2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge
Stage 6 Saturday, August 25, 2012
Golden to Boulder    
103.3 miles / 166.3 kilometers , 10030' total climbing

Post-Race Overview
A win for the "home team" as Boulder's Rory Sutherland (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team) steals the show as Leipheimer moves into yellow. Rory Sutherland gave UHC Pro Cycling their first stage victory of the USAPC by riding away from the remnants of the early race breakaway and crossing the line solo. As has been the case for every stage so far, the attacks started immediately once the racing was under way and a break of 14 riders escaped containing the ever feisty Jens Voigt (RadioShack Nissan Trek) , hometown favorites Timothy Duggan (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Rory Sutherland (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team), and 10 others. As the break began the ascent of Flagstaff, the final climb of the day, the main field had whittled the gap down to 2 minutes. But then Sutherland launched the winning attack from the break - and was gone.

Stage Results
1     Rory Sutherland (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team       04:06:12
2     Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team     0:00:20     
3     Jens Voigt (Ger) Team RadioShack-Nissan     0:00:26

Rory Sutherland Stats Summary
1187 Max Watts
4843 KJ
328 Average Watts (Average Power)
179 Max Heart Rate

Rory Sutherland Performance Overview
Rory Sutherland hit his 60 min Peak power in last hour of the race at 366W (4.7 w/kg), his 30-minute Peak Power of 381W (4.9 w/kg) racing up Lefthand and Lee Hill, and then lit the dynamite for the final summit up Flagstaff with his 20-minute Peak Power for the day of 438W (5.6 w/kg).

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Stage Highlights for Rory Sutherland

• Rory completed the iconic Flagstaff Mountain climb in 14:05, averaging 462W and 22.8 mph during the effort.

• Stronger than a horse: Sutherland was alert from the gun, determined to make the early break. He puts in 6 efforts close to 800 W or more and 11 over 600W in the first several minutes of the stage. Even after the 14-man break was established, Sutherland and his breakaway-mates had to drill it towards Boulder to establish their lead. This is when Sutherland performed his 30-sec Peak Power of the day of 787W (10.1 w/kg) - more power than a draft horse can put out at 750W! In fact, Rory exceeded 750W several times today including on his climb up Flagstaff.

• The winning move: with the breakaway group about 2 minutes ahead of the peloton, Jens Voigt launched a solo attack at the base of Flagstaff. Rory knew he couldn't let Voigt go if he wanted the win - with approximately 5km remaining on the climb, Sutherland bridged to and immediately passed Voigt for the race lead. Rory's surge included a staggering 10 second effort of 916W (11.7 w/kg) and a peak of 1049W - but it turned out to be the move that won the race. From that point on, attempts to catch Rory were futile.

• "I know this climb well enough that I knew I had to go at the bottom," Sutherland said of his attack and elaborated "I know where to go easy, I know where to go hard. I've done [this climb] I don't know how many times, but this was the most beautiful one I've done."

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