Quiznos Pro Challenge route announced
The Quiznos Pro Challenge will bring professional road cycling back to Colorado since the demise of the Coors International Bicycle Classic in 1988. The Lance Armstrong-backed American stage race is modeled after Colorado’s former
international race and its inaugural edition will be held from August 22-28, 2011.
"This is all part of showcasing our state," said Bill Ritter, governor of Colorado CEO. "We're going to show the rest of the world what a fabulous place this is for biking, how pristine the landscape is, and how great and friendly the people are."
Ritter and Armstrong conceived the idea of reviving the Coors Classic, which with the backing of Quiznos and Medalist Sports, became a reality and evolved into the Quiznos Pro Challenge. Following the official announcement of the race, 23 Colorado cities
began their bids to host stages, with the route of the seven-stage race finally unveiled on Thursday.
“We worked diligently throughout the selection process to incorporate cities that provide terrain that is unique to Colorado and delivers one of the most exciting cycling events in the world,” said Ellen Kramer of Quiznos. “The selected cities will make
excellent partners and provide a demanding course for the world’s top cyclists.”
The 560-mile race, beginning at the site of USA Cycling’s main office in Colorado Springs and ending seven days later in Denver, is being called a climber’s tour. Seven of the eleven host cities sit at an altitude above 7000 feet,
with the highest at 9603 and the lowest, Denver, at 5280.
"The altitude is going to be tough," said Team Garmin cyclist Tom Danielson. "It will compete with the Vuelta some, but I still think most of the top GC guys in the world will come over. It's definitely not going to be a sprinter's race."
Danielson’s teammate Peter Stetina is especially close to the race. The native of Boulder, Colorado is disappointed that his hometown was not chosen as one of the host cities, despite being the starting point of the former Coors Classic, but his home-state
race is still tied to Stetina, his family, and his Colorado-based American ProTour team. The Coors Classic, considered one of the most difficult races during the eighties, was twice won by the cyclist’s father.
“It will be a very big race and a goal for Garmin-Transitions, being Colorado’s ProTour team,” said Stetina. “My Dad won the overall twice and there are only a handful of guys who did that. I have a lot of family history there too. My Mom worked on the board
of the Coors Classic and, literally, that race was the reason that my parents met. If it wasn’t for the Coors Classic I probably would not be here.”
Stetina was the under-23 national time-trial champion and is expecting that the several local riders on team Garmin, who learned how to ride a bike on these same roads, will have the exceptional advantage of familiarity.
“It will be very good for local riders like me and Tom Danielson. I think the course can only benefit high altitude climbers. The cities selected have ski resorts that are made to handle massive tourist traffic in the winter with hotels and in the summer
they won’t be as busy.”
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