New U.S. stage race in Colorado?

[daveinzambia]

So what is it about this race that is attracting so many good riders. At this point looks like Cadel, The Schlecks, Basso and possibly Contador will ride. is this teams looking to break into a new market or do the race organisers offer some sort of incentive for these riders to come. Is this like the tour down under paying big bucks for Lance to come ride?

Sounds like it could be a fantastic race so long as they are all coming to compete not just to round out their season with a nice pay cheque. Here's hoping it makes Eurosport.

 

[jacko_69]

So what is it about this race that is attracting so many good riders. At this point looks like Cadel, The Schlecks, Basso and possibly Contador will ride. is this teams looking to break into a new market or do the race organisers offer some sort of incentive for these riders to come. Is this like the tour down under paying big bucks for Lance to come ride?

Sounds like it could be a fantastic race so long as they are all coming to compete not just to round out their season with a nice pay cheque. Here's hoping it makes Eurosport.

I think in terms of Evans' participation, like Damiano Machiavelli said, for BMC the US is an important market. From what I gather from a marketing perspective, BMC would have loved Evans to race the ToC, obviously this didn't fit with his Tour prep, so it makes perfect sense to choose this race. Hopefully he can carry over some of his form from the Tour, like a few guys did from the Giro to the Tour de Suisse.

 

[auscyclefan94]

AC and basso still haven't been confirmed.

With the altitude of all the stages, we could have some hard racing.

You'd think AC would be pretty tired and would want to rest after the giro-tour double.

 

[jacko_69]

AC and basso still haven't been confirmed.

With the altitude of all the stages, we could have some hard racing.

You'd think AC would be pretty tired and would want to rest after the giro-tour double.

AC has confirmed that he's finished for the season

 

[ManInFull]

AC and basso still haven't been confirmed.

With the altitude of all the stages, we could have some hard racing.

You'd think AC would be pretty tired and would want to rest after the giro-tour double.

I believe that Basso has been confirmed.

 

[movingtarget]

I could care less which Cadel shows up. It's bad enough that he won the Tour as it is, but I guess if Sastre can win one then Cuddles can. I swear he makes me like cycling less, he's about as fun as a jar of Vegemite that's been sitting on my dashboard in 100 F heat for three days. Cheers.

Evans is still more exciting than the entire Astana team especially now that Vino has retired. If Sastre could win one, Evans should be able to win two.

 

[hrotha]

Evans is still more exciting than the entire Astana team especially now that Vino has retired. If Sastre could win one, Evans should be able to win two.

Sastre, the most consistently underrated guy in the history of cycling.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

So what is it about this race that is attracting so many good riders. At this point looks like Cadel, The Schlecks, Basso and possibly Contador will ride. is this teams looking to break into a new market or do the race organisers offer some sort of incentive for these riders to come. Is this like the tour down under paying big bucks for Lance to come ride?

Sounds like it could be a fantastic race so long as they are all coming to compete not just to round out their season with a nice pay cheque. Here's hoping it makes Eurosport.

Big money and support, and the teams get to take a break, racing(riding around) in a beautiful setting, great hotels/food/fans, etc. Also a nice cool down and warmup for World's. Not surprised the Euro riders and teams want to come to the US now, after the meat of racing is done. Like I said, more of a cool down than hard fought competitive race. I look for a small, local, US continental team doing well.

 

[cineteq]

Sastre, the most consistently underrated guy in the history of cycling.

You mean overrated, don't you?

Satre's posts all year: I'm feeling better, good sensations...

 

[hrotha]

You mean overrated, don't you?

Satre's posts all year: I'm feeling better, good sensations...

Take a look at his GT record before talking nonsense.

 

[cineteq]

Take a look at his GT record before talking nonsense.

It's nonsense, it's a fact. Carlos Sastre is an overrated rider right now, mainly because of what he's done in the past.

 

[hrotha]

It's nonsense, it's a fact. Carlos Sastre is an overrated rider right now, mainly because of what he's done in the past.

Except we weren't talking about right now. "If Sastre could win one, Evans should be able to win two."

