Written for the Coloradoan, republished with permission.
With the recent announcement of the detailed USA Pro Cycling Challenge route, the local organizing committee crossed another intermediate sprint line on the road to Aug. 24.
The final route (nococycling.com/route) bears the same outline as the original proposal last fall, but it also bears some exciting changes and specifics.
The Northern Colorado stage will begin at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland and blaze a circuit through Windsor en route to the first of three sprints. It then crosses Loveland on First Street, where racers will again sprint — this time through Loveland’s annual Corn Roast Festival. Then the climbing heats up in Big Thompson Canyon, including the infamous switchbacks of Devil’s Gulch. A third sprint awaits in downtown Estes Park, followed by a challenging and scenic loop around Mary’s Lake to the south, before returning to the Big Thompson Canyon for a rip-roaring descent.
From the mouth of the canyon, the final stretch of the race will see racers tackle a series of short, grueling climbs around the foothills and Horsetooth Reservoir and Horsetooth Mountain Open Space. Then it’s a flat and fast drag strip that enters Fort Collins on Mulberry Street, hooks around Library Park and finishes on Mountain Avenue near College Avenue in the heart of Old Town.
The race should be a fantastic event for the region. The local team has already started the ongoing process of reaching out to local residents and businesses who will be affected by road closures on the route. Local, county and state law enforcement are heavily involved in making sure the event runs smoothly and safely, and to minimize the disruption to routine traffic in the region.
For more information on closures, visit nococycling.com/closures or contact tech@nococycling.com with any questions about impact.
Make sure to follow NoCoCycling and USAProChallenge on social media for the latest news and updates on the race.
USGP Canceled
US Grand Prix of Cyclocross leadership announced the series has been canceled this year. The decade-old series faced the threat of cancellation last year after abandonment by sponsor Exergy until an 11th hour deal was struck with Trek bikes and several other sponsors to cover the 2012 shortfall.
No such deal was found for the coming season, so with no other options the race announced it will transfer event ownership to individual promoters. The Fort Collins leg of the series, the USGP New Belgium Cup, will be kept alive by series promoter Jason Trujillo, who said he plans to make it a USAC-sanctioned race at the same venue. Trujillo’s Ciclismo Youth Foundation will take over as primary promoters and will independently pursue sponsorship opportunities over the summer.
New Belgium Brewery Short Track Races
NBBST is back again. Staged on the same grounds as previous years, the always evolving course will offer dirt devils of all ages and experience levels a safe and thrilling shorttrack course full of technical challenges and a family-friendly spirit. NBB short track is a perfect introduction to bike racing with free kids racing. Races begin 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Follow Ciclismo Youth Foundation and Your Group Ride on social media or visit YourGroupRide.com for more information and updates.
