USA Pro Cycling Challenge: Vande Velde takes title

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Jens Voigt of Germany riding for Radioshack-Nissan attacks the breakaway on the start of the Flagstaff Mountain climb to the finish of stage six of the USA Pro Challenge from Golden to Boulder, Aug. 25, 2012 in Boulder, Colorado. Voigt finished third in the stage and earned the king of the mountains jersey. Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images.

Taylor Phinney wins final time trial stage in Denver

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — American cyclists swept the top three spots in the second edition of America’s Race, the seven-stage 2012 USA Pro Challenge that saw top racers from around the world battling their away across some of pro cycling’s highest terrain. Full results here.

Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda) outdueled rival Tejay van Garderen  in the final stage, a time trial through the streets of Denver, for the win, while last year’s champ Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) took third place after briefly wearing the yellow leader’s jersey after Saturday’s penultimate stage from Golden to Boulder and up to finish at Flagstaff Mountain.

American Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda) took the overall sprint title, while German Jens Voigt was crowned king of the mountain for his outstanding rides over high country passes, with summits as high as 12,000 feet. (more…)

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USA Pro Cycling Challenge: Finish at Beaver Creek

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Cycling’s biggest U.S. race hits the heart of ski country

Americans Levi Leipheimer and Christian Vande Velde cross the finish line together in Beaver Creek at the end of Stage 4 in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Breckenridge photographer Daniel Dunn captured the excitement at Beaver Creek as racers completed the 92-mile stage from Aspen. Visit www.danieldunnphoto.com to see more of his work.

A racer in the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge hugs his daughter afer crossing the finish line in Beaver Creek. Daniel Dunn photo.

(more…)

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Van Garderen takes Stage 2 in USA Pro Challenge

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Stage 2 ends with steep climb to Mt. Crested Butte

Racers speed along the shore of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Photo courtesy USA Pro Cycling Challenge and Doug Pensinger/Getty Images.

ejay Van Garderen riding for BMC Racing celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win stage two of the USA Pro Challenge from Montrose to Crested Butte on August 21, 2012 in Crested Butte, Colorado. Photo courtesy Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — American racers Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing Team) and Christian Vandevelde (Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda) swept the top two spots in Stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, edging out Russian rider Ivan Rovny (RusVelo) in the 99-mile stage from Montrose to Mt. Crested Butte.

Stage 2 was a mix of old and new, covering a new route for the first 62 miles, then veering back to the 2011 route up to the last grueling climb to the finish in Mt. Crested Butte.

Early climbs over Cerro Summit and Blue Mesa Summit helped set the stage for early breakaway specialists before the course flattened out along Blue Mesa Reservoir and the first sprint of the day in Gunnison, which will also host the start city of Stage 3.

Last year’s winner Levi Leipheimer took the overall lead during the final 12-mile climb to Mt. Crested Butte.

Jerseys

  • Exergy Leader Jersey – Tejay Van Garderen (USA) of BMC Racing Team
  • Waste Management Sprint Jersey – Tyler Farrar (USA) of Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda
  • Nissan King of the Mountains Jersey – Tom Danielson (USA) of Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda
  • Aquadraat Best Young Rider Jersey – Joseph Lloyd Dombrowski (USA) of Bontrager Livestrong Team
  • Evolve Most Aggressive Rider Jersey – Rafael Infantino Abreu (COL) of EPM-UNE

Overall standings

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Colorado: USA Pro Challenge teams announced

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Tour de France winner Cadel Evans returns to Colorado

A group of racers jockey for position on Highway 9 in Silverthorne during the 2011 USA Pro Challenge. Photo by Kim Fenske.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Last year’s Tour de France winner Cadel Evans and American star Levi Leipheimer are among the world’s top cyclists confirmed for this year’s USA Pro Challenge, set to criss-cross the Colorado Rockies Aug. 20 -26 in a challenging, 683-mile stage race from Durango to Denver with more than 42,000 ft. of vertical climbing.

In all, six new teams added to the lineup for the 2012 race. Returning for a second year are Bissell Pro Cycling, BMC Racing Team, EPM-UNE, Liquigas-Cannondale, Team Exergy, Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda (formerly Team Garmin-Cervelo), RadioShack-Nissan-Trek, Team SpiderTech powered by C10, Team Type 1-SANOFI and UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team.

“After winning the Tour de France last year and seeing the enthusiasm of the fans, I didn’t think anything could match it, but then I came to Colorado,” Evans said. “Seeing the huge crowds that were along the route supporting us at the USA Pro Challenge was remarkable and really motivated us to do our best. “The course and the mountains were beautiful, but incredibly challenging, and I can’t wait to take them on again. I knew last August that I wanted to return to the race in 2012.” (more…)

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USA Pro Cycling: Ride with the pros!

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Racers roll through Silverthorne during the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge. PHOTO BY KIM FENSKE.

Unique program will let up to 24 amateur cyclists ride the course just ahead of the racers during 2012 race across Colorado

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Up to 24 cycling enthusiasts will have a chance to experience the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge from the vantage point of a racer, sleeping and eating with the pro teams, and riding the course day-by-day, just ahead of the field, with retired professional racer Chris Carmichael leading the team of amateurs through the Race Experience.

“With the altitude and the length of the climbs in Colorado, this promises to be the hardest Race Experience to date,” Carmichael said. “The USA Pro Cycling Challenge has been instrumental in helping us create a truly unique experience for devoted amateur cyclists. It’s an insider’s view of what it’s like to live and work as a professional cyclist.”

