For 2016 the race returns to Southern Utah and the otherworldly red rocks of Zion National Park. Located on the far southwest coner of the state, Zion Canyon Village hosts the start of stage 1, which will take the peloton to Cedar City and the decide the first race leader of the week.
The following day takes the race two hours west to Escalante for the start of stage 2, which finishes directly north in Torrey. Stage 3 starts Richfield and takes the peloton north again to Payson. Another quick drive north will take the race to the stage 4 start at the IMFlash headquarters in Lehi. The stage continues the northward march with a finish in Kearns. Stage 5 reprises a 2015 route that takes riders from Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake to the town of Bountiful.
The final two stages have become a staple of the Tour of Utah, forming the backbone to the race's claim to be America's Toughest Stage Race. Stage 6 on Saturday, August 6, starts at the Snowbasin Resort, which sits 2,850 metres above sea level. After a day of intermittent climbing and descending, the first major selection will take place in Guardsman Pass, a twisting, narrow climb that tops out at nearly 3,000 metres. A breakneck descent leads into the bottom of the Little Cottonwood Pass Road, where the remaining riders will the fight for the stage win and possible overall lead on the way to the finish at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort [2,500 metres].
The final day starts and finishes in Park City, but it's no promenade into town for a sprint finish. The overall leader will have to defend his jersey up and over Empire Pass, the devishly difficult Aspen-lined road that tops out at 2,700 metres and comes just 8.5km – and a white-knuckle descent – from the finish.
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2016 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah teams
UCI WorldTour Teams
BMC Racing Team (USA), Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (USA), IAM Cycling (Switzerland), Trek-Segafredo (USA)
UCI Professional Continental Teams
Fortuneo-Vital Concept (France), Nippo-Vini Fantini (Italy), ONE Pro Cycling (Great Britain), Team Novo Nordisk (USA), UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA)
UCI Continental Teams
Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team (USA), Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team p/b Hincapie Sportswear (USA), Team Jamis (USA), Jelly Belly Cycling p/b Maxxis (USA), Lupus Racing Team (USA), Rally Cycling (USA), Silber Pro Cycling (Canada)
