New U.S. stage race in Colorado?

[BillytheKid]

They are probably just jumping on the Cadel Hype train while they can

That's mighty big talk com'en from a flatlander.

 

[El Pistolero]

fox sports australia will be showing the tour of colorado live...just been announced!


I unfortunately don't have Fox!

I think you're the first person in history to have said that. Someone should make a wiki page about you know.

 

[BillytheKid]

I think you're the first person in history to have said that. Someone should make a wiki page about you know.

I know. I am being completely original. The cool thing is that I going up for the race!

The Aussie should be excited about Rory Sutherland. Boulder-base and acclimated.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011...-looking-chest”-as-colorado-advantages_186960

 

[BillytheKid]

I know. I am being completely original. The cool thing is that I going up for the race!

The Aussie's should be excited about Rory Sutherland. Boulder-base and acclimated.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011...-looking-chest”-as-colorado-advantages_186960

Opps! Read first. Write second...

 

[Deagol]

There are more than a few strong Australians based along the Front Range. A few have made very very good showings at the Mt Evans hillclimb in the last several years.

 

[Swede1]

I think you're the first person in history to have said that. Someone should make a wiki page about you know.

Haha that is so true

 

[WindLessBreeze]

MagliaNera

Vuelta a Burgos: Both Orbea Continental (feeder) and Euskatel-Euskadi are contesting. So what's the big deal if feeder teams for Radio Shack and Garmin are allowed? Afraid the boys shall beat the Men?!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

But they aren't going to 11000 feet they're going to 9500

Granted 9500 feet is close to 3000m

what profiles are you looking at?

 

[benpounder]

Intersting thing regarding Independence Pass, though (IMO) the West side is a lot harder than the east side, but the descent of the west side- like the riders will be doing- can be pretty sketchy. I wonder if Any racers who don't like going downhill will lose time there?. Of course, I have never ridden in Europe, so cannot compare the descents there to here. Anyone here done both Independence Pass and stuff in the Alps?

It has been 30 years since I last rode Independence Pass* - even back then, traffic significantly lessened the pleasure. As you know, the west side is not that steep, in fact, there are stretches where you have to pedal hard to hit max speed. The issues are the several switchbacks at the top (after long straight aways) and the really narrow and curvy stretch in the middle (on the side of a cliff). In terms of comparative European downhills, I'd say Passo Manghen is the closest (or perhaps Ventoux).

As so many are mentioning, the altitude will be the most important factor. If you push too hard, you don't bonk, you go into oxygen debt. And if you are in oxygen debt, at that altitude, replacement takes a lot more time. I went into oxygen debt years ago on Coal Bank Pass (one of two passes between Durango and Silverton), and was literally feathering up the road till I could recover.

On another note, I had some business in Breckenridge this past Saturday, and I decided to drive the stage 5 route. I'll post my thoughts later.

[my edit] * truth be told, I've actually skateboarded down Independence Pass more than I have cycled - skateboarding in moonlight was safer that riding in daylight.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Vuelta a Burgos: Both Orbea Continental (feeder) and Euskatel-Euskadi are contesting. So what's the big deal if feeder teams for Radio Shack and Garmin are allowed? Afraid the boys shall beat the Men?!

Trek-Livestrong and Chipotle Development team both have their licences held by the same entity that holds Radioshack and Garmin-Cervélo's.

Orbea's licence is not held by the same entity as Euskaltel-Euskadi's, although both fall under the same umbrella organisation. The Fundación Euskadi supercedes both entities, though they are theoretically independent of one another.

Hence, TLS may not appear in the same races as RSH, and CDT for GRM, but ORB and EUS may appear in the same race.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Actually Rabobank and Rabo Conti have appeared in the same races few times in the past

 

[hrotha]

Actually Rabobank and Rabo Conti have appeared in the same races few times in the past

When that happens, I think it's only fair to ride as completely different teams. Cabedo probably earned a contract for 2012, though, if he hadn't already done so (he's having a good season).

