Rider Rosters for the 2014 USA Pro Challenge

Teams and full startlist of riders announced today

Have you been wondering who will be racing in Colorado August 18-24th? Now we know. Of course Jens Voigt will be coming, he has announced that the USA Pro Challenge will celebrate his retirement from the sport after decades of racing. Tejay Van Garderen will be back, so too will Lachlan Morton, Matt Cooke, Tom Danielson, and Janier Acevedo - all names you will recognize as past stage or jersey winners at this race.

If you watched the 2014 Tour de France you will recognize Rafal Majka (polka-dot jersery winner), Michael Rogers, Leopold König, Alex Howes, and Franck Schleck. Michael Markov and Matthew Lloyd, who both won stages in the Giro d’Italia, will be in Colorado as well. Other crowd favorites include two-time Giro d’Italia winner Ivan Basso.

Maple Magnate and big personality Ted King will be back along with well-known American UCI ProTeam riders Peter Stetina, Brent Bookwalter, Phil Gaimon, and Gavin Mannion (a stagiaire with Garmin-Sharp). They will join American UCI Professional Continental riders Danny Summerhill, Jeff Louder, Lucas Euser and Kiel Reijnene.

Current American National Champion Eric Marcott will be racing, along with former American National Champions fast Freddy Rodriguez, Ben King and Matthew Busche. The current junior world champion, Slovakian Matej Mohorič, will be racing on team Cannondale Pro Cycling.

American UCI Continental riders I look forward to supporting and learning more about include Tom Zirbel, Ben Jacques-Maynes, Danny Eaton, Tanner Putt, Gregory Daniel, Joey Rosskopf, Oscar Clark, Robin Carpenter, Ty Magner, Carson Miller, Ian Crane, Rob Squire, Ian Burnett, Kirk Carlsen, Jacob Rathe, Steve Fisher, Alex Candelario, Bjorn Selander, Carter Jones, Jesse Anthony, Scott Zwizanski, Julian Kyer and Travis McCabe.

Drapac Professional Cycling is an entirely Australian team, Rapha Condor JLT an entirely British team, and Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies an entirely North American team. Hincapie Sportswear Development Team and Team SmartStop will be making a first appearance.

Team Garmin-Sharp in front of the crowd at the Team Presentation in Snowmass Village in 2013.
Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

UCI ProTeams

BMC Racing Team (USA) @BMCProTeam
Ben Hermans (BEL)
Brent Bookwalter (USA)
Martin Kohler (SUI)
Michael Schar (SUI)
Peter Stetina (USA)
Rick Zabel (GER)
Tejay Van Garderen (USA)
Yannick Eijssen (BEL)

Cannondale Pro Cycling (ITA) @cannondalePro
Alan Marangoni (ITA)
Cristiano Salerno (ITA)
Davide Formolo (ITA)
Edward King (USA)
Elia Viviani (ITA)
Ivan Basso (ITA)
Matej Mohorič (SLO)
Michel Koch (GER)

Team Garmin-Sharp (USA) @Ride_Argyle
Alex Howes (USA)
Ben King (USA)
Gavin Mannion (stagiaire) (USA)
Janier Acevedo (COL)
Lachlan Morton (AUS)
Phil Gaimon (USA)
Thomas Dekker (NED)
Tom Danielson (USA)

Tinkoff-Saxo (RUS) @tinkoff_saxo
Bruno Pires (POR)
Edward Beltran (COL)
Jesper Hansen (DEN)
Michael Mørkøv (RUS)
Michael Rogers (AUS)
Pawel Poljanski (POL)
Rafał Majka (POL)
Rasmus Guldhammer (NOR) (stagiaire)

Trek Factory Racing (USA) @TrekFactory
Calvin Watson (AUS)
Fränk Schleck (LUX)
Hayden Roulston (NZL)
Jens Voigt (GER)
Markel Irizar (ESP)
Matthew Busche (USA)
Riccardo Zoidl (AUT)
Robert Kiserlovski (CRO)

UCI Professional Continental Teams

Drapac Professional Cycling (AUS) @DrapacCycling
Adam Phelan (AUS)
Bernard Sulzberger (AUS)
Darren Lapthorne (AUS)
Jai Crawford (AUS)
Jonathan Cantwell (AUS)
Lachlan Norris (AUS)
Robbie Hucker (AUS)
Wesley Sulzberger (AUS)

