News: Tao Geoghegan Hart 3rd in Gila

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Tao Geoghegan Hart finished third in Sunday’s Gila Monster Road Race and sixth overall at the Tour of the Gila to claim “best young rider” honours.

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News: Tao Geoghegan Hart 3rd in Gila

Londoner Geoghegan Hart (Axeon Hagens Berman) matched his best overall finish in a stage race this year and bettered his eighth-place result at this race a year ago.

Winner of the one-day Trofeo Piva race in Italy in early April, the 21-year-old from Britain had also finished sixth overall at Volta ao Alentejo in Portugal in early March.

Geoghegan Hart said when Jaramillo and Acevedo attacked on the flat after the penultimate climb, he chose to remain patient and let others do the chasing. “There was quite a long way to go, so I didn’t go with them,” he said. “I thought the chase was going to be a lot more organized than it was. But instead, there was initially a lot of looking around. Finally, Rally Cycling took it up and rode hard. They almost brought those two guys back.”

Sport Director Jeff Louder said Geoghegan Hart was the team’s last card to play on a day when tactics were key early on. Axeon Hagens Berman placed four riders – Will Barta, Ruben Guerriero, Justin Oien and Logan Owen – in the day’s main breakaway that numbered 15 riders at one point.

“The team supported Tao well by getting four guys in the break,” Louder said. “By doing that, he was able to sit back and see what would happen. I thought he played a smart race by being conservative and gambling on the chase to bring back the two guys who broke away.”

Geoghegan Hart said he was also pleased with his results heading into the team’s goal race of the year, the Amgen Tour of California, which begins Sunday, May 15. “I had not done any long climbs this year in races up to this one,” he said. “We did have climbs in the Italian races and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but those were short, punchy ones. Here, we had longer duration climbs. Already today, I could feel my body was feeling the good effects of the first stage. Plus, doing a time trial – which I also had not done in a long time – was good preparation for California.”2016_ShuttVeloRapideAdvert

 

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