- Jun 1, 2011
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2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Stage 6; Golden to Boulder,165.5 km
Stage 6 offers the hope of a great final on the climb of Flagstaff, but after a flat route up from the start at Golden, passes up Sugarloaf Road as it turns into the "foothills" of Front Range. Sugarloaf Road would offer a 2 km 300 m sector of about 15% at about 45kms into the stage. After turning north at Nederland the course does include a similar 2.5 grade, but without the double offer of the Sugarloaf route. The route opts instead for a shallow course along Boulder Canyon up to Nederland. Then it flirts with 2800 meter for 5 km along the Peak to Peak Highway until starting 40 km descent to Lyons after crossing the James Creek.
At Lyons the turn back south to Boulder is made. There is one more rise up to the Lea Hill Road which offers of short kicker of 8% for about a kilometer but it is still some 18 k to the base of the day's final uphill and unlikely to produce a winning move, but a I would appreciate a big move from someone like Nibali to force a selection of the GC leaders who might start to look at each other and would make for a better race.
The final climb on Flagstaff Road- 5.63 Km at 6.5%, but with reported steeper sections up to 20%, will be the focal point of attack for the main GC contenders, and course, time taken can only help the final ITT effort on Sunday in Denver.
No doubt, there will be teams who want riders in an early break so the early action available on the tracker will be good. Will we see Jens again? The section on Sugarloaf road looks like a great dig, but as said, it was not included. These steep grades have be bypassed during this race. This would have been an early danger point in a race that other wise looks to come down a main group and a final climb. I hope I am wrong.
I would appreciate input form locals who know the route better as I have relied on the maps provided. The climb distances and grades are estimates as start and stop points may differ.
Live streaming; http://radioshacktourtracker.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/ 11:10 am MST, 1:10 pm EST
http://www.steephill.tv/2012/usa-pro-cycling-challenge/photos/stage-05/
Stage 6 offers the hope of a great final on the climb of Flagstaff, but after a flat route up from the start at Golden, passes up Sugarloaf Road as it turns into the "foothills" of Front Range. Sugarloaf Road would offer a 2 km 300 m sector of about 15% at about 45kms into the stage. After turning north at Nederland the course does include a similar 2.5 grade, but without the double offer of the Sugarloaf route. The route opts instead for a shallow course along Boulder Canyon up to Nederland. Then it flirts with 2800 meter for 5 km along the Peak to Peak Highway until starting 40 km descent to Lyons after crossing the James Creek.
At Lyons the turn back south to Boulder is made. There is one more rise up to the Lea Hill Road which offers of short kicker of 8% for about a kilometer but it is still some 18 k to the base of the day's final uphill and unlikely to produce a winning move, but a I would appreciate a big move from someone like Nibali to force a selection of the GC leaders who might start to look at each other and would make for a better race.
The final climb on Flagstaff Road- 5.63 Km at 6.5%, but with reported steeper sections up to 20%, will be the focal point of attack for the main GC contenders, and course, time taken can only help the final ITT effort on Sunday in Denver.
No doubt, there will be teams who want riders in an early break so the early action available on the tracker will be good. Will we see Jens again? The section on Sugarloaf road looks like a great dig, but as said, it was not included. These steep grades have be bypassed during this race. This would have been an early danger point in a race that other wise looks to come down a main group and a final climb. I hope I am wrong.
I would appreciate input form locals who know the route better as I have relied on the maps provided. The climb distances and grades are estimates as start and stop points may differ.
Live streaming; http://radioshacktourtracker.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/ 11:10 am MST, 1:10 pm EST
http://www.steephill.tv/2012/usa-pro-cycling-challenge/photos/stage-05/
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