PORT Macquarie cyclist Lachlan Morton has had a week to remember after finishing 14th in the Tour of Utah in the United States.
The six-day event was highlighted by Morton’s victory in the third stage, where he sustained a lengthy solo attack to give him the win and the overall leader’s jersey.
Morton sped away from a large chase group on the ascent of Mount Nebo, the highest and southernmost peak in the Wasatch Range and part of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.
He tracked down a two-man breakaway just before the summit and held off a hard-charging chase group down Payson Canyon to take control of the race in front of enthusiastic crowds in Payson.
He crossed the finish line 34 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet.
“When you have an opportunity like that, you take it. I just put my head down and went as hard as I could,” Morton said of his attack up Mount Nebo.
“I was just trying to get a win. The yellow jersey is a nice bonus, but we still have a lot of cards to play on our team.
“It puts me in a nice position and it puts the other guys in a nice position too – it’s an ideal scenario for us.”
Morton, who rides with Team Garmin-Sharp, was unable to keep his momentum rolling throughout the tour and finished 14th overall, six minutes and 40 seconds behind winner Thomas Danielson.
