Wil Matthews gallery: Bontrager-Livestrong in stage 4 at the 2012 Tour of Utah

Course note for Friday's stage. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Connor O'Leary, a cancer survivor, captured the Best Utah Rider jersey on stage one. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Axel Merckx awards axes to riders for any meritous acheivements during competition, such as wins, attacks, or even riding as a hard-working teammate. Joe Dombrowski leads the count with seven thus far. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Connor O'Leary gets a rear wheel change from Eric Fostvedt in the opening miles of stage 4. A rapid change is dependent upon careful choreography between rider and mechanic, with the rider leaving the chain on the smallest cog and holding the bike, both of which O'Leary fogot in the heat of the moment. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Mechanic Eric Fostvedt laments the loss of a brand new tubular tire, just punctured in the begining miles of stage 4, and adding a little more work for the end of the day. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

The mobile office in team car one for mechanic Eric Fostvedt includes carefully stacked spare wheels, race tech manual. commonly used tools, and a listing of all riders in the race. Among the mechanic's duties is recording the riders named over race radio. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

The stage profile is the most commonly referenced piece of race information each day for the director, and is kept in constant view. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Eric Fostvedt checks the roof rack for a spare bike to replace Lawson Craddock's machine, beset by a bent chainring. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Axel Merckx helps Eric Fostvedt rearrange bikes on team car one after a mid-race swap necessitated by a bent chainring. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Josh Atkins takes a bottle from Axel Merckx. Merckx cautions the riders to constantly hydrate during the long, hot stages of the Tour of Utah. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Eric Fostvedt gives Lawson Craddock a push start following a mid-race bike swap. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

A relaxed Joe Dombrowski chats with Axel Merckx during stage 4. Lack of race radios means in-person conferences are more common. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Jasper Stuyven leads the six-man break that was caught only in the last kilometer. Stuyven was awarded the Most Aggressive Rider jersey for his effort. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Jochim Latage hands off a musette to Lawson Craddock. Lunch can include energy bars, small sandwiches, Coke, and energy gels and bars. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Mechanic Eric Fostvedt washes down team leader Lawson Craddock's bike after Friday's long stage. All bikes are washed and serviced following each stage. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Axel Merckx uses the experience gained from his 14 years in the pro peloton to guide the U23 Bontrager-Livestrong team. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

James Oram gets prepared for stage four. Oram has not let the wounds of a training crash two weeks ago slow him at Tour of Utah. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

The Bontrager-Livestrong team enjoys generous support from some of the biggest names in the business of cycling. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Supplies for the 135-mile stage ahead. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Joe Dombrowski prepares course notes he'll tape to his bike from the race tech guide. Distances to KOM points, feed zones and sprints are included. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Nick Shuley prepares ice socks that riders will place down their jerseys as Reed McCalvin prepares supplies for the stage ahead. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

The Bontrager-Livestrong team prepares for stage 4 of the Tour of Utah. Stage races are demanding events, and the young squad has proven capable and competent. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Axel Merckx has built a strong cadre of young riders. Among the traits he admires in his riders is that they all get along well together, which is as important as being talented. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Josh Atkins heads to sign-in. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Gavin Mannion signs in for stage 4. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

The Bontrager-Livestrong team gathers before the start of stage 4 to receieve some final instructions from director Axel Merckx. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Though young, the Bontrager-Livestrong riders have quickly become accustomed to lining up alongside WorldTour teams. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Connor O'Leary cools off while pacing back to the peloton behind a team car. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Jochim Latage waits in the stage's second feedzone for riders. Limited staff requires careful deployment of resources, from cars to personnel. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Ian Boswell shows the effects of a long and sometimes dusty stage. Boswell is aformer Best Young Rider at Tour of Utah. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Jasper Stuyven is interviewed in live broadcast before being presented with the Most Aggressive Rider jersey. Part of team camp includes media training for riders to help them stay on message and remain poised. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com

Race classification jerseys usually wind up on the shoulders of riders from the most powerful teams. Having Bontrager-Livestrong riders on the podium next to WorldTour riders affirms the success of the U23 program. Photo: Wil Matthews | VeloNews.com