USA Pro Cycling Challenge - Part II

Yup.  Agreed.

And just like that, the USA Pro Cycling Challenge is wrapped up for 2011.  A few thoughts, after watching Stages 5 (Steamboat -> Breckenridge) and 6 (Golden -> Denver):

• Congrats to Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack), winning the USAPCC...
• Impressed with the Americans holding serve, taking all top five spots...
• Tejay Van Garderen is the future of US pro cycling.  Just hope he can harness the disappointment of failure (seen at end of Vail TT) and use it to fuel his riding...
• The Schleck brothers (Andy and Frank) already had a lot of fans here in the US.  Now they have more...
• World-famous Elgee almost got clipped by Andy Schleck (as witnessed on Versus TV) during his attack at the top of Swan Mountain...
• It was amazing seeing these guys up close and personal.  Watching the peloton up over the short kicker just outside of Wolcott, you realized just how strong, quick and powerful these riders are...
• The turnout at each stage was amazing.  The crowds at Independence Pass, the gate and finish sections of the Vail TT, the finish line at Steamboat, the mob that was Swan Mountain, and the tens of thousands that showed at the finish circuit in downtown Denver...wow.  That was just amazing, and surely there is something there that will bring this race back over and over...

Next up for me is Mountain States Cup Sol Survivor, in Granby on September 3, and Tim Mt. Pleasant and I will be holding it down for Bach Builders MTB at the 12 Hours of Snowmass on September 10.

GO RIDE!

USA Pro Cycling Challenge

GOING.

OFF.

That's the only way I can explain the reaction of the crowds at the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge, here in Colorado.

I managed to sneak away from work (more or less) for two days, finding a killer spot 1.5k from the top of the Vail Pass individual time trial and hanging the day with Skelli and Ryan and the other boys from Twenty2 Cycles, cheering on each of the riders as they slogged up the 8% straightaway.

The other day I rode up from Eagle to Wolcott, and sat on top of the corkscrew climb that starts Highway 131.  Attached some pictures and videos for your viewing pleasure.

Colorado local Tom 'Tommy D' Danielson

Previous stage (Gunnison->Aspen) winner George Hincapie

Up-and-comer (and Yellow Jersey, i.e. leader of the race) Tejay Van Garderen - watch out for this kid...

Jelly Belly Pro Cycling team bus, on the way to Steamboat

Dave Zabriskie, aka "Captain America", aka Current US Natl Time Trial Champ

Cadel Evans, aka Current Defending Tour de France Champ

Jens "SHUT UP LEGS" Voigt on course.  Consummate professional cyclist.  Catching his "minute man".