Rathe breaks Hot Tubes streak

After 113 kilometers that saw heroic riding from start to finish, three major climbs, and a handful of spills, Jacob Rathe (Hammer/CMG) out boxed four members of Team Hot Tubes to score a repeat win of this spectacular race through the Red River Gorge. Defending the yellow, white and red jersey, Team Hot Tubes kept Nathan Brown, finishing second on the stage, in the overall lead.

KOM Jersey holder Max Durtshci (Hammer/ CMG) battled valiantly to hold his jersey but was outgunned and failed to score points on the Final KOM - losing it to Lawson Craddock (Hot Tubes)

The race started with HPC and Specialized setting a high pace to the first KOM. After the field made it safely through the Nada Tunnel and contested the first KOM sprint a strong breakaway established itself on the descent. Their efforts to get away were assisted by crashes splitting the peloton.

The break of twenty shed all but eight riders as they approached the final KOM - which was won by Cody Foster (South Central Development) in front of all four Hot Tubes riders. Fending off the repeated attacks from the three Hot Tubes riders, Rathe was forced to take the race into his own hands. Faced with a front derailleur problem, Rathe dropped to his team car with 5km to go where his mechanic manually shifted him back into the big ring. Rathe attacked with only Brown able to follow finishing in a two-up sprint.