With no sprinter on the roster, Trek didn't have much to do in the first stage of the Tour of Utah. The team is looking forward to the harder stages where they hope that Riccardo Zoidl, Matthew Busche and Clement Chevrier will shine.

It was a punishing start to the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah with a 182.6–kilometer opening stage that included over 2,700 meters of climbing, plus raced in the thin air of high altitude that topped over 3,000 meters.

But the climbs were far from the finish and the abundant descending resulted in a large bunch sprint, same as last year.

The day’s breakaway was swept up on the final finishing circuits in Cedar City, giving the large crowds an exciting criterium finish that was won by Team Belkin’s Moreno Hofland.

“Today there was not a lot for us to do, Belkin took control of the race from the beginning," sports director Alain Gallopin said. "Tomorrow there is a climb close to the finish and it will be very different and a better chance for us to do something.”

Trek Factory Racing brought a roster to Utah suited to the long mountain climbs, and will look towards Riccardo Zoidl, Matthew Busche, and Clement Chevrier, one of three stagiaires recently signed by the team.

With no sprinter they were not players in today’s finale, but it did not stop Jens Voigt from giving a dig on the finish circuits. Although it was a shortlived 'Jensie' move and not his usual long foray on the front, it was a show that the team is here to race.

“The main focus of the team here is to prepare for Colorado," Gallopin said. "I think Matthew, Riccardo and this new young guy Clement Chevrier can be good on the uphill finishes. And the rest of the team will take opportunities as they come.

"Today was not a day for us to do anything. We will look to other stages, beginning tomorrow, and just like the well-known cliché, we will take it day by day.”