Photos from Colorado - Photography of Ryan Wallace

Ryan Wallace of RevLine photographed Stage 7 of the USA Pro Challenge

You might remember from the past two years that Ryan Wallace captured some excellent images of the final weekend of this Colorado stage race. Ryan was happy to help me again this year. He excels at capturing fast images, formally educated in journalism and photography. He took his skills capturing fast cars and focused on fast bikes.

I can't emphasize enough what peace of mind Ryan offers by being out on course. I never micro-manage him, Ryan instinctively goes where the race is, and I believe he captured some of the best images of the finishing sprint, even without preferential placement (although he did wear an approved Photo badge). In my mind - that is the skill of a true race photographer.

Exactly because Ryan was there with me on Stage 7, I felt free to move elsewhere on course, and because of that freedom I captured a popular race image from the day - the Alex Howes tripod of how to avoid a barrier after a sprint finish. Thank you Ryan Wallace and congratulations Alex Howes for being an incredible bike racer.

See our combined finish report and photos here: Alex Howes wins the final stage of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge

All photos ©Ryan Wallace for Pedal Dancer®   (See more photos from the day at Ryan's portfolio here: revlinephoto)

Thank you Ryan Wallace!

Ryan Wallace, Photographer RevLine

Many Photographers at the race contract out to several news sources, equipment manufacturers, or teams at any given race, in combination. It often requires the photog to be in many places at one time, always thinking of their customers needs when capturing race images. You can spot these hardworking men and women on photo motos, crouched on the pavement, carrying heavy gear up mountain tops, perched high atop buildings, at call-ups, in front of podiums or mixed in with the crowd.

View a nice (slow) slideshow of Pro Challenge Getty Images, photos from the week: http://tourtracker.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/. If you are a photographer, you might like to study their style, if you are a fan, you might find yourself within their beautiful images (with a warning: you cannot reproduce Getty Images without permission). And if you are a graphic artist/tech geek you will enjoy the clean crisp images on Tour Tracker.

Have you been watching the action at the Vuelta a España? Also, cyclocross season is starting up this month in Colorado! My 2014-15 Colorado CX Calendar will be published soon.

On the path of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge - Denver

Visiting Denver to watch a bike race

Denver, Colorado - home to the Denver Broncos football team, Denver Avalanche hockey team  Denver Rockies baseball team, the Denver Nuggets basketball team ... and the USA Pro Challenge! This is Peyton Manning territory, cowboy country, Colorado state capital, micro-brew heaven, home of the active lifestyle in a mile-high city (5280ft). With a population of 650,000 people, Denver can feel like a big city and a small town all at the same time.

Denver, Colorado is where I live.

Seal Pond in Civic Center Park, Denver floats the USA Pro Challenge logo in 2013.

 The USA Pro Challenge races through the streets of Denver.  Photo by Ryan Wallace, RevLine Photo for Pedal Dancer®

What to do in Denver

If you visit Denver, you will likely take in a professional sports game, participate in a sporting event, a concert, visit a museum, walk around the Denver Botanic Gardens or Zoo, enjoy a brewery or a small restaurant in a local neighborhood, and most definitely a walk in a local park (5000 acres including - Cheeseman Park, City Park, and Washington Park). You can also rent a bike and pedal the Cherry Creek bike path (Denver bike paths), or cruise around on a B-cycle inner city rental bike. 

Related posts by Pedal Dancer: Best Beer Pubs and Breweries in Denver

The Botanic Gardens currently has an excellent Chihuly Art exhibit.

Chihuly glass at the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Welcome to Denver, Colorado

Location of Denver in Colorado in the USA

Visitors flying into Denver International Airport (DIA) often feel like they have landed in Nebraska and wonder where the fabled Rocky Mountains are - that is because our airport is located out east in the flat lands (more like rolling lands) and the mountains cover the western half of Colorado.

Colorado is half mountains and half ranch land.

At the race in Denver

If you happen to be in Denver on August 24, 2014 you will definitely want to go downtown to see the USA Pro Challenge professional bike race.

Freddy Rodriguez, Tejay van Garderen, Tom Danielson and Matt Cooke race the final laps in Denver in 2013. 
 Photo by Ryan Wallace, RevLine Photo for Pedal Dancer®

Racing by the Denver Art Museum.

Lucas Euser and Ben King conceding the breakaway to the approaching peloton behind them in Denver, 2013. 

Poised and waiting for the big finish in Denver.

Peter Sagan wins the sprint in Denver in front of all the fans.

THE RACE IN DENVER IN 2014 - USA PRO CHALLENGE

SUNDAY, STAGE 7 : 78 miles Stage Map PDF  Stage Profile PDF
Boulder - Golden - Lookout Mountain - circuits in Denver (different route than 2013 in downtown Denver!)