Team NetApp – Endura (GER) @NetAppEndura
Bartosz Huzarski (POL)
David De La Cruz (ESP)
Gregor Muhlberger (AUT)
Jose Mendes (POR)
Leopold König (CZE)
Michael Schwarzmann (GER)
Patrick Konrad (AUT)
Tiago Machado (POR)

Team Novo Nordisk (USA) @TeamNovoNordisk
Andrea Peron (ITA)
Charles Planet (FRA)
David Lozano (ESP)
Javier Megias (ESP)
Joonas Henttala (FIN)
Kevin De Mesmaeker (BEL)
Martijn Verschoor (NED)
Scott Ambrose (NZL)

UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA) @UHCprocycling
Ben Day (AUS)
Danny Summerhill (USA)
Isaac Bolivar Hernandez (COL)
Jeff Louder (USA)
Jonny Clarke (AUS)
Kiel Reijnen (USA)
Lucas Euser (USA)
Marc De Maar (CAR)

UCI Continental Teams

Bissell Development Team (USA) @BissellDT
Chris Putt (USA)
Daniel Eaton (USA)
Gregory Daniel (USA)
James Oram (NZL)
Keegan Swirbul (USA)
Nathan Van Hooydonck (BEL)
Nicholai Brøchner (DEN)
Tanner Putt (USA)

Hincapie Sportswear Development Team (USA) @HincapieDevo
Chris Butler (USA)
Dion Smith (NZL)
Joe Lewis (AUS)
Joey Rosskopf (USA)
Oscar Clark (USA)
Robin Carpenter (USA)
Toms Skujiņš (LAT)
Ty Magner (USA)

Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home (USA) @TeamJamisHB
Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA)
Carson Miller (USA)
Daniel Jaramillo (COL)
Gregory Brenes (CRC)
Ian Crane (USA)
Luis Amaran (CUB)
Matt Cooke (USA)
Rob Squire (USA)

Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis (USA) @JellyBellyTeam
Freddie Rodriguez (USA)
Ian Burnett (USA)
Jacob Rathe (USA)
Kirk Carlsen (USA)
Luis Davila (MEX)
Matthew Lloyd (AUS)
Serghei Tvetcov (ROM)
Steve Fisher (USA)

Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies (USA) @OPTUMpbKBS
Alex Candelario (USA)
Bjorn Selander (USA)
Carter Jones (USA)
Jesse Anthony (USA)
Ryan Anderson (CAN)
Scott Zwizanski (USA)
Thomas Zirbel (USA)
William Routley (CAN)

Rapha Condor JLT (GBR) @raphacondorjlt
Daniel Whitehouse (GBR)
Elliott Porter (GBR)
Graham Briggs (GBR)
Hugh Carthy(GBR)
Kristian House (GBR)
Michael Cuming (GBR)
Richard Handley (GBR)
Tom Moses (GBR)

Team SmartStop (USA) @TeamSmartStop
Eric Marcotte (USA)
Flavio De Luna (MEX)
Julian Kyer (USA)
Jure Kocjan (SLO)
Michael Torckler (NZL)
Rob Britton (CAN)
Travis McCabe (USA)
Zach Bell (CAN)

Tejay van Garderen will defend his 2013 race win

“I’m really looking forward to defending my race title in Colorado this year,” said van Garderen, an Aspen, Colo., resident. “Because it starts in my hometown, it’s different and more relaxed. To race in front of my family and friends is always special. We are bringing a really motivated team and with a summit finish this year, it promises to be another hard race.”

Race Organizers invite fans to a free Team Presentation, Saturday, 6:15pm in lower Snowmass Village

On Saturday, Aug. 16, the teams will be introduced to fans at the opening ceremonies and official team presentation, taking place at Base Village Plaza in Snowmass. Celebrity hosts Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen will introduce the teams and riders, giving people a chance to check out the best of the best in cycling before the start of the race. The presentation is free and open to the public, with parking available in the lower lots and parking garage at Snowmass Village. You may also take the Gondola from the upper village (more parking and restaurants) to the lower village for free.

