Faces at the Race - USA Pro Challenge

Hey, isn't that ....?

Part of the fun of going to any sporting event, besides the thrill of competition and the exciting surroundings, are the people. We have our favorite riders, our favorite teams, our favorite uniforms (team kits), and our favorite bikes. Behind, on top of, and in front of all this, are the wonderful people who make the race and set the mood - not only through organization or sponsorship, but simply by showing up.

We attend because we are fans of cycling and no matter our real job or personal life - the field of sport is a great leveler. We come together in shared passion. And what makes cycling unique is that we get to play and cheer on the playing field.

I always try to take a moment to speak to the person next to me, because every individual I meet at a bike race has a story about what motivated them to come.

I will forever remember a man I met at a race standing near the RadioShack team bus who was in the middle of telling me that he had been waiting ten years to meet Jens Voigt, and just then Jensie arrived right next to us in the passenger seat of his team car. "Well there he is right there, " I said to the fan. Well that fan pivoted with elation and I am telling you - the joy that fan felt spread through the entire crowd that day at the race.

I recently wrote a post about the Organization Behind the Race at the USA Pro Challenge, a story about the Founders, Partners, and hard working staff. A short while ago I also wrote That's my kid!, a post about the pride and support of parents for a young athlete. Today I looked back through my photographs for the people I met or saw last year at the USA Pro Challenge. Maybe I will see them again this year, maybe you will. 

Look closely - you just might be able to see these faces in the crowd ...

All Photos below by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer® from the 2012 USA Pro Challenge

Eric Heiden, Olympian, author, and team doctor for BMC

Olympian and bike shop owner Ron Kiefel driving Dale Stetina (Peter's Father and himself an Olympian and former National Champion) in the back seat of the car

Davis Phinney (left), Olypian, former 7-Eleven teammate of Ron's and father to Taylor Phinney (BMC - not racing at the USA Pro Challenge this year)

Actor Patrick Dempsey, just hanging out at the race with Race Director Jim Birrell.

Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn presented the podium awards in Denver to Christian VandeVelde

George Hincapie, he will be back and leading a ride before the Breckenridge Stage this year.

Race Announcer Brad Sohner and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper (more about Brad, read: Who is that voice on stage?)

Former Colorado Governor John Ritter

Uli and Lydia - organizers of the Frand Fondo New York

Scott Christopher (of Bicycle Colorado and cast member of the movie American Flyers, left), speaking with Race Announcer Dave Towle (right).

Dan Grunig, Executive Director of Bicycle Colorado enjoying some VIP tent action

Tim Johnson, cyclocross racer extraordinaire

Jim Ochowicz General Manager of BMC

Dirk Friel and Jeremey Derksen of Training Peaks

Bob Roll, NBC Commentator

Neal Rogers of VeloNews

Brian Holcombe of VeloNews, pushing Peter Stetina

Frankie Andreu of Bicycling and Kenda/5-hour Energy

Author and race analyst Joe Lindsey of Bicycling Magazine and the Boulder Report

Neil Browne of Tour Chats and Brown Eye Blog

Just some of the many photographers

Photographer Darrell Parks with Pez Cycling (right)

Photographer John Pierce of PhotoSport International

Definitely stop by the Festival (expo) to see the crews helping out at the sponsor and vendor tents

Garmin crew

Cannondale crew

BMC crew

This is the broom wagon - you definitely will recognize it, (read more: Word of the day at the TDF: voiture balai)

I heard that Mario Cipollini was in the VIP tent in Denver last year - but of course, I missed him!

I will be there again this year. I will keep you up-to-date on who I see at the race. I will be chasing and reporting from every stage except Steamboat Springs. Posting results and travel/fan stories from the road, but probably not racing as I did last weekend.

See you in Aspen, or Breck, Beaver Creek, Vail, Loveland or Denver.

2013 Ride the Rockies Route

RtR Route Announced for 2013

2014 Update: 2014 Ride the Rockies Route and registration

The route of the 2013 Ride the Rockies, the wildly-popular annual week-long citizens event ride in Colorado every June, was announced this evening. Event Organizers arranged a fun party for old and new riders, sponsors and support staff to celebrate the announcement of the route for 2013. The route changes every year, 2013 will be the 28th Ride the Rockies and the route is set to begin in Telluride and end seven days later in Colorado Springs.