“People looking at the next bigger thing,” said Jim Rutberg, of CTS. “In this, there’s the risk of failure … there’s a significant chance you won’t make it to finish line, “It’s highly motivating,” Rutberg said. (more…)

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Leipheimer wins inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Pro racers streak through Silverthorne, Colorado during Stage 5 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. PHOTO BY KIM FENSKE.

Race organizers say the overwhelming turnout means the event will likely return next year

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The inaugural USA  Pro Cycling Challenge ended Sunday with a rousing sprint after six laps around the Capitol — and with American racer Levi Leipheimer being crowned as the first-ever champion of a race that was wildly popular with spectators around Colorado.

The seven-day stage race featured the world’s best racers and traversed some of the highest terrain of any pro cycling event, including two 12,000-foot passes.

Italian Daniel Oss of Liquigas-Cannondale outsprinted teammate Elia Viviani and took the final stage after an exciting battle for the lead on the route from Golden to Denver, where race organizers said up to 250,000 fans lined the course. (more…)

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USA Pro Cycling Challenge: Leipheimer keeps overall lead

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Race concludes Sunday with Golden to Denver stage

Ivan Basso, Andy Schleck, Tom Peterson and Laurens Ten Dam, the breakaway leaders, are caught by the peloton just as they race down Park Avenue towards the finish line on Main Street. PHOTO BY JENNEY COBERLY.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Elia Viviani is feeling right at home in the heart of Colorado’s ski country. For the second day in a row, the Italian cyclist won a stage of the USA Pro Challenge, this time beating Colombian Jaime Castaneda and fellow Italian and Liquigas Cannondale teammate Daniel Oss to the line on Main Street Breckenridge after a stage that included two KOMs and two sprint competitions.

Tour de France second-place finisher Andy Schleck of Team Leopard-Trek charged hard trying to win his first-ever American race, but came up 500 meters short.

Levi Leipheimer of Team RadioShack kept the overall lead for the third consecutive day after the 105.8-mile route from Steamboat Springs to Breckenridge. Heading into the final day of racing, Leipheimer is followed by Americans  Christian Vande Velde of Garmin-Cervelo, Tejay Van Garderen of HTC-Highroad, Tom Danielson of Garmin-Cervelo and George Hincapie of BMC Racing Team.

“If you look at the crowds in a place like the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, that is really saying something,” said Leipheimer.  “I would definitely like to win tomorrow. We’ve done a good job so far and we just need to carry the momentum one more day.”

In the final stage Sunday, the riders will head out of Golden at 10:45 a.m. on the final trek to Denver, where the first-ever winner of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge will be crowned. (more…)

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USA Pro Cycling Challenge: Viviani sprints to Stage 4 win

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Steamboat to Breckenridge via Rabbit Ears Pass next on tap

Some peleton action in this file image from PhotoSport International.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY —European racers led the peleton into Steamboat Springs during Stage 4 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, with Italian racer Elia Viviani, riding for the Liquigas Cannondale team, taking first, followed by Denmark’s Michael Morkov (Saxo Bank SunGard) and the Netherland’s Kenny Van Hummel (Skil-Shimano) taking third.

Viviani also holds the Smashburger Sprint jersey, while Levi Leipheimer held on to the overall leader’s jersey. (more…)

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USA Pro Cycling Challenge: Leipheimer wins Vail time trial

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Levi Leipheimer, shown here in a file photo, won the Vail time trial in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. COURTESY PHOTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL.

American racers hold top five spots in overall standings heading into final stages

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A quintet of American racers is atop the standings as the USA Pro Cycling Challenge enters the final few days, first heading north from Avon to Steamboat Springs Friday, then wending through some of Colorado’s most spectacular mountain scenery for a Main Street finish in Breckenridge Saturday.

In Thursday’s time trial, dubbed the race of truth, time-trial specialist Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Team RadioShack came out on top with a time of 25 minutes and 47.08 seconds to take the stage and re-claim the overall lead.

The time-trial stage started in the heart of Vail Village and headed up the heart of the Rockies on the Vail Pass trail, part of a regional cycling path that is enjoyed by thousands of recreational cyclists each summer.

Coming in second and third were Christian Vande Velde (USA) of Garmin-Cervelo with a time of 25 minutes and 47.66 seconds and Rafael Infantino (COL) of UNE-EPM with a time of 25 minutes and 51.52 seconds, respectively. (more…)

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Full team rosters announced for USA Pro Cycling Challenge

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Top American racer Tom Danielson will compete with the world's best during the upcoming USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Photo courtesy John Pierce, PhotoSport International.

National champs, Tour de France stage winners and local favorites slated to compete in stage race through Colorado

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The news just keeps getting better for cycling fans, as the lineup for the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge is now set to include George Hincapie of BMC Racing Team, Christian Vande Velde of Garmin-Cervélo and Robert Gesink of Rabobank Cycling Team.

“This is no doubt one of the best fields ever assembled on American soil,” said racer Tom Danielson, a Boulder resident considered by many as one of the front runners to win the seven-day stage race through the Colorado Rockies. “It’s a diverse blend of top professional teams from various continents and the altitude adds an element of unpredictability.  No doubt, it is a special field that will put on a great showing.”

Race organizers released the full provisional team rosters for the race this week. The race starts Aug. 22 with a prologue in Colorado Springs, then wends through the heart of the Rockies with climbs over two 12,000 foot passes before ending in Denver on Aug. 28.

The will also feature two Olympic medalists from the Beijing Games and more than 15 current or former national champions. The elite professional roster of teams, which includes 136 riders, is comprised of eight teams that competed in the Tour de France, four Pro Continental teams and five Continental teams. (more…)

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