The cities to host the 2015 Colorado stage race were announced today
Race Organizers have changed things up this year, which was needed. Colorado truly is a magnificent state, we have so much natural beauty and so many wonderful mountain towns that I am happy to see new places and roads featured for the 2015 race.
STAGES AND HOST CITIES FOR 2015 USA PRO CHALLENGE IN COLORADO
First impression of the 2015 route (which is conceivable based upon the order of host cities) is a raced formed across long road climbs. The kind of race where team work matters and many new names will be seen on the podium. Still it will be the kind of race where experience trumps all. There are opportunities for a sprinter, for a strong finishing climber, for a time trialist able to manage a twisty climbing course, but especially for a true team leader. To win - your team will have to sacrifice.
About the race between Host Cities
Steamboat Springs | A Basin | Copper Mountain | Aspen | Breckenridge | ??? | Golden | Denver
Overall this will be a very nice week in Colorado.
The race begins in Steamboat Springs - a welcoming cowboy ski town northwest of Denver. The following day there will be an early climb over Rabbit Mountain and a final climb to the ski station of Arapahoe Basin (A Basin) - one of my favorite roads to cycle in Colorado (especially the nearby Loveland Pass). Next the peloton will depart Copper Mountain, another ski village, and climb over Independence Pass into the familiar city of Aspen. They won't stay long, the next day the riders climb back to Breckenridge where the 9600'ft elevation individual time trial will take place the following day on Stage 5. This will be a do not miss day in Breckenridge (it's a Friday).
Breckenridge is an excellent choice to base the peloton and it's entourage for two nights. As welcoming as Steamboat, the city is even more scenic and excels at hosting large events.
Update 12/22/14: Stage 6 route of the USA Pro Challenge has been decided and announced, the stage will start in Loveland and end in Fort Collins. The exact route is not known at this time
2015 STAGE 6 USA PRO: Loveland to Fort Collins
After departing Breckenridge the peloton enters the yet unknown; the host cities and route of Stage 6 have yet to be decided. Race Organizers fancy the promotional idea of putting the vote to the people, a repeat of 2014 when they chose to get the people involved in route planning (or so it looks, I never know if they actually have the route fully planned already).
I think imagining routes is as fun as riding them - so share your ideas, if it does not impact this year, it might impact next year's route. Where should the race proceed between Breckenridge (Stage 5) and the start in Golden (Stage 7); your route idea must be within 150 miles of Denver. Take into consideration that Stage 6 is on a Saturday, so race organizers will want big crowds and good TV viewing, also the peloton will bed in downtown Denver for the last two nights to ease logistics. The race finish is once again in Denver on a Sunday.
Stage 6 options:
Share your idea for the route of Stage 6 USA Pro Challenge 2015 here: prochallenge.com/2015stage6. (voting closed)
My wish for Stage 6
I would like to see the race go up Lookout Mountain again to Squaw Pass and Red Rocks. For Front Range Colorado Cyclists - this is our prime stomping ground. Alternatively a stage between the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs east to the Black Forrest rollers could be a tactically interesting race to watch. There will be some noise to get the US Pro Challenge back onto Flagstaff mountain in Boulder - which just reopened this week - but Boulder is a very controversial location. My loyalty will always go to Golden or Loveland/Fort Collins for the historical support they have given the race over the years.
My route choice for Stage 6 is logistically challenging, but what a race it would be with terrific TV camera coverage:
Golden - Lookout Mountain - Idaho Springs - Echo Lake - Squaw Pass - Kerr Gulch - Red Rocks - Golden
+8,589 ft | -8,593 ft | 79.5 miles | max elev. 11,152 ft | anything could happen
My second wish for Stage 6
The Peak to Peak Highway is a scenic byway crossing a beautiful stretch of high country Colorado. A route from Loveland to Eldora Ski Resort would attract crowds from Fort Collins, Loveland, Boulder, Nederlands, Golden and Denver. I am a fan of shorter pro routes where the racing begins from the start and continues throughout the stage. This route would parallel the continental divide north to south and features challenging false flats at altitude.
