a prologue showcase time trial ride near the state capitol.  The Salt Lake Nordic skiers have always felt an affinity with other endurance sports: triathlons, cyclocross, cross-country running, and cycle racing.  Especially with Billy Demong (bib #50, orange sleeves and thighs), Tanner Putt, and Chase Pinkham, all cross-over with Nordic in the Tour over the years, the Tour is eagerly awaited each year by the Salt Lake skiers.  The Tour of Utah stage race starts with a Prologue, an individual time trial in City Creek Canyon along side the state capitol.  Stage One of the Tour of Utah was a mountain stage crossing the Wasatch Mountains twice. Crossing once via the Ogden River climbing east, up the Weber River, a long climb up East Canyon, then west over Big Mountain Pass, Little Mountain Pass, and down Emigration Canyon finishing at the University of Utah on the east side of Salt Lake City. 

Check back to this FS blog as more video of the later stages will be added, as can be attended, early next week.  Prologue:

This week’s training was on-your-own with the team members spread out on different adventures.  One question keeps coming up of how do you log these non-traditional training events?  Is backpacking endurance at 14 miles a day or strength with 45 to 50 lb. packs?  Do you cut your times in half if you are at or below level two for six hours? 

Two of our skiers headed for the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming looking for snow which they found at Twins Glacier.  The basin is surrounded by 4,000 meter peaks and underlain by turquoise lakes and glacial erratics.  Although it melted upon hitting the ground, it was reassuring in this hot summer to be hit by snow flakes and graupel.