Related posts by Pedal Dancer: Word of the Day: Stagiaire and Words of the Day: Professional Cycling Teams (Definitions of World Tour, UCI ProTeam, UCI Professional Continental Team, UCI Continental Team).

More information about the race at the Pedal Dancer Guide Page: USA PRO CHALLENGE AT THE RACE

Aggressively Courageous and Combative

Awarding the gutsiest rider out there

I stood smashed in a pit below the final podium presentation in Denver last Sunday when someone behind me asked "What is the orange jersey?" "Most Aggressive rider," I instantly responded. "Most Courageous," another one of the smooshed fans or media members nearby called out (I couldn't tell which because I couldn't move an inch to turn and look).

I have this thing about being squished in a crowd, that thing would be - I hate it. It reminds me of being at the barriers in the mass of a million fans on the Champs Élysées for the the final day of the Tour de France. I shuddered and wanted out immediately. But this past Sunday I hung in there, if for no other reason than to feel the spray of celebratory champagne during the best team presentation and to see the joy on Ben King's face up close as he was presented with his latest-model orange jersey for a race well fought.

Here is Ben King (Radioshack Leopard Trek) getting fit into his new orange Most Aggressive jersey awarded to him after the final Stage 7 in Denver last Sunday at the USA Pro Challenge.  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

So what is the correct award names for the stand-out rider who gives their all on the stage?

Tour de France - Le Prix de la combativité
You will know the rider by his dossard rouge (red bib) with white number.

Vuelta a España - Corredor Mas Combativo
You will know the rider by his red dossard with white number.

Tour Down Under - Most Competitive
You will know the rider by his green jersey.

Tour of California - Most Courageous
You will know the rider by his yellow and blue jersey. This race is sponsored by pharmaceutical company Amgen and the jersey sponsored by Breakaway from Cancer where aggressive is a bad word and courageous a good word.

Tour of Utah - Most Aggressive
You will know the rider by his orange, gray and white jersey. I like their words to describe the winner: "It will be awarded to a cyclist who demonstrates–in the face of all adversity–the greatest desire to win in that day’s stage".

USA Pro Challenge - Most Aggressive
You will know the rider by his orange and white striped jersey.

These awards are decided upon by a jury and not by any points system (another way of saying they are incredibly subjective). But we could also call this jersey the "He who hogged the camera coverage all day" jersey, or the "He who just rode the entire stage alone only to loose" jersey, or perhaps "He who tried his best but got caught in the last 500 meters" jersey.

Adaptations of the Most Combative Rider award

At the Giro d' Italia the Most Combative is actually a different type of award, more of a best overall rider award. It goes to the rider who scores the most combined points for stage finishes, Intergiro sprints, and climbs.

The Vuelta a España awards their white jersey in a similar way. Assigning their white jersey as the Best Combined (Classification General Combinada) for the rider highest placed in overall, sprint points, and climber points.

The Vuelta a España is currently in full-swing in Spain. So be on the lookout for the blue and white polka dot jersey, not the red and white polka dot jersey. This gets confusing.

Don't assume the jerseys are all the same race to race, they are not - yellow is not always yellow. 

Grand Tour jerseys are not all created equal.

The order of jerseys

According to UCI rule 1.3.071 and 2.6.0.18, there is a specific order of priority of jerseys. The classification jerseys take precedence in order of yellow, green, polka-dot, white. If a rider is already in a more prominent jersey and has earned one or more, he will be awarded with the jersey on the podium but the second-place rider in the classification will where that jersey the next day during the race. Also the World Champion jersey trumps any National Champion jersey, but the classification jerseys trump the world.

Rule 1.3.060 through 1.3.067, Exact rules of the World Champion's jersey (PDF 1.62 Mb)
Rule 1.3.068 and 1.3.069, Exact rules of the National Champion's jersey (PDF 113 kb)

Should various provisions requiring the wearing of different jerseys apply to the same rider, the order of priority shall be as follows:
1. the leader’s jersey of the stage race (yellow)
2. the leader’s jersey of the cup, series, or UCI classification
3. the world champion’s jersey
4. the continental champion’s jersey
5. the national champion’s jersey
6. the national jersey

Here were the 2013 classification jerseys of the Tour de France. This is the gold standard, but varies race to race.