* Please note that the route of the circuit laps in downtown Denver does not go down Speer Blvd or through Larimer Street this year. The race is concentrated around Civic Center Park, along 17th Street, and in City Park. The finish again is in front of the State Capital Building.

Stage 7 Start time: 12:30pm
Stage 7 Finish time: 3:50pm

Stage 7 Timetable.pdf

Denver Festival and Events: usaprocyclingchallenge.com/stage-7-festival


State Highways Impacted: SH 93, US 40, SH 391 (Kipling Street), SH 121 (Wadsworth), SH 95 (Sheridan), I-25 (Route and Street Closure information)

USA Pro Challenge in Boulder information: USAProBoulder.com
USA Pro Challenge in Golden information: Golden Visitors Bureau
On the path of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge - Golden, By Pedal Dancer®

All photos in this post by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer® except where stated photo by Ryan Wallace

Map and profile of Stage 7 courtesy of USA Pro Challenge official website.

Profile Stage 7, Boulder - Golden - Denver

Where to watch the USA Pro Challenge bike race in Denver

Last year I experience a very exciting lap in the Media car around the course of the Pro Challenge through Denver to insure that I was offering the best advise possible to fans about where to see the race. I can share first hand that it was super impressive to see the huge numbers of fans that lined the route. Thank you!

This year's Stage 7 final circuits in Denver will have a slightly different route from 2013, so study the route map closely. I have highlighted the recommended viewing areas below.

The Expo festival area is located in Civic Center Park where race partner Sierra Nevada can be expected to have beer for sale. The open layout of the park allows fans to move freely and run from side to side to see the race on Colfax and 14th St. The finish line is very nearby on Broadway (but crowded by VIP tents).

If you find a way into the small corral on Colfax between the VIP tents and the Capital building -- in the middle of the street -- you will be able to see the riders coming and going in both directions. No shade, no seating, no water, just good viewing. You will also be close by to the podium presentation after the race.

The restaurants and businesses that line 17th Street offer a nice base to see the race go by in BOTH directions along this long boulevard as the peloton races back and forth between the capital and City Park. You may find patios and shade trees and even portable bleachers set up on race day.

City Park was filled with happy fans last year who brought in their own chairs and tents, coolers and banners and set up hours in advance on the cool grass. The park has a number of corners; it is always great to witness the racers through fast corners.

Ride your bicycle to the Festival: Bicycle Colorado is hosting bike valet locations at each stage finish expo area. They will hold your bike safely for free (if you wish you may purchase an annual membership to Bicycle Colorado as a thank you). The Bike Valet Lots are being fully sponsored by Lexus a new race sponsor for 2014. Thank Lexus. For Stage 7, the Bike Valet Lot will be located at Civic Center Park in Denver.

Pedal Dancer recommended viewing locations for Stage 7 in Denver (click image to enlarge)

Expo festival in Civic Center Park, Denver, USA Pro Challenge

Watching the USA Pro Challenge bike race near Denver Public Library in 2013.

Fans along restaurant row on 17th Street, at the Mountain Sun Brewery in Denver.

Small (free) bleachers set up for spectators along 17th St in Denver, 2013.

Autographs from your favorites.

VIP tent & tickets in Denver for the USA Pro Challenge 2014

Not all VIP tickets are worth it either for the money or the location, but Denver is different. The VIP tents in Denver are perfectly located along the finishing stretch. VIP tickets offer shade, food, drink, tables and chairs, tons of VIP swag, and excellent people watching. Oh and did I mention great race viewing. You will also be right there for the final podium presentation and champagne celebration, just at the end of the block about 30-minutes after the final winning sprint. Buy your tickets, $350 each.

VIP tents in Denver - right in the center of the action.

Champagne celebration for the Best Team in 2013 - BMC!  They will be back again in 2014.

Volunteer (please)

They will need lots of volunteers for this stage through Boulder into Golden and finally Denver.  Please help by volunteering for the day at the USA Pro Challenge on Sunday, August 24th: volunteer application form.

Travel impact and road closures for the 2014 USA Pro Challenge

Road closure schedule State Highways for Stage 7, Boulder - Hwy 93 - Golden - Lookout Mountain - Golden - Denver (circuit laps around downtown). All roads for the circuits will be fully closed, other roads will have rolling road closures. CDOT Colorado Department of Transportation advisory: USA Pro Challenge Road Closures 2014.

Local Route and Street Closure Information for Stage 7 Denver - USA Pro Challenge bike race, August 24th.

Citizen Running Event

Lifeblood 5K run in downtown Denver. August 24th, 2014 before final stage

Also read the other Pedal Dancer guide for the 2014 race:
On the path of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge - Golden
On the path of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge - Breckenridge
On the path of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge - Vail
On the path of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge - Aspen/Snowmass Village
On the path of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge - Colorado Springs

Read more about the race on the general Pedal Dancer Guide Page: USA PRO CHALLENGE

Denver City and County Building

All photos in the post created by Karen Rakestraw or Ryan Wallace for Pedal Dancer®

Stage 7 Boulder Denver commemorative jersey

Congratulations Tejay!

