Sandwiched between the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, the second and third of the three Grand Tours, is a new multi-day professional cycling challenge. This one is not on European soil, but right here in the United States. Starting in Colorado Springs, CO on August 22nd, the new USA Pro Cycling Challenge is a seven-day, 518-mile long stage race all through the Colorado Rocky Mountains ending in the heart of Denver on August 28th. Touted as being the “highest altitude course ever created”, the new USA Pro Cycling Challenge will bring the racers over multiple mountain passes, with a number of them being almost 3,000 feet higher in elevation than the mountain climbs of the Tour de France.
Various cities and states around the U.S. have played host to some truly classic cycling events, but none have had the staying power of the European ‘classics‘. The new USA Pro Cycling Challenge looks to reignite the epic, professional stage races held in Colorado during the 1970s and 1980s. The Red Zinger Classic and Coors International Bicycle Classic drew some big names in the sport of professional cycling from around the world and even played host to the Soviet and East Germans teams who were racing in the U.S. for the first time. The staff of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge has been making flurry of announcements that this new event will too play host to some of the biggest names in the sport. Andy and Frank Schleck of Leopard Trek, Levi Leipheimer of Team RadioShack and the 2011 Tour de France maillot jaune winner Cadel Evans of BMC Racing have all confirmed that they will be racing in the inaugural 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge.
Continue reading KineticShift Takes on the Toughest Stage in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge