USAPCC Prologue: Colorado Springs ITT 8.3km (22/8)

[benpounder]

Welcome to Colorado Springs for the start of the first USA Pro Cycling Challenge. This is where the race starts - The Garden of the Gods:

Of course at a start time of 1:15pm MDT, the lighting on the start won't be that dramatic. This is the official profile of this short ITT:

and a profile showing the rounded off gradients:

And here is the official map:

As you can see, it is mostly downhill on fairly straight roads. Look for the two Colombian teams to work really hard for good times as this race will later suit their talents well; there are three climbs over 3448m, and the lowest point of this 7 day race is at 1609m - downtown Denver, the mile high city. But Tommy D, Tejay van Garderen, and Levi Leipheimer will be highly motivated to win on home soil. Even Ben King on this stage perhaps.

Here is Cycling News' assessment of who to watch through out the 7 day race. Here is the start list.

I am really amped for this race. For those of you who have not noticed, or have not connected the dots I live in Steamboat Springs, the finishing town of Stage 4 and the starting town of Stage 5. In my ski-bum and schooling years I also lived in Aspen, Breckenridge, Golden, and Vail as well. This race is very local to me! AND, it is always cool (humbling?) to see just how much faster and stronger the Pro Peloton is on roads we know so well.

[my edit] I've added a direct hyperlink to the official tourtracker website - it is just below.

 

[craig1985]

I reckon LL will win this.

 

[auscyclefan94]

A downhill prologue? Are you serious?

 

[mewmewmew13]

I really just looked at this profile for the first time and thought maybe it was flipped around by mistake!
weird one...downhill??? what for??

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

A downhill prologue? Are you serious?

my thought exactly when I saw that profile. Not like it's twisty/turny either. Well, there is a tiny rise at the start and the end.

 

[mewmewmew13]

Would that not favor a heavier rider? or am I not thinking correctly here...

 

[daveinzambia]

Wow. 8 Kms on straight roads downhill. somehow doubting we will see a Columbian win this prologue.

Pure drag race. Got to favor a large German with a huge gear.

 

[jobiwan]

Andy better hope it doesn't rain.

 

[just some guy]

Would that not favor a heavier rider? or am I not thinking correctly here...

Heavy rider Correct

Nice Job Ben

Looking forward to it too.

Massive week Arvo watching Spain then evening turn to the US

Productivity down

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Wait, what?

The prologue is a straight downhill charge? That is hilarious. The average speeds are going to be completely insane.

 

[Mellow Velo]

A prologue designed by a bunch of downhill skiers.
Why not? Could be fun.
At least we'll get to find out who's likely to be trying and who's not.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Average speed 65km/h +
This will certainly become the fastest prologue in cycling history!

 

[Tuarts]

Just got a text from Stephen Roche and he's definitely not going to ride this TT.

 

[jens_attacks]

javier acevedo for the win,awesome descender.sevilla will be very good too.can't wait for colorado

 

[jsem94]

They should've gone the other way round. Starting from the finish and ending at the starting line. Would've been loads more decisive.

 

[icefire]

Nothing new here. There was a downhill TTT with no corners in Vuelta a Burgos just a couple of weeks ago.

 

[craig1985]

Thor Hushovd or Faboan Cancellara would love this prolouge.

 

[Lupetto]

In the Giro 1987 they had a Downhill tt from the Poggio into San Remo. Can be very interesting, this one here is far away from beeing difficult or technical.

 

[movingtarget]

Andy Schleck to win........mmmmmmm. Interesting start to the race.

 

[Nielsa]

This is where the race starts - The Garden of the Gods:

Spectacular view!

 

[LaFlorecita]

andy better hope it doesn't rain.

Whatever, he isn't going to win anyway. It isn't marked in his agenda.

 

[Jamsque]

TJVG won the pan-flat ITT at the Tour of Utah, he's my pick for this prologue.

 

[sublimit]

Somebody like Danny Pate if he has a go, otherwise TJVG, DZ.

 

[Kwibus]

Interesting to see a downhill prologue, allthough it would've been better if it would've been a bit more technical.

The heaviest and strongest rider ftw here.

p.s. Very nice picture in the opening post.

 

[Deagol]

Thanks, Ben, for starting this thread.

As happens often, there is vertical exaggeration to the profiles, so it is flatter than it appears, especially the last long section. It's just a slight downhill after getting out of Garden of the Gods.