Registration for Ride the Rockies 2013 is open Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 12:01am (midnight): ridetherockies.com. Registration for the lottery closes Feb 22, 2013 at 6pm.
[Register for RTR at http://www.prerace.com/races/event/32520/Ride-The-Rockies]

Event : The Denver Post Ride the Rockies (RTR)
Dates: June 8-15, 2013
Start: Telluride, Colorado
Finish: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Days Riding: 7 (no rest day)
Total miles: 513
Vertical feet: 12,400
Total riders: 2,000
Registration open: Sunday February 3, 2013 (midnight)
Cost: $495, + $5 registration lottery fee (non-refundable) 
Additional Costs: meals, hotels, sherpa camping, rest stop specialty foods, transportation to start and from finish (buses available), bike shipping (trucks available), massage, beer, mechanic tips. Included: event jersey, water, basic rest stop, free-camping at local high schools, one 50lb bag transfer, sag support, music, talks and movies.

website: ridetherockies.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RideTheRockiesFans
Twitter: https://twitter.com/denverpostrtr

Also read: Update 06/07/13 June in Colorado and the big rides begin
 

Map of Colorado in the USA

2013 Ride the Rockies route will cover southwestern Colorado from Telluride to Colorado Springs

2013 Ride the Rockies 7-day route map and profile.  click to enlarge

2013 Route - cities  (Saturday June 8, arrive in Telluride)  / (Prologue June 7, 8)
*interactive maps (with profiles) of each day's route can be found at this link

1. Telluride - Cortez : Sunday, June 9, 2013, 75 miles
2. Cortez - Durango : Monday, June 10, 2013, 64 miles
3. Durango - Pagosa Springs : Tuesday, June 11, 2013, 86 miles
4. Pagosa Springs - Alamosa : Wednesday, June 12, 2013, 91 miles
5. Alamosa - Salida : Thursday, June 13, 2013, 84 miles
6. Salida - Canon City : Friday, June 14, 2013, 67 miles
7. Canon City - Colorado Springs : Saturday, June 15, 2013, 46 miles

Route amended on Day 6 of Ride the Rockies 2013 around fires near Royal Gorge, Canon City. More information at: Reroute Ride the Rockies
 
Typically 3,500 riders apply for just 2,000 coveted spots

Colorado has some big mountain passes and although the riding is not easy, Colorado is a very popular state for cycling. Ride the Rockies is tough to get into, after an open registration, a lottery system determines the lucky 2000. According to the Ride the Rockies website, past riders have represented all 50 states and over 18 foreign countries. One of tonight's attendees had ridden 25 of the past 27 Ride the Rockies.

2013 RTR Route Announcement Party 

Ron Kiefel, Lucas Euser, and announcer Dave Towle were on hand to help present the 2013 route. Thank you to Dan Grunig and Scott Christopher of Bicycle Colorado for inviting me to the party tonight. It was fun to again see my old friends Brian, Steve and Ron (the event Mavic support crew) and caterer Danny Flippin' Flapjacks. 

I was also very excited to have finally met in person Kris Thompson and Amy Thompson of 303Cycling.com at the event, I am a faithful reader of their site. Kris Thompson will riding the 2013 Ride the Rockies; I look forward to hearing his stories. Ron Kiefel and brothers Rich Hincapie (a regular on the ride for years) and George Hincapie will also be riding Ride the Rockies 2013.
 

7 days of hard riding, as each town was revealed
©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Four of the eight handsome "Colorado Guys" who will be riding Ride the Rockies again this year to raise funds for Project Recycle. Project ReCycle collects used bikes, fixes them up and provides them to those in need.     ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Ron Kiefel and George Hincapie together at the 2012 USA Pro Challenge will both be riding the Colorado passes this summer   ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Read the stories of guest bloggers from the 2012 Ride the Rockies Ride.

Colorado Cycling Event Ride Comparison - how long and how hard

• 2013 Ride the Rockies: 7 days riding, 513 miles, 20,399 ft elevation gain (avg 40ft+/mile but the most days) (registration closed Feb 2013)
• 2013 Colorado Rocky Mountain Bicycle Tour: 6 days riding, 469 miles, 29,400 ft elevation gain (avg 63ft+/mile) (registration open) 
• 2013 Copper Triangle: 1 day ride, 78 miles, 5981 ft elevation gain (avg 77ft+/mile) (open)
• 2013 Triple Bypass: 1 day riding, 120 miles, 10,000 ft elevation gain (avg 83ft+/mile) (Sat full, Sun open)
• 2013 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic: 1 day riding, 50 miles, 6,700 ft elevation gain (avg 134ft+/mile) (Sold Out)
• 2013 Death Tour Ride:  3 days riding, 232 miles, 16,500 ft elevation gain (avg 71ft+/mile) (Sold Out), The 3rd day of this ride is the Iron Horse Classic route.
• 2013 Double Triple Bypass:  2 days riding, 240 miles, 20,000 ft elevation gain (avg 83ft+/mile) (open)
• 2013 Bicycle Tour of Colorado:  6 days riding, 438/502 miles, 35,139ft elevation gain (avg 80ft+/mile) (open)   

I am signed up for the Death Ride Tour (300 riders) this year, which happens to overlap routes in Telluride with Ride the Rockies (2000 riders). The two event rides will share the road and (first 3) reststops heading south out of Telluride on June 9th. The Death Ride Tour will be riding Ride the Rockies' stage 1 and stage 2 in 1-day totaling 111 miles from Telluride to Durango. Ride the Rockies will branch off to Cortez to complete their Day 1 of 7. The Death Ride Tour organizer, Barry Sopinsky, also attended tonight's Ride the Rockies party. It takes a community here in Colorado to organize all these cyclists.

