Along with the Quiznos Challenge, August will be a hot month of racing in America
With the recent unfortunate news that both the Tour of the Battenkill and the Tour of the Gila would not be UCI races in 2011, there was a small cloud of gloom hanging over the American racing calendar, but today, the clouds cleared a bit with the announcement that the Tour of Utah will be making a giant leap forward from NRC status all the way to a UCI 2.1 ranked race, putting it firmly as the final stage race in America’s new Grand Tour rota behind the Tour of California, the Quiznos Challenge.
The six day event, scheduled for August 9-14, will include a prologue and five stages to take the racing total to around 400 miles of racing over some of Utah’s most difficult terrain. The race is not know as “America’s Toughest Stage Race” for nothing.
The new UCI 2.1 ranked Tour of Utah could serve as an interesting choice for riders looking to prepare for the World Championships, some might even say that an extended stay in the Rockies would be just right. Combined with the UCI 2.1 Quiznos Challenge, which will be held August 22-28, the two difficult stage races, at altitude, would be ideal training ahead of the World Championships in Copenhagen from the 19-25 of September. More importantly, the two races will form a needed 1-2 punch to ensure that the cycling world takes note of American racing not just in May.
Interestingly, this will be the second European Grand Tour that American racing will conflict with. The Tour of California’s move to May coincided with the Giro d’Italia last year, and will again this year, and now, the Tours of Utah and Colorado (Quiznos), will approximately coincide with the running of the Vuelta a Espana, which will run August 20th to September 11th.
The UCI status upgrade also requires a major bump in the purse of the event. Riders will now be racing for 150,000 dollars in prize money, as compared to 45,000 in 2010.
The UCI upgrade will, however, see the demise of the inclusion of amateur teams in the event. The UCI 2.1 status will allow only Continental, ProContinental, and ProTeam teams into the race.
USA Cycling CEO, Steve Johnson, was justifiably pleased with the news of the Tour of Utah’s continued growth to one of North America’s top races.
“Thanks to the support and dedication of the Miller family, local sponsors, and staff, the Larry H. Miller Tour of Uah has very quickly grown into one of America’s top stage races. Now, with its placement on the UCI calendar as a Category 2.1 stage race, the Tour of Utah will join the ranks of the world’s top cycling events and feature an international field with some of the best professional teams in cycling.”
15 teams will take the line in Utah this summer. The announcement of the invites along with the host venues will come in February.
“It’s really quite an honor to be able to organize and host a race of this caliber and level. This is really big for Utah. Professional cycling provides a unique setting from which we can showcase our beautiful state. It’s great for spectators. It’s great for athletes, and it’s particularly great for tourism,” said Steve Miller, President of the Utah Cycling Partnership, who own the Tour of Utah. “We’re very grateful to the fans and sponsors, without whom, this race simply would not be possible. Whereas in years past, we’ve been able to attract a handful of the world’s best races, this year, the entire field will be the who’s who of professional cyclists.”