19 August 2014

Pro Challenge reports from the road Stage 1 - Aspen/Snowmass

Aspen/Snowmass Village Circuit Race

The 2014 USA Pro Challenge kicked off today with a fast 3 laps around the beautiful mountain towns of Aspen and Snowmass Village. The riders lined up ready to race including defending champion Tejay van Garderen. He finished safely 12" behind the stage winner Kiel Reijnen who barely edged out Alex Howes in the sprint for the line.

Rafal Majka, Frank Schleck, Tom Danielson, Michalel Schar, Peter Stetina, and Tiago Machada all finished in the same pack of riders with Tejay van Garderen. Matthew Busche did very well on the stage coming in 3" behind the winners together with Carter Jones. Leopold Konig finished within a group of riders 5'38" down, he explained he had been bitten by a "dirty insect" and had had a fever for two days prior to the race start.

RESULTS

Stage 1 Results
First – Kiel Reijnen (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
Second – Alex Howes (USA) of Team Garmin-Sharp
Third – Ben Hermans (BEL) of BMC Racing Team

Jersey Winners
Yellow Leader Jersey – Kiel Reijnen (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
Green Sprint Jersey – Kiel Reijnen (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
Polka Dot King of the Mountains Jersey – Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) of Jamis-Hagens Berman
Blue Jersey – Clement Chevrier (FRA) of Bissell Development Team
Orange Jersey – Danny Summerhill (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
Colorado National Guard Best Colorado Rider Jersey – Kiel Reijnen (USA) of UHC

Top 25 Riders
Stage 1 Results
USA  1  REIJNEN, Kiel (UNITEDHEALTHCARE)                          2:26:35
USA  2  HOWES, Alex (GARMIN SHARP)                                
BEL  3  HERMANS, Ben (BMC RACING)                                    +  3
USA  4  JONES, Carter (OPTUM P/B KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES)        
USA  5  BUSCHE, Matthew (TREK FACTORY RACING)                     
ESP  6  MEGIAS LEAL, Javier (NOVO NORDISK)                        
SUI  7  SCHÄR, Michael (BMC RACING)                                  + 12
USA  8  ROSSKOPF, Joseph (HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR DEVELOPMENT TEAM)   
USA  9  BOOKWALTER, Brent (BMC RACING)                            
USA  10 EUSER, Lucas (UNITEDHEALTHCARE)                           
USA  11 VAN GARDEREN, Tejay (BMC RACING)                          
POL  12 MAJKA, Rafal (TINKOFF-SAXO)                               
MDA  13 TVETCOV, Serghei (JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS)                 
LUX  14 SCHLECK, Frank (TREK FACTORY RACING)                      
USA  15 STETINA, Peter (BMC RACING)                               
USA  16 DANIELSON, Thomas (GARMIN SHARP)                          
USA  17 KYER, Julian (TEAM SMARTSTOP)                             
FRA  18 CHEVRIER, Clement (BISSELL DEVELOPMENT TEAM)              
POL  19 HUZARSKI, Bartosz (NETAPP - ENDURA)                       
CAN  20 BRITTON, Rob (TEAM SMARTSTOP)                             
POR  21 MACHADO, Tiago (NETAPP - ENDURA)                          
GER  22 VOIGT, Jens (TREK FACTORY RACING)                            + 15
AUT  23 ZOIDL, Riccardo (TREK FACTORY RACING)                     
USA  24 BUTLER, Chris (HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR DEVELOPMENT TEAM)      
COL  25 ACEVEDO COLLE, Janier Alexis (GARMIN SHARP)                  + 20

*Rider after the time limit:   112  GBR 19830714 BRIGGS Graham
*Rider DNF:  148  USA 19730903 RODRIGUEZ Fred

PHOTOS

Kiel with a hand over Tejay's shoulder, arriving into Aspen pre race (Taylor Phinney is the other BMC rider, kitted up but did not race)
Kiel Reijnen (far left) before at the call up of Stage 1
Agony of defeat in Stage 1 - Reijnen wins, Howes loses by inches
Stage 1 podium celebration
Classification jerseys after Stage 1 USA Pro Challenge 2014
Fun scene at the Festival in Aspen
NEXT STAGE

Stage 2 activities and schedule for the day:
Tuesday, August 19, 2014, Apsen to Crested Butte

STAGE 2 : 105 miles Stage 2 Map PDF  Stage 2 Profile PDF
Tuesday, Aug. 19 – Aspen to Mt. Crested Butte
Aspen to Crested Butte, "the back way," Dirt Road. No Independence Pass for 2014!

Race Begins: Approximately 11:10 a.m.
Race Ends: Approximately 4:00 p.m.
Weather: expected rain and light rain showers (bring a rain jacket!)

Stage 2 Timetable.pdf

State Highways Impacted: SH 82, SH 133, USA Pro Challenge Road Closures 2014
Kebler Pass closed in both directions - 11:00am Monday 8/18/14 through 3:00pm Tuesday 8/19/14.

ASPEN - CARBONDALE - CRESTED BUTTE - MT CRESTED BUTTE - Tuesday, Stage 2
On the path of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge - Aspen By Pedal Dancer®
http://www.aspenupcc.com local Aspen race website
http://www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/event/us-pro-cycling Gunnison Race website
Tuesday: 8:30-10:30am - Aspen Festival at Paepke Park
Tuesday: 11:10 am - Aspen - Stage 2 Star
Tuesday: 12:00-6:00pm - Festival in Crested Butte
Best viewing: Start line in Aspen, Carbondale spring, McClure Pass, Kebler Pass, downtown Crested Butte, Mtn top finish up Mt Crested Butte.

Alternate drive to Crested Butte for vehicles: Independence Pass to Twin Lakes, Buena Vista, over Cottonwood Pass into Crested Butte. RV and Buses you'll need to follow after the races and continue to Peonia, Hotchkiss and Gunnison, then Crested Butte. 

2014 USA Pro Challenge - Stage 2 route map
Stage 1 2014 Pro Challenge Aspen podium

USA PRO CHALLENGE Race, travel and fan guide by Pedal Dancer®