Major Pro Cycling Tour Returns To Colorado

November 7, 2010 · Filed Under Cycling News · Comment 

The old Coors Classic has been gone since 1988, but pro cycling has finally returned to Colorado.  This time it’s the Quiznos Pro Challenge, and by their own admission, will be ‘the greatest bike race ever to be held on American soil.’ The tour will cover 600 miles and will include  mountain, sprint and downtown stages.  The 11 cities selected to host a stage start and/or finish are Vail, Colorado Springs, Crested Butte, Avon, Gunnison, Breckenridge, Salida, Aspen, Golden, Steamboat Springs and Denver.

Many of the specific stage routes are still being worked out, but the stages are scheduled as follows:

August 22 – Prologue, Prologue time trial, Colorado Springs
August 23 – Stage 1, Salida to Crested Butte, mountain-top finish
August 24 – Stage 2, Gunnison to Aspen, mountain stage
August 25 – Stage 3, Vail, time trial, former Coors Classic stage
August 26 – Stage 4, Avon to Steamboat Springs
August 27 – Stage 5, Steamboat Springs to Breckenridge
August 28 – Stage 6, Golden to Denver

The event will bring in top European riders, and will give local pro riders a chance to race with a ‘home field advantage’.   While there are some minor grumblings in the corners from Boulder residents about being passed over to host a stage (with valid justification, unofficially), most are heartily welcoming the return of pro stage racing to Colorado.

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