 

[benpounder]

Just by using more of the Canyon roads along the Front Range they could have some serious vertical while keeping the altitude comparatively reasonable. There are all kind of lesser known passes in the state that would provide great stages but they're out in the middle of nowhere. They could also do all kind of Mtn top finishes but those don't bring dollars/exposer to the host communities.

There are several places where the ToColo could provide an uphill finish but until the race is established, they will have to be like stage 1's short and not very steep finish in Crested Butte Mountain village. Some options are Beaver Creek ( 3.7km @ 5.1%), Maroon Lake (14.7km @ 3.4%), Telluride Mountain Village ( 6.6km @ 4.2%), Peak 8 Base at Breckenridge (2.7km @ 4.1%), Snowmass Village (7.7km @ 3.5%), or Lookout Mountain (7.7km @ 5.1%).

The final stage actually uses Lookout Mountain but it is in the early part of the race. There is an annual ITT up it that has attracted the likes of Tommy D in the past. I'll also mention that the downhill they use coming off of Lookout Mtn is the road where I recorded my fastest speed of 69mph (111kph).

 

[benpounder]

anyone have profiles?

I posted this earlier in the thread:

Although I like the official website for this race, the profiles stink (they are understandably compressed to fit the normal page size). I've found the corresponding profiles on MapmyFitness.com (click on the Climbs tab or the Detailed Climb Data below for even more info).

They are:

Stage 1; Salida to Crested Butte
Stage 2; Gunnison to Aspen (mislabeled as stage three - it is the third day)
Stage 4; Avon to Steamboat Springs
Stage 5; Steamboat Springs to Breckenridge

 

[woodie]

what profiles are you looking at?

I was looking at the stage five profile that someone put in the thread. Didn't bother looking at the rest and assumed that's the stage people were talking about. Haha

 

[benpounder]

But they aren't going to 11000 feet they're going to 9500

The big passes the ToColo uses are:
Monarch Pass - 11,312ft (3448m)
Cottonwood Pass - 12,126ft (3696m)
Independence Pass - 12,095ft (3687m)
Rabbit Ears Pass - 9,426ft (2873m)

Three of the stages finish at elevation:

Stage 1 Crested Butte - 9,409ft (2870m)
Stage 3 Vail ITT - 9,643ft (2939m)
Stage 5 Breckenridge - 9,600ft (2926m)

And the lowest point of the race is the finishing circuit in downtown Denver at 5,280ft (1609m); it is after all, the Mile High City. For reference consider the following European summits:

Passo dello Stelvio - 2758m
Colle dell'Angello - 2744m
Col du Galibier - 2645m
Passo Gavia - 2618m
Col du Tourmalet - 2115m
Mont Ventoux - 1909m
Monte Zoncolan - 1730m
Alto de l'Angliru - 1570m

 

[benpounder]

Stage 5 Preview/Impressions

As I mentioned to Deagol upthread, I drove the full stage 5 route - Steamboat Springs to Breckenridge - this past Saturday. The road surface is mostly great, however there are two stretches that may cause problems.

The first is a perpetually sloughing slope coming off of Rabbit Ears Pass that will likely cause some flats and possibly a nasty crash (it is a three-lane road that I typically drive at 45mph - 72kph; I've ridden it a bit faster.) The second is this really cool portion that takes the race off of CO9 around Green Mountain Reservoir. After miles of road that can be safely driven (in the summer) at 75mph - 120kph there is a hard right turn onto some really degraded asphalt for about a mile and a half. Following that is a one lane road across the top of the dam terminating in a really nasty 120 degree left hand turn. This is late enough in the race that it may be televised. After that, there is 5-6 miles of really cool, curvy, and up and down black-top.

Then they get back on CO9 for a mostly boring trip into Silverthorne where the race tackles a short 5-6% climb from the bottom of Dillon Dam to its top, followed by a very scenic but flat spin around the east end of Lake Dillon to the base of Swan Mountain. Swan Mtn is short, and not very steep. It is however, at the end of a stage that will likely see both breaks and echelons forming and succeeding. The decent off of Swan Mountain is treacherous - steep enough that you could go really fast if you did not have to break for the really tight corners; the road surface is immaculate.

