One long climb – the 16-kilometer Wolf Creek Pass – did little to change the outcome at the end of the 204-kilometer stage four as a nearly intact peloton swallowed up the breakaway in the fast and furious finale, then roared into the tricky uphill finish.

American Eric Young (Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies) left everyone in his wake as he motored up the incline to the finish line, handedly taking the win, while yellow jersey clad Kiel Reijnen (UnitedHealthcare) narrowly avoided a crash in the final meters, but was hindered enough to lose the race lead to Jure Kocjan (Team Smartstop) who finished third.

Trek Factory Racing stagiaire Leonardo Basso continued to impress in the Tour of Utah, sprinting to 12th place in the tough finale, with Fränk Schleck just behind in 20th. 

“The most important today was for Leonardo and Fränk to not lose time because it was a tricky uphill finish with some turns before, but the team did well,” explained Trek Factory Racing director Alain Gallopin. “We knew today that UnitedHealthcare would control the race all day, and it was easy to understand that it would be a sprint. Tomorrow could be something, but I want to keep all the power for Saturday, and forFränk it could be a good test for the Vuelta.”

Both Basso and Schleck maintained their high positions in the overall (both are in the top 20 at 14 seconds) as the Tour of Utah enters the final three days, including the queen stage on Saturday that will be the biggest determinant in the final GC with its summit finish.

“Fränk looks like he will be okay - he still has the saddle sore, but it has not gotten worse so he can continue so far.  Tomorrow is a small stage, but I remember the circuit from a few years ago; it is really, really, really hard,” continued Gallopin.

Trek Factory Racing introduced two stagiaires at the Tour of Utah. Both Leonardo Basso and Julien Bernard will go on to race in Colorado following the Tour of Utah, and both young riders have shown their value already.

Gallopin showered the young apprentices with praise: “Leonardo is doing well. I have given him free rein and have put Julien [Bernard], who is also a very good climber especially on steep climbs but now he is out of the GC so he is working close to Fränk, and he did a very good job again today.  Fränk has been very happy with Julien’s support.

“But I want Leonardo to try and make the classification for himself; he’s a young guy and he looks good on the climbs and it’s a good opportunity for him.”

Matthew Busche, who miraculously escaped serious injury in a frightening high-speed downhill crash Wednesday, is on the mend and still with the team in Utah.

“Matthew has stayed with the team because I think he can have better recovery here. We can take care of him and Park City is so nice. From here we will go to Colorado where we hope he will be ready, and also fresher than the others!  I am always optimistic and see the positive,” Gallopin smiled.

“Honestly, he’s a tough guy. He surprised me at the Tour [de France] last year when he had some crashes in a row, especailly on the cobblestone stage, and he never complained - he’s a strong guy.  And he showed me again here because yesterday when he arrived to the hotel he looked like a mummy. But he didn’t complain. He said, ‘Don’t worry Gallo, I am okay, nothing is broken.'"