– The second lap of Stage 1 of the 2015 USA Pro Challenge is nearing the expected sprint finish into downtown Steamboat Springs.
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The BMC team’s Taylor Phinney is participating this year. He’s gone through so much to get back to racing. “It will be fun to see who rises to the occasion”.
The biggest impact to local traffic this week from the USA Pro Challenge will be on Independence Pass.
“Traditionally in Colorado it’s a little bit more tactical and more pack racing, if you will, on the climbs, and then it really comes down to the time trial”. It will definitely be good to be on my home roads and race in Colorado and in America. “I think it’s going to take a little while to process fully the whole day”.
Two-time defending champion Tejay van Garderen is skipping the USA Pro Challenge to ride in the Vuelta a Espana.
Tuesday, world-class cyclists in the men’s race will leave Steamboat Springs on a 115-mile route through Kremmling and Keystone to Arapahoe Basin.
Stage 5 this year will be a brand new offering in the USA Pro Challenge.
The almost 49-mile circuit will be completed twice that will include the Route 27 KOM climb and going through the town of Oak Creek. Second place overall went to Kiel Reijnen (United Healthcare) and third place went to another BMC rider, Brent Bookwalter. Followers of the recent Tour de France will recognize team names such as Jelly Belly, Team Novo Nordisk, and Team Tinkoff-Saxo. “It’s kind of the way we race”. 17-23. For seven consecutive days, the world’s top athletes race through the majestic Colorado Rockies, reaching higher altitudes than they’ve ever had to endure.
The inaugural three-day women’s stage race will start Friday and end Sunday with a circuit race in Golden.
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One of the largest spectator events in the state kicks off Monday in Steamboat Springs.
