USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Colorado, August 2011

Jelly-Belly flying off TT ramp

We got into Denver, CO on a Wednesday night, intent on catching Stage 3, the TT, in Vail of the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

Before TT and Crowds

As we ambled along one of the main streets in Vail Village, who did we stumble upon? Paul Sherwin. He did a great impression of an Irish accent with beers on board. When asked about the whereabouts of Phil, he said that, “Phil has to be locked in the booth”, at the start of Stage 3. Paul was having a great time as a small group of people asked for a picture with him, fans from all over the place.

Paul Sherwen and an Admiring Fan

The start point of the TT was a great spectacle with locals and visitors muddling around in search of autographs. Danny Pate (HTC) was at the start hours before the stage began, doing some reconnaissance with a team mate and signing autographs to all who sought them.

There was an air of incredulity as the crowds thickened as we neared the start of the TT.

Flags of the World

The TT went off without a hitch. We managed to grab a spot a few hundred meters from the ramp, at a slight uphill corner and snapped photos whomever sped by.
Everyone I spoke to was 100% behind the race and when they heard we had travelled from New York City, their enthusiasm expanded exponentially. “You guys came all the way from the Big Apple?” one local asked.

Hard Core Fans on their “TT” Bikes

The uphill TT was as if the Alpes had come to Colorado and Vail was transformed into a racing festival with cow bells and roars along the entire TT route.

Attending a press conference after the TT illustrated to me just how well the race was run and how US and international cycling journalists had congregated to write up stories on this inaugural event for publications within and outside the United States.

Press Room

I asked Christian Vande Velde what he thought of the race. He responded thus:

“It was a great atmosphere out there, especially the crowd in downtown [Vail]. I could hear fans beating on the barriers as I rode.”

Asked about his choice of bike, he said, “It weighs 8 kilos, kind of fat.”

The entire room laughed.

C Vande Velde Chuckling

I asked him about the Coors Classic and the revival of the race in the current form:

“This is the ticket. People are losing their minds with pros coming to their backyards [Colorado]. The fans are very appreciative. I was beat up in 2009 [after crash] and now that I’m riding well, I realize how hard it was [TT].”

He added that the Colombian riders really enjoyed the uphill TT.

Infantino – Colombian Phenom!

Levi Leipheimer commented that, “I never expected to be winning by just half a second [over CVD]. I suspected that Christian would be my main competitor today. I held back at the beginning, but the last KM really, really hurt. Now I’m on the defensive not offensive as the next few days are daunting.”

L-L Hydration

He was asked about the caliber of the entrants in the inaugural race:

“It’s a big deal that the Schlecks and Evans are here. It’s unfair to expect them to win. They all went super deep in the Tour. For them to show up here gives this race a global aspect.”

L-L Tired Ready for a Nap

The press conference wrapped up with the usual questions on who would win outright, how hard the upcoming stages would be etc.

We filed out of the Sebastian Hotel in downtown Vail and headed toward the race village in search of mementos of the inaugural race. Apart from the bike racing team buses, there were several booths representing vendors and sponsors.

Millennium Promise Booth

One of the biggest sponsors was Millennium Promise, a charity based in New York City with bases all across Africa. Bill Rigler, senior official at Millennium Promise said to me that it “was amazing to see so many people – racers, commentators and fans alike.”

Rigler who is a CRCA member and races on NYVELOCITY came 3rd in the amateur TT added that, “I’ve been to three of the last four Tour de Frances and the vibe and scenery in Colorado easily rivals the Alpe d’Huez or Galibier.”

Schleck, Hincapie@Start Line in Salida
(Picture courtesy of Bill Rigler)

After winning Stage 2 in the rain, George Hincapie said that, he was, “surprised to see so many people up there because it’s so hard to get there [Independence Pass] and so far awat from everything. It was wall-to-wall people up there. People are really getting behind the race and supporting it.”

He added that the massive crowds proved that the race had a great future ahead of it.

Best Young Rider Award, Tee Jay being presented by Bill Rigler (a fellow Montanan)
(Picture courtesy of Bill Rigler)

As the experiences of Vail and Colorado faded into our memories, we were hit by the reality that Irene had screwed up the entire flight patterns of the USA. Almost 9000 flights had been cancelled.

We had intended to fly to LaGuardia and now were forced to make alternative travel arrangements.

Captain America aka Dave Z

There were no flights available so we reserved two seats on the Greyhound bus! I ended up taking the bus from Kentucky to NYC. But that’s another story!

Imagine spending 20 hours on one of these?

Some extra pictures

Ten Dam

Schleck the Younger

Evans Heading into the first corner

TJ V G Sporting Yellow