Posted on 08/18/2013 2:58:58 PM PDT by Baynative
DENVER (April 25, 2013) – The route for the 2013 USA Pro Challenge professional cycling stage race, taking place Aug. 19-25 in Colorado, will take riders on a heart-pounding journey through the breathtaking Colorado Rockies. The largest spectator event in the history of the state, the USA Pro Challenge continues to set records in professional cycling history by taking the riders to unprecedented elevations. In 2012, with a lead change nearly every day, one of the closest professional races in U.S. history came down to the final moments of the Individual Time Trial in Denver, and this year’s route promises to bring just as much drama.
(Excerpt) Read more at usaprocyclingchallenge.com ...
Yep, it's the American west...
There he was ...one of my heroes,
The close was marred by two crashes, but it appears that the Slovakian Flash, Peter Sagan was there to claim his second stage victory. I am frustrated at how poor the race commentary is on the internet and how slow updates to "real time" news is. Sorry I don't have more. This is disappointing.
I hope that those of you who see this on TV get better enjoyment watching and listening to Liggett and Sherwin.
I’m halfway through Stage 2 this evening from Aspen to Breckenridge. I know it must be challenging to choose what areas to show in a fixed time slot, but I wish we had been able to see Independence Pass in real time instead of edited clips later on.
So much to see, so little time.
So far, this has been significantly better than the previous two years. The crowds appear to be growing too.
Hoosier Pass and Breckenridge represented today! What a good stage with both the extreme uphills and downhills! (Stage 2)
I also liked the Panda relay, the banana, and assorted speedos. Lol
>> “Don’t blame the whole state for Denver and Boulder.” <<
.
It took socialists from the whole stinking state to enact those gun-grabber laws.
Thanks for the link to the brewery, Baynative. I’ll have to try scotch.
They only sell big bottles -I like that.
Stage 4: Steamboat Springs to Beaver Creek – Thursday, Aug. 22
Stage 4 is the Queen Stage of the 2013 USA Pro Challenge. It features some previously used terrain, but with some added spice. One thing is for sure, the road to the final podium in Denver goes straight over Bachelor Gulch. A new start in Steamboat will send the race off onto new country roads around Routt County. This roller coaster of small hills gives way to a gentle route south until the racers have to climb up from the river bottom at State Bridge. That’s just the beginning, as the new approach to Beaver Creek will now send the racers up the new climb of Bachelors Gulch. It may not be the longest or most well-known climb, but it is quite possibly the toughest. The relentless grade with pitches up to 18 percent will do real damage and create the sort of epic racing for which the Pro Challenge is known. After Bachelor Gulch, the leaders still have to race down a technical descent and power up the final 2 km climb to Beaver Creek Village. By that time the winner may not even have the strength left for a victory salute.
Great daily insights and summary.
Thanks Bay
For those that have access the race is on NBCSN tv from 4 - 6 pm Eastern.
Big ol’ storm right at the finish line. Welcome to Colorado.
It was a strong Rocky Mountain thunder shower and I was afraid of the descent from Bachelor's Gulch. But, Tejay came through as I expected. He's got Yellow by just four seconds with a TT coming tomorrow on a course that suits him well.
The scenery is quite a contrast from the quaint villages of Europe to the multi-million dollar estates in Vail and Beaver Creek. That was a pretty nice neighborhood at the top of the Gulch.
Haven't yet decided if I want to deal with the crowds in Windsor Saturday.
There must be millions of cyclists across america.. I used to .. And then, I changed, I met horsepower,, lots of horsepower
Pedal on Brothas and Sistas,, ‘til you reach the glide plane.. I’m pushing for ya. :-)
I kind of like the guy with the Big Horn Sheep's head. ---and what's the deal with the bike helmets with the orange highway cones on top, anyway?
They used to have motor races up the peak
Yup. They recently paved it all the way to the top.
A Day of Truth - the Race of Truth
Stage 5: Vail
The last time the USA Pro Challenge visited Vail, the Time Trial was decided by 58 hundredths of a second. Competition will be equally fierce this time around, but the names may change a bit. The course’s roots are in Colorado racing lore and trace back to the Coors Classic. Starting in Vail and climbing most of the way up Vail Pass, the route is no easy proposition, even for the best racers on earth.
The gentle grades of the first half of the course give way to a steady climb for the last three miles. But it takes more than legs on this strategic course; go too hard early and the climb may kill your chances, but conserve too much for the climb and the leaderboard may be out of reach.
I'm looking for Tejay to stretch his lead, but not by much on a course so short. When a TT has strong climbing the speeds are very close. Some riders fall away completely, but the leaders are seldom split by much.
Watch for the old man! (my dad lol)
Someone at my house deleted Stage 3 so I will have to go back and watch online. Grrr. Didn’t have time for stage 4 last night, but will catch up tonight and tomorrow.
I drove up it last August. It’s still scary even paved! I didn’t see any bikers but heard that some bike it. Going back down would be extremely dangerous.
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