Tejay van Garderen won a stage today in the Volta a Catalunya

In the cold Spanish snow, Tejay won a stage of the 2014 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya to Vallter 2000. Where is that you might ask? Well I was wondering the very same thing myself, as in, "Where the hell is that?". I discovered Vallter 2000 is a peak (that I am guessing not many people visit) on the border of Spain and France, well north of Barcelona. Barcelona is the city where the Volta a Catalunya will end this Sunday.

Location of Vallter 2000 climb in Spain

Joaquin Rodriguez is currently in the lead of this race by 4 seconds.  The route map has to be one of the most confusing I have ever seen, all I know is they ride all over Cataluyna (Catalonia, Cataluña) in 7 days and 7 etapes.

Cataluyna has fantastic cycling. It's capital is Barcelona, it's provinces are Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. I last visited Spain in 2010, I wrote a bit about it: I finally get Girona, Cycling in Girona Spain, I'm on Vacation in France/Spain! (a beautiful beach north of Girona).

My coffee break in Cataluyna.  Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

But today - Tejay won Stage 4!

American Tejay van Garderen (BMC)  Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Today's race coverage showed fog, fog, and more fog, with occasional riders appearing through -fog. Vallter 2000 is one of those remote ski stations. When it isn't covered in snow, it looks like this.

Vallter 2000

Which is a far cry from this, which is Barcelona

City of Barcelona, Spain, with the landmark Torre Agbar skyscraper

Which is known for this

Casa Batllo: architecture by Antoni Gaudi

And this

tapas

And this

paella

And come Sunday - it will be known as the place where one of these men won the 2014 Volta a Catalunya. Three more stages to go:

General Classification after Stage 4
ESP  1  RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA)                 17:47:34
ESP  2  CONTADOR VELASCO, Alberto (TINKOFF-SAXO)           +    4
USA  3  VAN GARDEREN, Tejay (BMC RACING)                           +    7
FRA  4  BARDET, Romain (AG2R LA MONDIALE)                          +   10
COL  5  QUINTANA ROJAS, Nairo Alexander (MOVISTAR)               
GBR  6  FROOME, Christopher (SKY)                                             +   17
USA  7  TALANSKY, Andrew (GARMIN SHARP)                             +   18

Ciclista a Catalunya 2014 - Stage 4 - FINAL KILOMETERS. it is foggy! (hi ha boira) and it is snowy! (està cobert de neu).

Photo for the Day - Cadel Evans

Cadel Evans - when 1 second really mattered

Cadel Lee Evans, BMC Racing Team.  Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®

It was a big day at the Tour Down Under yesterday(today), as Cadel Evans lost the leaders jersey to Simon Gerrans by 1 second. Richie Porte tore up the final climb to the finish line, winning the stage by 10 seconds and shaking up the General Classification. There are now four Aussies in the top five of the stage race.

1. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica Greenedge 18:02:19
2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:00:01
3. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-Merida 0:00:05
4. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky 0:00:10
5. Nathan Haas (Aus) Garmin Sharp 0:00:27

The photo above has always been my favorite photograph I have taken of Cadel Evans because he looks so tired after the stage. To me this is how every rider should look after a good hard bike race. His is the face of exhaustion, always a good sign that the battle was hard fought.

This was Cadel before a stage start, refreshed, no road dirt, no exhausted eyes.

Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®

Another one of my favorites of Cadel, focused pre-race.

Cadel won the World Road Race Championships in 2009 earning those impressive stripes.  Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®

Cadel Evans lost by one fragile second in the battle on Stage 5 of the Santos Tour Down Under. The final GC outcome will be known on Sunday after the last stage of the Tour, but there is little likelihood that the climbers will get time bonuses tomorrow, it looks like Simon Gerrans might carry the ochre jersey to the final podium (unless more surprises are in store), leaving Cadel Evans to reflect upon that fleeting 1 second.

Other big accomplishments by Cadel Evans:
.... Santos Tour Down Under  2014 - missed by 1 second!
Critérium International 2012
Tour de France 2011
Tirreno–Adriatico 2011
Points Classification, Giro d'Italia 2010
UCI ProTour 2007

Check out this old photo I found of Cadel from 2005, 9 years ago, at the Tour de France.

A young "Cuddles".  Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®

Cadel's teams have been:
1999 Volvo-Cannondale (MTB)
2001 Saeco Macchine per Caffè
2002 Mapei-Quick Step
2003–2004 Team Telekom
2005–2009 Davitamon-Lotto
2010– BMC Racing Team

His country has been Australia, for 36 years.

Oh, and Jens Voigt put on the green Most Competitive jersey AGAIN for Stage 5! Photo for the Day - Jens Voigt