Medalist Demong among Tour of Utah Riders

Fri, Aug  20, 2010 - By US Ski Team

PARK CITY, UT (Aug. 18) – 2010 Olympic gold and silver medalist Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY) will be spending time in the saddle as he competes on Team Cole Sport in the 2010 Tour of Utah bike race.  After Tuesday's prologue, Demong sits 47 seconds behind the leader, Taylor Phinney of Team Livestrong, Lance Armstrong's Development Team. The Tour will come through the U.S. Ski Team's home, Park City, on Saturday's stage 4, August 21 from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.

The Tour is made up of five stages. Stage 1 begins in Ogden and ends in Salt Lake City with a fast start and two climbs in the middle, followed by stage 2, Thanksgiving Point to Mount Nebo, consisting of a flat course ending with a 20 mile climb. Stage 3 is at Miller Motorsports Park, were riders will compete in a 10 mile time trial, before heading into stage 4's Downtown Park City 90 minute climb. The Tour ends Sunday with the "Queen Stage" made up of four grueling climbs to a mountain top finish.

Demong will be a contender in the hills such as stage 4 and 5, utilizing his strength and endurance from nordic combined. Demong, who resides in Park City and trains at the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association's Center of Excellence, will ride in front of a home crowd during stage 4. The stage is centered around Park City's Main Street, where riders will do a one mile loop for 90 minutes. Look for Demong to be in the front as he races up the Main Street hill Saturday, August 21 from 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Joining the Tour of Utah this year are Tour de France riders Levi Leipheimer,the only rider competing individually, George Hincapie and Brent Bookwalter. Bookwalter finished Tuesday's prologue in third, Hincapie in eighth and Leipheimer in 10th.

Stage 1 started at 11:00 a.m. MST and is estimated to finish at 2:30 p.m. Stage 2 is set to begin Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at Xango World Headquarters.

For results, information and updates go to, www.tourofutah.com.