The Ranch - Loveland downtown - Big Thompson - Estes Park - Allenspark - Nederlands - Eldora
+8,625 ft | -4,324 ft | 85.0 miles | max elev. 9,367 ft | magnificent Rocky Mountain climbing
Team Evergreen had a great idea for a route: http://teamevergreen.org/mtevans/course-map-2/
Lakewood - Golden - Lookout Mountain - Red Rocks Park - Morrison - Evergreen - Squaw Pass - Echo Lake - Idaho Springs - Georgetown - Guenella Pass.
14, 651 ft | 97.1 Miles | super challenging
Send in your wish for the stage route: help plan Stage 6
The race in 2015
There will definitely be new teams racing in 2015. Changes have been made to the names, sponsors and ranks in the Pro Teams, Pro Continental and Continental teams. Even the women's teams are reforming for 2015. No announcement has been made yet about additional details of the women's stage race planned in conjunction with the 2015 USA Pro Challenge.
Exact Route details will be announced in spring 2015, this is when we will fully discover all the other great small towns the race will visit or pass through next summer. Teams will be announced in the months preceding, with final rosters announced 1 week before the race start.
August 17-23, 2015 should be a very nice week to spend on vacation in Colorado.
Race Organizers have changed things up this year, which was needed. Colorado truly is a magnificent state, we have so much natural beauty and so many wonderful mountain towns that I am happy to see new places and roads featured for the 2015 race.
STAGES AND HOST CITIES FOR 2015 USA PRO CHALLENGE IN COLORADO
- Stage 1: Monday, Aug. 17 – Steamboat Springs Circuit Race
- Stage 2: Tuesday, Aug. 18 – Steamboat Springs to Arapahoe Basin
- Stage 3: Wednesday, Aug. 19 – Copper Mountain Resort to Aspen
- Stage 4: Thursday, Aug. 20 – Aspen to Breckenridge
- Stage 5: Friday, Aug. 21 – Breckenridge Individual Time Trial
- Stage 6: Saturday, Aug. 22 - Loveland to Fort Collins (announced 12/22/14)
- Stage 7: Sunday, Aug. 23 – Golden to Denver
First impression of the 2015 route (which is conceivable based upon the order of host cities) is a raced formed across long road climbs. The kind of race where team work matters and many new names will be seen on the podium. Still it will be the kind of race where experience trumps all. There are opportunities for a sprinter, for a strong finishing climber, for a time trialist able to manage a twisty climbing course, but especially for a true team leader. To win - your team will have to sacrifice.
About the race between Host Cities
Steamboat Springs | A Basin | Copper Mountain | Aspen | Breckenridge | ??? | Golden | Denver
Overall this will be a very nice week in Colorado.
The race begins in Steamboat Springs - a welcoming cowboy ski town northwest of Denver. The following day there will be an early climb over Rabbit Mountain and a final climb to the ski station of Arapahoe Basin (A Basin) - one of my favorite roads to cycle in Colorado (especially the nearby Loveland Pass). Next the peloton will depart Copper Mountain, another ski village, and climb over Independence Pass into the familiar city of Aspen. They won't stay long, the next day the riders climb back to Breckenridge where the 9600'ft elevation individual time trial will take place the following day on Stage 5. This will be a do not miss day in Breckenridge (it's a Friday).
Breckenridge is an excellent choice to base the peloton and it's entourage for two nights. As welcoming as Steamboat, the city is even more scenic and excels at hosting large events.
Update 12/22/14: Stage 6 route of the USA Pro Challenge has been decided and announced, the stage will start in Loveland and end in Fort Collins. The exact route is not known at this time
2015 STAGE 6 USA PRO: Loveland to Fort Collins
After departing Breckenridge the peloton enters the yet unknown; the host cities and route of Stage 6 have yet to be decided. Race Organizers fancy the promotional idea of putting the vote to the people, a repeat of 2014 when they chose to get the people involved in route planning (or so it looks, I never know if they actually have the route fully planned already).
