Denver time trial finale for second edition of Colorado stage race
The USA Pro Cycling Challenge has announced the host cities for the 2012 edition of the race. After the success of the first edition of the race, which is also known as the tour of Colorado, organisers were reportedly approached by 25 cities keen to be included this time.
The race will once again run over seven days, in the second half of August, but, where it began with prologue time trial in Colorado Springs in 2011, the 2012 race will start with a road stage and finish with a time trial in the state capital Denver.
“We’re very, very excited about it,” said the race’s COO Brian Farris to Colorado local news station 9news. “Based on the momentum of last year, with over a million fans across the course, and $83 million of economic impact we’ve had a lot of demand from cities making bids this year.
“We wish we could have selected all of our alumni cities from this year, because they did such a fabulous job,” he continued. “We hope to be back to them in the future. But our route, going into next year: we’re going to start in Durango, which is a fabulous cycling community.”
Colorado Springs is one of the 2011 stage towns to return, but four will miss out next year: Salida, Vail, Avon and Steamboat Springs. These are replaced in 2012 by Durango, Telluride, Montrose, Beaver Creek and Boulder, which is regarded as the state’s cycling capital.
I know the folks in Boulder will be excited about this; there’s a lot of demand from that town,” said Farris, “and we’re excited to be there.”
The 2011 race was won by RadioShack’s Levi Leipheimer, at the head of an all-American top five, after taking victory in the first stage on Mount Crested Butte. The event managed to attract Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), and Andy and Fränk Schleck, the top three from this year’s Tour de France.
“It should be just an outstanding event,” Farris concluded.
USA Pro Cycling Challenge stages 2012
Stage 1 – August 20th: Durango to Telluride
Stage 2 – August 21st: Montrose to Crested Butte/Mount Crested Butte
Stage 3 – August 22nd: Gunnison to Aspen
Stage 4 – August 23rd: Aspen to Beaver Creek
Stage 5 – August 24th: Breckenridge to Colorado Springs
Stage 6 – August 25th: Golden to Boulder
Stage 7 – August 26th: Denver (Individual Time Trial)