Stephen Meyers of the Coloradoan gets to know our own Alex “Shaggy” Hagman. Read the full article here: http://noconow.co/1auCkYL

Alex Hagman is known around Fort Collins as “Shaggy.”

The tall, lanky, 29-year-old professional cyclist has red, curly hair, which he’s styled in an assortment of different looks throughout the years.

There was a large afro stage in 2010. Dreadlocks before that. He’s had a mini-fro in recent months, though now his hair is more conservative, a shorter crop. He’s been known to sport a mustache and a full beard, in all its red-haired glory. Friends say he doesn’t shave his legs, rare for a professional cyclist.

The Fort Collins resident whose Twitter handle is @ShaggyHagman will race in the USA Pro Challenge Aug. 19-25 for the Jelly Belly-KENDA cycling team. Fort Collins is hosting the penultimate sixth stage Aug. 24.

Anywhere Hagman and his team travels, a crowd follows.

It probably has something to do with the team’s white jerseys dotted with the bright colors of jelly beans — which look like they’ve been shot with paint balls — or the rainbow-colored team bus, where team riders hang out after competing and sling packets of jelly beans to fans

“Everybody loves those. It’s hilarious,” said Hagman, who is in his third season with the Jelly Belly team. “Especially kids. You’ll be riding down the street and they’re like, ‘Hey, Jelly Belly.’ It’s a ton of fun.”

Earning his chops on singletrack trails growing up in Aspen, the former collegiate mountain bike champion at Fort Lewis College has taken a liking to the road cycling world.

“I thought road bikers were a bunch of dorks out there,” Hagman said. “But here I am, on the road now.”

In May, Hagman placed 18th at the USA Cycling Pro Road Race Nationals in Chattanooga, Tenn., helping his teammate, Freddie Rodriguez, to the win. A month prior, Hagman used his climbing acumen to win the men’s road race at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, Calif.

Currently racing at the Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend, Ore., Hagman will also race the Tour of Utah Aug. 6-11 before the USA Pro Challenge.

The August race in Colorado will be Hagman’s second Pro Challenge. The Jelly Belly team earned a spot in the field for the inaugural Pro Challenge in 2011. Hagman was one of the team’s top riders, as Jelly Belly finished 17th.

Read the full article here: http://noconow.co/1auCkYL