East Canyon Road Race

(April 23, 2011) Henefer, Utah - Evan Hyde (Realcyclist) wins at East Canyon, beating Chase Pinkham (Bissel) after 96km under threatening skies.

Spring is still backordered in Utah. That did little to prevent a strong field from showing up to contest the East Canyon-Echo road race. Covering 96 kilometers in rural Morgan and Summit Counties, the race featured an undulating course with two out and back legs and a 8 km final climb to a summit finish. Leaving Henefer for the first out and back leg to East Canyon Resort, the peloton got a preview of the finishing climb.

The men's Pro-1-2 field took the initial climb slowly. Evan Hyde of Realcyclist professional cycling team attributed a slow start to the low morning temperatures which hovered in the low to mid thirties. After the race reached it's first turn-around at the East Canyon resort the pace picked up on the return. A sharp climb away from the East Canyon reservoir provided the first selection of the day. A group of nine riders went clear. Local power Ski Utah placed three riders up the road, along with Hyde (Realcyclist), Chase Pinkham (Bissel) and Billy Demong (Colesport Racing). FFKR Architecture, Rocky Mountain Cycle Club, and Revolution/Cafe Rio rounded out the early break. This group built a one minute lead over the remaining field which held until the second turnaround at east of Echo.

The one team not represented in the early break was Canyons Bicycle. According to Demong, ”An unwillingness to work by most of the group, because all were licking their chops at the thought of a summit finish” allowed Canyons to bring the break back at 65 kilometers . Returning from the turnaround Ski Utah rider Mike Booth went clear and the groups allowed a team mate to bridge. Together they built a one minute lead headed back to the finish. The pack rode steady pace up the last 8 km, and the pair was caught at 1 km to go.

The final kilometer saw TJ Eisenhart (FFKR) launch two bids to go free. The first was covered by Bissel Professional Cycling Team's new addition Chase Pinkham. Realcyclist's Hyde used the second attempt at 200 meters to out sprint Pinkham to the line.

Mens Pro/1/2:

Even Hyde - Realcyclist

Chase Pinkham - Bissel Professional Cycling Team

Erik Harrington - RMCC/Cyclesmith

TJ Eisenhart - FFKR Architecture

Curtis Doman - Revolution/Cafe Rio

Women Pro/1/2/3:

Kathryne Carr - Vanderkitten

Megan Hill - Revolution/Cafe Rio

Laura Howitt - Ski Utah