Salt Lake City — Rock Racing’s Cesar Grajales, Oscar Sevilla and Tyler Hamilton climbed into the top 10 overall following Thursday’s University Health Care Road Race at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah.

The trio was part of an 11-man group that finished 18 seconds behind Stage 2 winner Blake Caldwell (Garmin-Chipotle), who assumed the overall lead from teammate and Stage 1 winner Jason Donald.

Just as it did in Wednesday’s opening stage, Rock Racing flexed its muscle to close significant gap late in the 85-mile (137 km) race. Grajales, Hamilton and Sevilla all took turns on the front to reduce a nearly two-minute lead Caldwell and runner-up finisher Darren Lill had enjoyed with fewer than 20 miles to go.
“It was our responsibility to keep it in check,” Rock Racing Team Director Mariano Friedick said. “We didn’t want the gap to be larger than 20 or 30 seconds because our guys are feeling good. Saturday will be the big day, though.”

Hamilton showed no signs of an intestinal bug that had him visiting a hospital emergency room earlier this week. The winner of the Tour of Qinghai Lake in China last month said he thought the chase to catch Caldwell and Lill would be successful. In Wednesday’s opening stage, Rock Racing helped slash a three-rider breakaway’s lead from more than three minutes down to 20 seconds.

“They were just ahead of us on that little descent on the last climb,” Hamilton said. “We almost had them, they were right there, but they did a tremendous job. I wasn’t feeling great, but Sevilla looked good, and Cesar looked good.”

Grajales is now eighth overall, Hamilton is ninth and Sevilla is 10th. All three are 28 seconds behind Caldwell, who holds a four-second lead over Lill. In all, 12 riders are within 30 seconds of the lead.

Earlier in the day, Rock Racing’s Mike Creed was part of a five-man breakaway that gained a 45-second lead at the 44-mile (70 km) mark. But like several others before – and after – it did not succeed.

Friday's Stage 3 is a 90-minute criterium in Downtown Salt Lake City, followed by what is expected to be the decisive race of the five-day, five-stage event. Saturday’s Stage 4 includes nearly 15,000 feet of climbing.

Following that race, Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball will join Hamilton and Fred Rodriguez at a free autograph signing from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Contender Bicycles, 875 East 900 South in Salt Lake City.

— RRC—