Tour's first spin through Utah a smooth one

Organizers call it "a huge success." Fans loved every moment of it. Sponsors were happy. And riders were blown away by the turnout and spectator support at even some of the more remote finishes.

The Tour of Utah, billed potentially as one of the grand American tours alongside the Tour of Georgia and the Tour of California, is buoyed by its success this year. Big plans are in the works for next year's tour, which includes a new course, a new schedule and an international field with more riders.

"Next year will bring international teams and a much bigger field with more than 150 riders," said Jason Preston, president and CEO of Three Peaks Promotion, the tour organizers.

According to the plan, the race will start in southern Utah and conclude along the Wasatch Front, maybe as far north as Ogden.

"We have looked at possible routes for the starting stage. It includes St. George, Cedar City and Manti," Preston said.

However, selection of specific routes will depend on interest shown by individual cities and their ability to accommodate a group of this size.

The Tour of Utah faces stiff competition from Georgia and California. Getting Lance Armstrong in the second year helped propel the Tour of Georgia, and the Tour of California is run by a world-class sports marketing agency, AEG.

Health Net Maxxis Pro Cycling Team Director Jeff Corbett said, "There are three main things that would take the race to Georgia/California level—a new date, international ranking and an international field."

Earlier, the organizers were thinking about pushing the race to September. While some seemed to support the proposal, others disagreed.

Tour winner Scott Moninger feels the race is perfectly positioned in the calendar.

"It's in a good time of the year, just 2-3 weeks before the U.S. Nationals in the first week of September," Moninger said. "That's the real key."

Navigators Insurance team director Edward Beamon agreed.

"The weather was OK," he said. "And European teams wouldn't like to travel before the World Road Championships in early October."

However, Moninger's team director Corbett said he felt the dates need to be shuffled.