2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge
Encyclopedia
The 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge was the inaugural running of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge stage race. It was held from August 22–28, and was rated as a 2.1
UCI race classifications
The Union Cycliste Internationale , the world's governing body in the sport of bicycle racing, classifies races according to a rating scale....

 event on the UCI America Tour
2010–2011 UCI America Tour
The 2010–2011 UCI America Tour was the seventh season for the UCI America Tour. Gregorio Ladino was the defending 2009–2010 UCI America Tour individual points champion...

. The race began with a short prologue time trial in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...

, wound its way through the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...

 at heights of up to 12000 feet (3,657.6 m), and finished in the streets of downtown Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...

.

Participating teams

Included in the provisional team rosters are 2011 Tour de France
2011 Tour de France
-Pre-race favourites:2010 winner Alberto Contador was suspended from cycling during a doping investigation from September 2010 to February 2011, during which time 2010 runner-up Andy Schleck was regarded as the favourite. When the suspension was lifted, Contador declared his desire to compete in...

 podium finishers Cadel Evans
Cadel Evans
Cadel Lee Evans is an Australian professional racing cyclist and winner of the 2011 Tour de France. Early in his career, Evans was a champion mountain biker, winning the World Cup in 1998 and 1999 and placing seventh in the men's cross-country mountain bike race at the 2000 Summer Olympics in...

, Andy Schleck
Andy Schleck
Andy Raymond Schleck is a Luxembourgish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . He is the younger brother of Fränk Schleck, who also rides for . Their father Johny Schleck rode the Tour de France and Vuelta a España between 1965 and 1974...

 and Fränk Schleck
Fränk Schleck
Fränk René Schleck is a Luxembourgish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . At the start of 2005, Schleck was joined by his younger brother Andy on , and they split the 2005 national championships between them, with Fränk winning the road race and Andy winning the time trial...

. The full provisional team list includes:
UCI ProTeams
UCI Professional Continental Teams
UCI Continental Teams

Prologue

August 22, 2011 — Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...

, 5.18 miles (8.3 km)


The opening time trial for the race begins in the Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods is a public park located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.-Genesis of the park:Entrance to the park is free according to the wish of Charles Elliott Perkins, whose children donated the land to the city of Colorado Springs in 1909....

 national monument and follows a short downhill course that finishes in downtown Colorado Springs.
Rider Team Time
1
2 + 2"
3 + 4"
4 + 5"
5 + 7"

Stage 1

August 23, 2011 — Salida
Salida, Colorado
The City of Salida is a Statutory City that is the county seat and most populous city of Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,504 at the U.S. Census 2000.-History:800px|thumb|left| Panoramic View of Salida, 1910...

 to Crested Butte
Crested Butte, Colorado
Crested Butte is a Home Rule Municipality in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. A former coal mining town now called "the last great Colorado ski town," Crested Butte is a destination for skiing, mountain biking, and a variety of other outdoor activities...

, 99.4 miles (160 km)


The first stage of the race has the riders ascending 11315 feet (3,448.8 m) over Monarch Pass
Monarch Pass
Monarch Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado in the United States.The pass is located on the continental divide at the southern end of the Sawatch Range along the border between Gunnison and Chaffee counties, approximately west of the town of Salida. The...

 and ending with a short mountaintop finish up to the resort municipality of Mount Crested Butte
Mount Crested Butte, Colorado
Mount Crested Butte is a Home Rule Municipality in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. Mount Crested Butte is the home of the Crested Butte Mountain Resort. The population was 801 at the 2010 census. ZIP code 81225 serves post office boxes for Mount Crested Butte and for neighboring Crested...

.
Rider Team Time
1
2 + 4"
3 + 7"
4 + 7"
5 + 7"

Stage 2

August 24, 2011 — Gunnison
Gunnison, Colorado
The historic City of Gunnison, a Home Rule Municipality, is the county seat and the most populous city of Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,854. It was named in honor of John W...

 to Aspen
Aspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...

, 131.1 miles (211 km)


The queen stage involves nearly 10000 feet (3,048 m) of climbing, bringing the riders over two of the highest passes in Colorado: 12126 feet (3,696 m) Cottonwood Pass
Cottonwood Pass
Cottonwood Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado, United States. It is located near the border of Gunnison and Chaffee counties in Colorado and is in the Sawatch Range...

, up to which the riders will climb a dirt road, and 12095 feet (3,686.6 m) Independence Pass
Independence Pass (Colorado)
Independence Pass, elevation , is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado in the United States.The pass crosses the ridge of the Sawatch Range between Aspen and Leadville, on the border between Pitkin and Lake counties, and is within the White River National Forest...