The left hander back onto CO9 could be significant if there is a large group at the front, or chasing. I say chasing because the race then faces a wide open, slightly uphill 7 mile road (2%) into Breckenridge. Just a kilometer from the finish is a nasty tight roundabout that could cause problems for a group, but the finishing kilometer is a wide open straight road to the seat of the former Kingdom of Breckenridge.

If it weren't at altitude, I'd peg Phillip Gilbert or even Mark Cavendish (were they racing). Given that the finish is above the elevation of Col du Galibier, a rider of their caliber wont even be in the picture. Anyone seeking to move up in General Classification or Young Rider will target this stage.

 

[icefire]

Just for reference...

Cottonwood West:
Elev gain 900m, Distance 21.1km, Av Grade 3.8%,

Stelvio from Prato:
Elev gain 1800m, Distance 24.3 km, Av Grade 7.4%

Does the relative lack of oxygen compensate for the fact that Stelvio's drop is twice as much as Cottonwood's?

 

[mewmewmew13]

As I mentioned to Deagol upthread, I drove the full stage 5 route - Steamboat Springs to Breckenridge - this past Saturday. The road surface is mostly great, however there are two stretches that may cause problems.

The first is a perpetually sloughing slope coming off of Rabbit Ears Pass that will likely cause some flats and possibly a nasty crash (it is a three-lane road that I typically drive at 45mph - 72kph; I've ridden it a bit faster.) The second is this really cool portion that takes the race off of CO9 around Green Mountain Reservoir. After miles of road that can be safely driven (in the summer) at 75mph - 120kph there is a hard right turn onto some really degraded asphalt for about a mile and a half. Following that is a one lane road across the top of the dam terminating in a really nasty 120 degree left hand turn. This is late enough in the race that it may be televised. After that, there is 5-6 miles of really cool, curvy, and up and down black-top.

Then they get back on CO9 for a mostly boring trip into Silverthorne where the race tackles a short 5-6% climb from the bottom of Dillon Dam to its top, followed by a very scenic but flat spin around the east end of Lake Dillon to the base of Swan Mountain. Swan Mtn is short, and not very steep. It is however, at the end of a stage that will likely see both breaks and echelons forming and succeeding. The decent off of Swan Mountain is treacherous - steep enough that you could go really fast if you did not have to break for the really tight corners; the road surface is immaculate.

The left hander back onto CO9 could be significant if there is a large group at the front, or chasing. I say chasing because the race then faces a wide open, slightly uphill 7 mile road (2%) into Breckenridge. Just a kilometer from the finish is a nasty tight roundabout that could cause problems for a group, but the finishing kilometer is a wide open straight road to the seat of the former Kingdom of Breckenridge.

If it weren't at altitude, I'd peg Phillip Gilbert or even Mark Cavendish (were they racing). Given that the finish is above the elevation of Col du Galibier, a rider of their caliber wont even be in the picture. Anyone seeking to move up in General Classification or Young Rider will target this stage.

That will be a b***kick of a stage. I lived up in Summit Cnty for 9 years...it is very high elevation. You are right about the Swan Mt descent, especially if there is a large group together...sharp turns and steep. Wow, after that long and that high, especially if the sun is out all day, there will be some tired riders.
It is a crap shoot in my mind as to who will fare the best on this mix of rolling and hills, but my guess is whoever sleeps well and acclimatizes to the altitude the best.
??

btw, the Green Mt section is just weird...it's pretty but usually really windy and with funky road will be no fun.

 

[benpounder]

Just for reference...

Cottonwood West:
Elev gain 900m, Distance 21.1km, Av Grade 3.8%,

Stelvio from Prato:
Elev gain 1800m, Distance 24.3 km, Av Grade 7.4%

Does the relative lack of oxygen compensate for the fact that Stelvio's drop is twice as much as Cottonwood's?

I train on Rabbit Ears Pass (first climb on stage 5), it is 11.8km @ 6.4% with stretches at 7.2%. When I rode Alpe d'Huez (13.8km @ 7.9%) I found it only slightly more difficult. Rabbit Ears tops out at 2873m, L'Alpe at 1850m.

Just my opinion.