An example of the Most Combative Rider red dossard (on the 4th rider of the 18th team). No jersey, just a number at the Grand Tours. Got all that?  (Read more about what a race number means)

So who was the most Aggressively Courageous and Combative rider in 2013?

TDF: Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale (Stage 21)
GIRO: Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quick Step (Stage 21)
TDU: Awarded daily, no overall
ATOC: Jason McCartney (USA) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team (Stage 8)
TOU: Francisco Mancebo (Spain) 5-hour Energy (Stage 6)
USAPro: Ben King (USA) RadioShack Leopard Trek (Stage 7)
Vuelta: Javier Aramendia (Spain) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA  

Read more and see examples of:

• Classification Jerseys of the USA Pro Challenge By Pedal Dancer
• Team Jerseys for the Tour of California By Pedal Dancer
• Word of the Day: Dossard otherwise known as bib#, By Pedal Dancer

USA Pro Challenge 2013 - Results Stage 7

Denver Colorado - Race Results

Today's results from the tour in Colorado.

Denver County Building

Downtown Denver

The pond fountain where Frankie Andreu would later take a swim in the clean fresh water.

Stage 7 Results:

1. Peter Sagan (SVK) of Cannondale Pro Cycling
2. Ryan Anderson (CAN) of Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies
3. Alessandro Bazzana (ITA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team

This is what it feels like when a Peter Sagan #51 sprint comes roaring by (add loud sound and wind).  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

This is one fast bike racer, who also really enjoyed being in Colorado.

Final General Classification Standings: 

USA  1  VAN GARDEREN, Tejay (BMC RACING)  22:38:48
SUI  2  FRANK, Mathias (BMC RACING)         + 1:30
USA  3  DANIELSON, Thomas (GARMIN SHARP)    + 1:42
COL  4  ACEVEDO COLLE, Javier Alexis (JAMIS)+ 2:10
AUS  5  MORTON, Lachlan David (GARMIN SHARP)+ 2:34
CRC  6  OBANDO BRENES, Gregory (CHAMPION SYSTEM)+ 3:25
USA  7  CRADDOCK, Lawson (BONTRAGER CYCLING)+ 3:42
NZL  8  BENNETT, George (RADIOSHACK LEOPARD)+ 3:58
AUS  9  SUTHERLAND, Rory (SAXO-TINKOFF)     + 4:11
IRL  10 DEIGNAN, Philip (UNITEDHEALTHCARE)  + 4:12

Tejay van Garderen wins USA Pro Challenge 2013

It's the baby on the podium picture

FINAL Classification Jerseys:

Yellow (overall) - Tejay van Garderen (USA) of BMC Racing Team
Green (sprint) - Peter Sagan (SVK) of Cannondale Pro Cycling
Red (climber) - Matt Cooke (USA) of Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home
Blue (young) - Lachlan David Morton (AUS) of Team Garmin-Sharp
Orange (courageous) - Ben King (USA) of RadioShack Leopard Trek

Matt Cooke, Peter Sagan, Tejay van Garderen, Lachland Morton, Ben King.  Photo ©by Ryan Wallace for Pedal Dancer®

Of the 128 riders that started the race, 108 finished. Chris Froome withdrew during Stage 7 and did not complete the USA Pro Challenge in 2013.

Please see additional excellent photos by Ryan Wallace for Pedal Dancer®

• Photos from Stage 7 - USA Pro Challenge 

Please see even more photos by Chuck Parsons for Pedal Dancer®

• Photography of Chuck Parsons - Stage 6 & 7

Please also read my other posts from today: 

• Such a fun day in Denver - yup it's the video of Peter Sagan hopping the stairs
• BMC Champagne Celebration 
• Jens Voigt p/b Cookies and Coffee

Photos from Denver  All Photos below © By Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®  please click any image to enlarge

Fans at the festival area in Civic Center Park

Denver, preparing for Stage 7  - Start and Finish line

VIP tent swag including radios to listen in on the race commentators. Nice touch.

Beer cozy

Riders found an injured Chris Baldwin in the VIP tent and stopped to say hello to their friend.