More event rides in Colorado listed at: 2013 Colorado Bike Events and Races - so many choices!

Photo Highlights from Stage 5

Favorite photos from the day in Breckenridge
Photos by Karen at Pedal Dancer® (click any image to enlarge)

Jens Voigt in orange (Most Aggressive Rider jersey)

® 

Jens Voigt    ©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Ron Kiefel and George Hincapie having a laugh before the stage start

©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Cadel

©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Startline 
Tejay 

©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Tommy Danielson and Basso waiting at the startline

©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Tyler Farrar and Jens Voigt

©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

©Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Fans keep asking me about my pins on my camera case, they are from the USPCC race in 2011. I was told they had ordered some for 2012, check at the USPCC Mobile Merchandise Trailers.

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Sunday in Durango

The day before the race began

The day as a fan in Durango started in the wee hours of the morning at the citizen's Pro Challenge Experience ride. Already they are talking about 'the History of the USA Pro Challenge' which sort of cracks me up since this is only the second year of the race and the first year they have offered what is called a cyclosportif in Europe; the chance for regular Joe's to ride part of a stage of the tour. How much history has been made so far? What is clear is that we are ready to make more of it.

Riders trickled in to collect their bibs and take their place under the start line.

Former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter was there to join in the ride.

Bill Ritter pinning on the bib number of a friend

Jeremy from Training Peaks was there

So was the Friel family - that is Dirk (L), Mom, and Joe (R), along with Mavic Pete, a mechanic for Mavic who is a common figure at these races.

These merchandise trailers are everywhere this year.

Riders took their place at the start line

Ron Kiefel (from team Seven-Eleven and Wheat Ridge Cyclery in Colorado) joined in the race.

Shawn Hunter (CEO of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge) and Ron had a chat shortly before the depart.

George Hincapie sounded the gun to officially start the race

And the race/ride was off ... riders poured across the start line calling out to George as they passed, "Thanks George!" "Thanks George!" "I love you George!" It was a fun way to kick-off this tour.

Meanwhile, the town was resting before it's big day began

Interviews were being conducted

George Hincapie

Stages were being constructed

And teams were out spinning their legs

I went for a great bike ride this morning, I rode north of Durango along the beautiful Hwy 250. Some of the participants from the citizen's ride were heading back into town, while packs of team riders were riding back and forth along the highway.

I had always wanted to get to a Tour early enough (or on a rest day, but this 1-week tour has no rest days) to be able to be out on my bike while the teams were on their rides - this was finally my day! It was thrilling, and I was so happy to be out riding my bike.

I saw Liquigas-Cannondale, Exergy, Russ-Velo, SpiderTech, and BMC. I looked up the road and saw two fast approaching red jerseys. Before I knew it Tejay and Taylor Phinney came screaming past me racing each other, laughing and dodging each other like fighter pilots in play. No one else was around, I cheered them as they sped by. Two more BMC riders followed in pursuit, after a pause Cadel and George rolled by in the final pack of four chatting calmly. After what I saw, I am putting my money on Tejay and Taylor for a stage win.

It was a beautiful bike ride today in Durango.

The Cycling Village Festival was going on up at the campus of Fort Lewis College, I stopped by in the afternoon.

The USA Pro Cycling Jerseys are for sale at the merchandise trailers, each stage has a different Stage-Jersey specific to the town. They are popular, and not sold-online, so get their early to buy yours. 

The Pearl Izumi booth is interesting, they create the daily classification jerseys for the overall, sprint, climber, best young rider, and most aggressive rider. Clark showed me the skinsuits (that size small sure is small) and the podium jerseys with the zippers on the back. Each day they add they team logo, they have a small portable press that they take to each stage finish area so they can be ready for the day's winners.

The clan in the Boyer Coffee booth were tons of fun. I enjoyed a nice iced coffee, free, and it came with laughs.

Would you believe this is the Executive Director of the Durango Chamber of Commerce? Oh, and that is George he is with. Everyone has caught cycling fever.

The tour begins tomorrow. I have a few words to say about tomorrow's stage after making the drive this evening from Durango to Telluride.

• Break away
• Spectacular scenery
• New pavement

Yes, they recently repaved the road from Lizard head Pass into Telluride and it is going to be a screaming fast decent. I can't wait. I am here in Telluride with some old and new friends and enjoyed a relaxed evening of stories and delicious food. We also shared a special bottle of wine I brought back from France from Chateau Navaille near Pau, one of the friend's family name (although he claims his homeland as Gaul). 

Ok, see you at the race....