 

[benpounder]

Wow, after that long and that high, especially if the sun is out all day, there will be some tired riders.
It is a crap shoot in my mind as to who will fare the best on this mix of rolling and hills, but my guess is whoever sleeps well and acclimatizes to the altitude the best.??

Good point, and one that I did ignore. Folks, at 7,500 feet, roughly the average elevation of this race, the sun is brutal, nay scorching and sapping. While water on the road may be problematic, I'd guess the peloton would appreciate the not unusual late afternoon clouds and quick rainstorm just to cool things down. Thou not on the few descents; excepting Cottonwood Pass, these are oily passes...

 

[Deagol]

skateboarding down Independence pass !!!???
Yikes.

The part I was thinking was sketchy is down where it becomes more canyon-like with the huge drop on the left side.

Also, yeah the frontage road coming down from Lookout is straight & fast....

 

[benpounder]

skateboarding down Independence pass !!!???

When I lived in Aspen, mountain biking was in its infancy. The first mountain bikes I laid eyes upon were three altered Schwinn's Varsity's that some dudes had ridden from Crested Butte to Aspen via Ashcroft - this was 1982. I was riding an old Raleigh ten speed, but I had built out of a 4 foot by 8 inch by 1 inch piece of Oak, a sleek and smoking skateboard. The Raleigh was adequate for going uphill; my home-made skateboard was so much more fun going downhill, so much faster, and cooler, than my friends standard 24-32 inch decks. And Independence Pass was the perfect ride - steep enough that you could hit high speeds, but not steep enough that you had to bail - 20 miles long. In two summers, for the several days before and after a full moon, my buddies and I were riding down Independence Pass at least twice a night (whoever was driving shuttle had to ride at least once - none of our girlfriends would indulge us).

I've only ridden Independence a few times - as I said upthread - even back then, the traffic was frightening. And I haven't driven it in over two decades so I have no idea what it looks like today. But the nasty section you and I speak of is certainly the same, and is likely unchanged. Half way down a really narrow road, tight corners, and a huge drop-off on the left.

[my edit] not Varsity, that was the ten speed. They were the single speed cruisers that had been modified...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

When that happens, I think it's only fair to ride as completely different teams. Cabedo probably earned a contract for 2012, though, if he hadn't already done so (he's having a good season).

They did ride as different teams tho, yep.

Even at the Dutch championships they don't ride 'together' but against eachother.
Boom won the Dutch NC as continental rider going after an attack of a PT rider (Moerenhout) with the risk of Terpstra (Milram) coming back, who was in Booms wheel.

 

[Deagol]

When I lived in Aspen, mountain biking was in its infancy. The first mountain bikes I laid eyes upon were three altered Schwinn's Varsity's that some dudes had ridden from Crested Butte to Aspen via Ashcroft - this was 1982. I was riding an old Raleigh ten speed, but I had built out of a 4 foot by 8 inch by 1 inch piece of Oak, a sleek and smoking skateboard. The Raleigh was adequate for going uphill; my home-made skateboard was so much more fun going downhill, so much faster, and cooler, than my friends standard 24-32 inch decks. And Independence Pass was the perfect ride - steep enough that you could hit high speeds, but not steep enough that you had to bail - 20 miles long. In two summers, for the several days before and after a full moon, my buddies and I were riding down Independence Pass at least twice a night (whoever was driving shuttle had to ride at least once - none of our girlfriends would indulge us).

I've only ridden Independence a few times - as I said upthread - even back then, the traffic was frightening. And I haven't driven it in over two decades so I have no idea what it looks like today. But the nasty section you and I speak of is certainly the same, and is likely unchanged. Half way down a really narrow road, tight corners, and a huge drop-off on the left.

[my edit] not Varsity, that was the ten speed. They were the single speed cruisers that had been modified...

That's pretty cool. When I road it, ironically the only car I had problems with was a Prius, of all things (it did have Texas plates).

I just read tonight that they (CDOT) are grading the west side of Cottonwood Pass the day before the race to make it smooth for the riders. It will be closed from that date until after the race has passed by. Good news for the racers, I would think. Everything I see and hear is pointing to huge crowds for this...