USA Pro Cycling Challenge
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Region | USA |
| Nickname(s) | USA Pro Challenge, America's Race |
| Discipline | Road race |
| Competition | UCI America Tour2.HC |
| Type | Stage race |
| Organiser | Medalist Sports LLC |
| Race director | Jim Birrell |
| Web site | www |
| History | |
| First edition | 2011 |
| Editions | 5 |
| Final edition | 2015 |
| First winner |  Levi Leipheimer(USA) |
| Most wins | Tejay van Garderen(USA)
|
| Final winner |  Rohan Dennis(AUS) |
TheUSA Pro Cycling Challenge,also known asUSA Pro Challenge,was an annual multi-day professionalroad bicycle racingstage racethat first took place inColoradoin 2011. Originally announced on August 4, 2010 by Colorado GovernorBill RitterandLance Armstrongas the Quiznos Pro Challenge,[1]the event carried on the state's cycling legacy, which was most notably highlighted by theCoors Classicthat ran from 1980 to 1988. On February 4, 2011 Richard E. Schaden, former owner ofQuiznosand the event's co-chairman, announced the investment of an initial $10 million to secure the initial growth and longevity of the race. The USA Pro Cycling Challenge was one of only three current2.HCrated races in the United States (along with theTour of California,and theTour of Utah), and was considered one of the most important pro cycling races in the U.S. After the 2015 edition, Schaden was unable to find a title sponsor for the 2016 edition, and subsequently left as an investor. The organizers were hoping to find a new investor to bring the race back for a 2017 edition,[2]but the race folded after the 2015 edition.[3]
- Distance: 992 km
Winners
[edit]History
[edit]2011 edition
[edit]In 2011, the event took place between August 22–28, 2011 and featured 16 professional cycling teams[4]consisting of 135 riders; including the top three riders of the2011 Tour de France:Cadel Evans,Andy SchleckandFränk Schleck.Riders traveled 518 miles and climbed 36,250 total feet at altitudes of upwards of 12,000 feet during the seven days of competition.
The race received 25 hours of national television airtime onVersusand theNBC Sports Networkand was seen by over one million people worldwide. On-air commentary was provided byTour de FranceannouncersPaul Sherwen,Phil LiggettandBob Roll.[5]
Americans swept the podium, withLevi Leipheimerwinning the race,Christian Vande Veldefinishing second, andTejay van Garderenfinishing third.
2012 edition
[edit]For 2012, the 683-mile race featured 42,000 feet of climbing, nine mountain passes (three of which exceed 12,000 feet), and three mountain top finishes. Four new cities joined the 2012 race including Durango, Telluride, Montrose andBoulder.The race was held from August 20–26 and featured an Individual Time Trial on the final day of racing inDenver.[6]The race has received a 2.HC from theUCI(French: Hors categorie; English: beyond categorization), the highest rating for a continental tour stage race.
Similar to the first edition, Americans swept the podium, withChristian Vande Veldewinning the race,Tejay van Garderenfinishing second, andLevi Leipheimerfinishing third.
2013 edition
[edit]The race took place from August 19–25, 2013. It began inAspen,wound its way through theRocky Mountainsat heights of up to 12,000 feet (3,700 m), and finished in the streets of downtownDenver.
AmericanTejay van GarderenofCCC Pro Teamwon the overall title after finishing lower on the podium the previous two years.Mathias Frankof CCC Pro Team finished second, becoming the first non-American to finish on the podium, whileTom DanielsonofEF Education–EasyPostfinished third.
2014 edition
[edit]2015 edition
[edit]See also
[edit]- Colorado Classic,Colorado cycling race held for both men and women in 2017 and 2018; becomes a women-only event from 2019 forward
- Coors Classic,Colorado cycling race held from 1980-1988
References
[edit]- ^Kirsten Frattini (4 August 2010)."Lance Armstrong Announces The Quiznos Pro Challenge".Cyclingnews.com.Retrieved2012-04-23.
- ^Pat Malach (2016-02-12)."USA Pro Challenge won't return for sixth year in 2016".Cyclingnews.com.Retrieved2016-07-01.
- ^Blevins, Jason (2016-08-02)."USA Pro Challenge dies with departure of race chief Shawn Hunter".Denver Post.Retrieved2016-11-09.
- ^"Teams".USA Pro Cycling Challenge. 1973-09-03. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-06-26.Retrieved2012-04-23.
- ^John HendersonThe Denver Postdenverpost.com (5 April 2011)."Name change: Quiznos Pro Challenge now U.S.A. Pro Challenge".The Denver Post.Retrieved2012-04-23.
- ^"2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge Route Features American Professional Cycling's Highest Elevation".USA Pro Cycling Challenge. 2012-04-04.Retrieved2012-04-23.