I think imagining routes is as fun as riding them - so share your ideas, if it does not impact this year, it might impact next year's route. Where should the race proceed between Breckenridge (Stage 5) and the start in Golden (Stage 7); your route idea must be within 150 miles of Denver. Take into consideration that Stage 6 is on a Saturday, so race organizers will want big crowds and good TV viewing, also the peloton will bed in downtown Denver for the last two nights to ease logistics. The race finish is once again in Denver on a Sunday.
Stage 6 options:
- Within 150 miles of Denver
- Easy bus transfer for riders into Denver after the stage finish
- Generally National Parks are off limits
- Consider the costs to the towns suffering from recent fire or flood damage
- It cost 250,000+ to close an interstate off-ramp
- Team cars must be able to follow the riders
- The route should attract big crowds
- The route should look spectacular on TV
- A clear leader will have emerged the day before after the ITT
Share your idea for the route of Stage 6 USA Pro Challenge 2015 here: prochallenge.com/2015stage6. (voting closed)
 |
| Stage 6 should be located somewhere inside this circle. There are a lot of mountains between Breckenridge and Golden, but not all roads/paths are suitable for a peloton and team cars (e.g., the I-70 corridor; Mt Evans is a National Park) |
 |
| Previous host cities north or northwest of Denver include Boulder, Loveland and Fort Collins |
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| Previous or possible host cities southwest of Denver include Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, Evergreen, Idaho Springs, and Golden. |
My wish for Stage 6
I would like to see the race go up Lookout Mountain again to Squaw Pass and Red Rocks. For Front Range Colorado Cyclists - this is our prime stomping ground. Alternatively a stage between the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs east to the Black Forrest rollers could be a tactically interesting race to watch. There will be some noise to get the US Pro Challenge back onto Flagstaff mountain in Boulder - which just reopened this week - but Boulder is a very controversial location. My loyalty will always go to Golden or Loveland/Fort Collins for the historical support they have given the race over the years.
My route choice for Stage 6 is logistically challenging, but what a race it would be with terrific TV camera coverage:
Golden - Lookout Mountain - Idaho Springs - Echo Lake - Squaw Pass - Kerr Gulch - Red Rocks - Golden
+8,589 ft | -8,593 ft | 79.5 miles | max elev. 11,152 ft | anything could happen
 |
| Golden Loop |
My second wish for Stage 6
The Peak to Peak Highway is a scenic byway crossing a beautiful stretch of high country Colorado. A route from Loveland to Eldora Ski Resort would attract crowds from Fort Collins, Loveland, Boulder, Nederlands, Golden and Denver. I am a fan of shorter pro routes where the racing begins from the start and continues throughout the stage. This route would parallel the continental divide north to south and features challenging false flats at altitude.
The Ranch - Loveland downtown - Big Thompson - Estes Park - Allenspark - Nederlands - Eldora
+8,625 ft | -4,324 ft | 85.0 miles | max elev. 9,367 ft | magnificent Rocky Mountain climbing
 |
| Loveland to Eldora |
Lakewood - Golden - Lookout Mountain - Red Rocks Park - Morrison - Evergreen - Squaw Pass - Echo Lake - Idaho Springs - Georgetown - Guenella Pass.
14, 651 ft | 97.1 Miles | super challenging
 |
| Lakewood to Guenella Pass over Lookout Mtn and up Squaw Pass |
Send in your wish for the stage route: help plan Stage 6
The race in 2015
There will definitely be new teams racing in 2015. Changes have been made to the names, sponsors and ranks in the Pro Teams, Pro Continental and Continental teams. Even the women's teams are reforming for 2015. No announcement has been made yet about additional details of the women's stage race planned in conjunction with the 2015 USA Pro Challenge.
Exact Route details will be announced in spring 2015, this is when we will fully discover all the other great small towns the race will visit or pass through next summer. Teams will be announced in the months preceding, with final rosters announced 1 week before the race start.
August 17-23, 2015 should be a very nice week to spend on vacation in Colorado.
 |
| Remember - head to Steamboat Springs early so you can see and ride next to the teams training in the days before the race start! Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer. |