USA Procycling Challenge 2013 (2.HC)

[Arredondo]

Beautiful race in Colorado, with a strong field of riders. Last year there were no real steep climbs (especially long), this year they will tackle a climb with pitches up to 18% (stage to Beaver Creek). Will be exciting to watch!

WT Teams (with the biggest names for GC):

Garmin-Sharp (Danielson, Talansky, Morton)
Sky Procycling (Froome, Porte, Dombrowski)
Radioshack-Leopard (Bennett, Machado, Schleck?)
BMC Racing Team (Van Garderen, Schar)
Team Saxo-Tinkoff (Rogers, Duggan)
Cannondale Pro Cycling (Caruso)
Team Argos-Shimano (Ludvigsson)

Pro Conti Teams:
Champion System (Butler, Brenes)
Colombia-Coldeportes (Atapuma, Duarte)
Team Novo-Nordisk (Meijas)
United-Healthcare (Euser, Deignan)

Continental Teams
Bissell Pro Cycling (Jones)
Bontrager Cycling Team (Brown, Craddock)
Jamis-Hagens Berman (Acevedo)
Jelly Belly p/b Kenda (Tvetcov)
Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefits (Anderson)

Stages:

19.08 Stage 1 | Aspen/Snowmass » Aspen/Snowmass 102.7
20.08 Stage 2 | Aspen » Breckenridge 202.9
21.08 Stage 3 | Breckenridge » Steamboat Springs 170.8
22.08 Stage 4 | Steamboat Springs » Beaver Creek 165.6
23.08 Stage 5 (ITT) | Vail » Vail 16.1
24.08 Stage 6 | Loveland » Fort Collins 185.4
25.08 Stage 7 | Denver » Denver 75.8

Some of the best stages:

Stage 2; Aspen-Breckenridge

Stage 4; Steamboat Springs-Beaver Creek

Stage 5; Vail-Vail

 

[Arredondo]

My pick for the win; Janier Acevedo!

 

[thrawn]

Obvious Froome win is obvious.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Why do they tend towards long grinding climbs in the US?
They make for attrition rather than interesting spectacle.

 

[RedheadDane]

Because that's how the roads on the climbs are made over there.
Or is it because that's how the climbs are over there?

 

[darwin553]

Go Mick Rogers!!

 

[Moviefan1203]

It should be an easy win for Froome. Even if he's not in great form, he should be able to win it.

 

[murali]

Who is Duggan? how good is he in climbs and descents?

acevado, atapuma, sky?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Who is Duggan? how good is he in climbs and descents?

acevado, atapuma, sky?

Duggan will not be a factor GC wise. Not enough climbing and TT talent.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Anybody knows why Busche aint riding this? Is he going to do the Vuelta?

 

[Arredondo]

Anybody knows why Busche aint riding this? Is he going to do the Vuelta?

He's not on the pre-list for the Vuelta, so perhaps he is gonna take a rest period?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Why do they tend towards long grinding climbs in the US?
They make for attrition rather than interesting spectacle.

Because that's how the roads on the climbs are made over there.
Or is it because that's how the climbs are over there?

A race in Colorado that doesn't climb Pikes Peak (30km, 6,4%, includes 5km at 9% on sterrato in the middle and the last few km are on tarmac at 10%, finishes at over 4200m) is no race at all.

 

[roundabout]

I think Pikes Peak is now completely paved?

I did read something about it around the time of the Hill Climb.

 

[Alpechraxler]

Obvious Froome win is obvious.

TdF peaked at 20xx m..

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I think Pikes Peak is now completely paved?

I did read something about it around the time of the Hill Climb.

Even better, they now have no excuse for not riding it.

Worse for the hill climb, of course, mind, but still.

 

[Afrank]

Joe Dombro to kill everyone.

Tejay and Talansky to do well also. And I expect good things from Acevedo, Craddock, and Danielson. Andy for a stage from the break? I hope so, he should just lose a bunch of time early then go stage hunting from there on out.

 

[PeteTheSpinner]

High altitude and long climbs are Andy's terrain. He mentioned after the Tour that he'll ride this race with certain ambitions. I hope the ambitions are overcoming a stage victory from a brake. He has a GT in his legs now and the state of recovery and slow return should be behind him.
The time trial shouldn't affect his overall chances too much.
But I guess it all depends on his willingness to dig deep under his comfort zone.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

High altitude and long climbs are Andy's terrain. He mentioned after the Tour that he'll ride this race with certain ambitions. I hope the ambitions are overcoming a stage victory from a brake. He has a GT in his legs now and the state of recovery and slow return should be behind him.
The time trial shouldn't affect his overall chances too much.
But I guess it all depends on his willingness to dig deep under his comfort zone.

I seriously doubt Andy can perform competitively outside LBL and TdF. Autographs and Bud lights are on the menu.

 

[PeteTheSpinner]

I seriously doubt Andy can perform competitively outside LBL and TdF. Autographs and Bud lights are on the menu.

Well, I can't blame him. If I could do the race like this soaked, I'd be over the Moon.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Euser crept higher up in Utah this year, perhaps he can take a similar step in Colorado.

Maybe Caruso can do something too, if he doesn't have to slave too hard for Sagan.

Lastly team Colombia should set the race on fire, catapulting Atapuma to a spot on the GC Podium.

 

[Afrank]

I seriously doubt Andy can perform competitively outside LBL and TdF. Autographs and Bud lights are on the menu.

Didn't watch Cali this year?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Didn't watch Cali this year?

Doesn't take much to get his fans excited I guess:

19.05 50 Stage 8: San Francisco › Santa Rosa 131.4
18.05 48 Stage 7: Livermore › Mount Diablo 147.1
17.05 30 Stage 6 (ITT): San Jose › San Jose 31.6
16.05 51 Stage 5: Santa Barbara › Avila Beach 185.7
15.05 59 Stage 4: Santa Clarita › Santa Barbara 134.6
14.05 82 Stage 3: Palmdale › Santa Clarita 177.5
13.05 36 Stage 2: Murrieta › Greater Palm Springs 199.7
12.05 18 Stage 1: Escondido › Escondido 165.2

Voigt was in form and ambitious.

 

[Afrank]

I'm talking about him going in the breakaway twice. Is that not being competitive?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I'm talking about him going in the breakaway twice. Is that not being competitive?

Neo pros (and CT level riders) goes into breaks for TV time. Serious in form guys goes into breaks to win something. Andy wasn't serious in California and he will likely be on vacation in Colorado too.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Even better, they now have no excuse for not riding it.

Worse for the hill climb, of course, mind, but still.

Problem is, the connecting climbs in that area (even coming from the west and north...my mock stages came from Buena Vista, Fairplay, and Denver) all are horrible. A stage ending at the top of Pikes Peak is something you'd expect at the Vuelta, not the USAPCC.