Tag: Twin Lakes

(Video by Mike Prendergast) For a higher resolution video click here

From August 22nd through August 28th, one of the biggest professional cycling races in the United States will commence in Colorado Springs. This is one of the largest U.S. stage races in recent years, drawing international stars like Cadel Evans and the Schleck brothers to do battle on our soil, with our heroes including Levi Leipheimer, George Hincapie and Colorado favorite, Tom Danielson. KineticShift.com will be there; and actually we have already been there and had a chance to pre-ride Stage 2, the ‘Queen Stage’ of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge (UPCC).

At 131 miles and with two 12,000-foot mountain passes, Stage 2 of the UPCC will arguably be the hardest day of racing for the pros due to the altitude, length and unpredictable Colorado weather. Experience it here from a rider’s view as we climb, descend and film our way through the Queen Stage… returning with some interviews and insight for you!

This week’s coverage:

The Riding of Stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge – Part 1: Gunnison to Buena Vista
The Riding of Stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge – Part 2: Buena Vista to Aspen
Watching the Queen Stage – Spectator Information for Gunnison to Buena Vista
Watching the Queen Stage – Spectator Information for after Buena Vista to Aspen
Inspired by the USA Pro Cycling Challenge to Climb Some Colorado Mountain Passes?
USA Pro Cycling Challenge: Strider World Cup Answers the Challenge

 

Continue reading KineticShift Rides Stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and Comes Back with Spectator Info!

We continue our coverage of the “Riding of Stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge” (The Riding of Stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge – Part 1: Gunnison to Buena Vista)

Once my cleat malfunction was addressed in Buena Vista, Mike Prendergast and I continued our ride of Stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. At this point, we were 67 miles into the 131 mile stage from Gunnison to Aspen. From Buena Vista at 7,965 feet, we had almost 43 miles until we reached Independence Pass at 12,095 feet – the Continental Divide for the second time. As we rolled out of Buena Vista, the skies did not look so good. With only a couple of tiny sections of blue sky, dark clouds started to form and the wind started to pick up. US-24 closely follows the Arkansas River for almost another 20 miles, but only climbs about 1,100 feet. Though this road is very heavily traveled, there is a wide shoulder for most portions of this section of the stage – not important for the racers as the road will be closed, but nice if you are just out for a ride. There is some nice scenery even though this section is a grind… it is probably the least enjoyable section of the ride due to the traffic and winds. As we approached Granite, the grade increased slightly, but it felt easier. From Granite up to CO-82, the grade or reduced headwind allowed for a large chain ring climb to the turn at CO-82. Continue reading USA Pro Cycling Challenge: The Riding of Stage 2 – Part 2: Buena Vista to Aspen

 

With our plans in place to ride the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Mike Prendergast and I left our homes on the Colorado Front Range and began our journey with a four hour drive to Gunnison. We chose to make the trip late on a Wednesday, meet the representatives from Gunnison and roll out early Thursday morning for the ride. We arrived in Gunnison with enough time to check in to our hotel, drop our bags, shoot some video of the city and make it to Garlic Mikes for dinner.

We met with four representatives on the Gunnison side of Stage 2, Joellen Fonken, Petra St. George, John Messner and Jon Brown, all who had various roles in bringing the stage to Gunnison. John Messner, the Facility and Events Manager for the City of Gunnison, was a major driving force behind the task of securing a stage and explained to us that it was not the race organizers who proposed the stages, but each town and city in Colorado had the opportunity to submit a bid outlining four to five different stage routes through their community. Gunnison submitted a number of options including one through Black Canyon. Though the race organizers were reluctant at first to go with the stage over Cottonwood Pass due to the dirt road, that was the option that was finally selected. Continue reading USA Pro Cycling Challenge: The Riding of Stage 2 – Part 1: Gunnison to Buena Vista