 

[Angliru]

Evans is still more exciting than the entire Astana team especially now that Vino has retired. If Sastre could win one, Evans should be able to win two.

Sastre, who has ridden 3 grand tours in the same season and finished top ten in 2 of them? Sastre, who has made the podium in multiple grand tours? Sastre, who won the Tour and the yellow jersey in the most dramatic of fashions on the event's most storied climb? That Sastre? He might be in his declining years now but he always made his presence felt and most importantly, he rose to the occasion and won the biggest event in his profession when the opportunity presented itself. It's a shame he doesn't get more respect.

 

[BillytheKid]

Here's some interesting insight into the race from Tommy D and VDV. Severe altitude, climbs very long, but less steep than Europe except for the last 7k of Independence Pass at 12,095 ft.

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20110803/NEWS/110809972/1077&ParentProfile=1058

 

[patrick767]

I am putting my faith in Evans. He has to be feeling like King Kong right now, and BMC will want to make a good showing because the only reason BMC is registered in the U.S. instead of Switzerland is to help to sell BMC bikes to americans.

Don't forget Tom Danielson. He had a strong TdF, he's American and I've got to think Americans will be motivated to do well in this race, and he lives in Boulder, Colorado. This race is practically in his backyard. He holds the record for the fastest ascent of Mt. Evans. Not that that's on the course, but this guy is comfortable and experienced with high altitude.

Though I wonder if riding the difficult Tour of Utah before this race will hurt his chances.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

And Gesink wants revenge for his poor TDF
Fränk Schleck also still motivated.

It can turn into a really really nice race. Too bad there's too few mountain stages

 

[goggalor]

If Danielson is scouting the route already I think the other europros might in trouble. Even if we can expect a decent effort put in by Gesink, Fränk and Evans, they haven't prepared specifically for this race, especially not Cadel who's been doing crits for the last 2 weeks and will be flying to Australia soon as well.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I don't know about that. Gesink has gone to the US in advance to prepare for this race.
Last year he did the same for the Canadian races (also scouting in advance)

 

[BillytheKid]

And Gesink wants revenge for his poor TDF
Fränk Schleck also still motivated.

It can turn into a really really nice race. Too bad there's too few mountain stages

I think they didn't want to scare top teams off with more big climbs and extreme altitude. Still, a final stage on Mount Evans (14,264 ft or 4348m -ha, ha) would be ideal instead of the short stage into Denver finishing on a circuit. Mount Evans is close enough to Denver that it would be possible to draw big crowds. Especially if it became a fixture stage. Then do the circuit the next day for the vendors in Denver.

 

[goggalor]

I don't know about that. Gesink has gone to the US in advance to prepare for this race.
Last year he did the same for the Canadian races (also scouting in advance)

Oh OK. I assumed he was doing crits as well. He may be a bit more motivated after the Tour than Evans.

 

[BillytheKid]

Oh OK. I assumed he was doing crits as well. He may be a bit more motivated after the Tour than Evans.

The Aspen stage is really the only effective mountain stage. Still, Danielson seems to be changing his tune from earlier in the year, where he sounded like a sprinter could win this race. I am surprised. The article makes it sound like he's never ridden Independence Pass.

 

[Deagol]

I think they didn't want to scare top teams off with more big climbs and extreme altitude. Still, a final stage on Mount Evans (14,264 ft or 4348m -ha, ha) would be ideal instead of the short stage into Denver finishing on a circuit. Mount Evans is close enough to Denver that it would be possible to draw big crowds. Especially if it became a fixture stage. Then do the circuit the next day for the vendors in Denver.

The Mt Evans hillclimb race stopped allowing spectators above Echo Lake a few years back and it made the race much better (safer) for the riders. Not a lot of room on that road. Also the summit parking lot is pretty small.

There are nasty frost heaves in the road near Summit Lake that you sort of have to bunny-hop, too. I'm trying to imagine a stage race up there with all the support vehicles and all. I guess it could happen, but it would be tricky.

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?

 

[9000ft]

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.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

anyone have profiles?

 

[jacko_69]

anyone have profiles?

Have look at the official website. http://www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/stages/prologue. Interactive Video tracker is interesting.