Morning rider autographs with perfectly place prop kids

Signature Kid, someday he'll grow into that jersey.

UCI Official

Basketball Great Bill Walton has been in Colorado all week riding his bike at all of the stages of the tour.

Timmy Duggan's 90-year old Grandmother and his Father were at the final stage. They got to ride in the first Medical Vehicle on course. I bet that was a wild ride through the city. 

Tom Danielson, probably again explaining how he wants more mountains in the stage race

Ben King, great presence both on and off the bike

Craig Lewis and his ever-present fan club

This is Luis Enrique Lemus' (Team Jelly Belly), Mexico National Champion Road, custom painted Focus road bike.

Go Colombia!

I was able to ride in Media car #1 (sponsored by IconLasik) around the course today - so fun! And very worthwhile to make sure the pre-race advice I offer on where to watch the race was helpful to fans.

The great city of Denver on a very hot day

Fans lining the route making it look like Times Square in New York City.

Just another day at a bike event in Denver

Riders race past our Art Museum downtown

Corner after dirty corner, 8 laps long

The finish line and the line of team cars and photo motos - 3 laps to go

2 laps

Jonathan Vuaghters showed up watching Tour Tracker on his device. Nice to see him, this was the first time I had seen him all week.

Lucas Euser and Ben King being caught by the peloton at 1 lap.  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

The handshake. Bike racers get along so well. Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Lucas Euser with Ben King (who would win most Aggressive Rider for the day).  Photo © by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Sagan on the front racing down Broadway to the finish line.

Sarah inside her final Broom Wagon passage of the tour

Christian Vande Velde exits the stage. This was his last race in the USA, he will be retiring at the end of the season.

And that is a wrap for the 2013 USA Pro Challenge in Colorado.

I will be posting more pictures and telling stories that I have not yet shared. So please check back soon.

Please come back and visit Colorado again!

Read more about our fantastic bike events, road races, cyclocross races, and recommended rides for cyclists at this link: COLORADO CYCLING A resource page created by Pedal Dancer®. Thank you fans! 

Photos from Stage 7 - USA Pro Challenge

Photography of Ryan Wallace - in Denver, Colorado

The final day of the 2013 USA Pro Challenge concluded today - Peter Sagan won after 8 fast laps around our state capital. Ryan Wallace was out shooting the race today and again captured a variety of shots around the course.

Please see all the excellent (better quality) images by Ryan Wallace of RevLine Photos at this link:  Stage 6 Circuit Race in Denver, Colorado

click any image to enlarge

Start in Denver.  Photo © By Ryan Wallace of RevLine.com for Pedal Dancer®

Downtown Denver bike racing.  Photo © By Ryan Wallace of RevLine.com for Pedal Dancer®

Racing through downtown Denver.  Photo © By Ryan Wallace of RevLine.com for Pedal Dancer®

American National Champion Road Freddie Rodriquez, the yellow jersey Tejay van Garderen, third place GC Tom Danielson, and the best climber (KOM polka dot jersey) Matt Cooke. It doesn't get any better than that!  Photo © By Ryan Wallace of RevLine.com for Pedal Dancer®

Ridng by Arts Complex in Denver. Photo © By Ryan Wallace of RevLine.com for Pedal Dancer®

The breakaway  Photo © By Ryan Wallace of RevLine.com for Pedal Dancer®

Michael Schär and Tejay van Garderen.  Photo © By Ryan Wallace of RevLine.com for Pedal Dancer®

Final Classification Jerseys 2013 USA Pro Challenge. Photo © By Ryan Wallace of RevLine.com for Pedal Dancer®

Final Classification Jerseys 2013 USA Pro Challenge. Photo © By Ryan Wallace of RevLine.com for Pedal Dancer®

Tejay van Garderen at final press conference after winning the stage race. Photo © By Ryan Wallace of RevLine.com for Pedal Dancer®

The now retired Christian VandeVelde's last interview as a rider at today's Press Conference after the conclusion of the 2013 USA Pro Challenge.  Photo © By Ryan Wallace of RevLine.com for Pedal Dancer®

Again view all the images at this link: Stage 6 Circuit Race in Denver, Colorado By Ryan Wallace of RevLine Photo.