.
Rider Team Time
1
2 s.t.
3 s.t.
4 s.t.
5 s.t.

Stage 3

August 25, 2011 — Vail
Vail, Colorado
The Town of Vail is a Home Rule Municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,589 in 2005. The town was established and built as the base village to Vail Ski Resort, with which it was originally conceived...

, 10 miles (16.1 km)


Contrasting with the prologue time trial, stage 3 is a steep uphill individual test with 1783 feet (543.5 m) of climbing over only 10 miles (16.1 km). The route is the same as the one used in time trials of the Coors Classic
Coors Classic
The Coors International Bicycle Classic was a stage race sponsored by the Coors Brewing Company. Coors was the race's second sponsor, the first, Celestial Seasonings, named the race after its premium tea Red Zinger, which began in 1975...

 in the late 80s. The record for the course, 25:48, was set in the 2008 Teva Mountain Games by Ben Day
Benjamin Day (cyclist)
Benjamin John Day is an Australian professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI Continental team Pegasus Sports.- Major results :2002200320042005...

.
Rider Team Time
1
2 + 0"
3 + 4"
4 + 33"
5 + 40"

Stage 4

August 26, 2011 — Avon
Avon, Colorado
Avon is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous town in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,561 at the 2000 census. Avon is the gateway to the Beaver Creek Resort which lies about two miles south of the town. It was the previous site of Vail Resorts before the...

 to Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
The city of Steamboat Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Routt County, Colorado, United States. The city is also known as "Steamboat," "The Boat," or "Ski Town USA". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,088.The city is an...

, 82.8 miles (133.3 km)


This stage has no significant climbs or descents, and should be very fast.
Rider Team Time
1
2 s.t.
3 s.t.
4 s.t.
5 s.t.

Stage 5

August 27, 2011 — Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
The city of Steamboat Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Routt County, Colorado, United States. The city is also known as "Steamboat," "The Boat," or "Ski Town USA". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,088.The city is an...

 to Breckenridge
Breckenridge, Colorado
Established in 1859, the historic town of Breckenridge is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Summit County, Colorado, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the town had a population of 4,540. The town also has many part-time residents, as many people have vacation homes in the area...

, 105.2 miles (169.3 km)


Immediately after leaving Steamboat Springs, the riders will ascend Rabbit Ears Pass
Rabbit Ears Pass
Rabbit Ears Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States.The pass straddles the continental divide at the southern end of the Park Range along the boundary between Grand and Jackson counties...

, a steep pass with about 15 miles (24.1 km) of climbing and a false summit. After the descent, it's a long slow climb to some of Colorado's most popular ski resorts, culminating in a downhill finish into Breckenridge.
Rider Team Time
1
2 s.t.
3 s.t.
4 s.t.
5 s.t.

Stage 6

August 28, 2011 — Golden
Golden, Colorado
The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...

 to Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...

, 73.79 miles (118.8 km)


The final stage of the race begins under the "Howdy Folks!" sign on Golden's Main Street, as featured in the film American Flyers
American Flyers
American Flyers is a 1985 film starring Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong, Alexandra Paul and Janice Rule about bicycle racing....

. Riders will climb Lookout Mountain
Lookout Mountain (Colorado)
Lookout Mountain is one of the larger foothills which overlooks Golden, Colorado. The Denver metropolitan area can be seen clearly from the mountain. It is known for its natural scenery and has played a major role in area recreation, transportation, water supply and telecommunications...

, a short but steep climb in the foothills near Golden, and then descend down into Denver. Once in the city, they will make six laps through downtown Denver, finally finishing on Broadway in front of the state capital building. This final day will be broadcast live on NBC.
Rider Team Time
1
2 s.t.
3 s.t.
4 s.t.
5 + 2"

Stages

Stage results
Stage Date Route Terrain Length Winner
P 22 August Colorado Springs
Individual time trial
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...

 
8.34 km (5.2 mi)
1 23 August Salida
Salida, Colorado
The City of Salida is a Statutory City that is the county seat and most populous city of Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,504 at the U.S. Census 2000.-History:800px|thumb|left| Panoramic View of Salida, 1910...

 - Crested Butte
Crested Butte, Colorado
Crested Butte is a Home Rule Municipality in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. A former coal mining town now called "the last great Colorado ski town," Crested Butte is a destination for skiing, mountain biking, and a variety of other outdoor activities...

 
Mountain stage
160 km (99.4 mi)
2 24 August Gunnison
Gunnison, Colorado
The historic City of Gunnison, a Home Rule Municipality, is the county seat and the most populous city of Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,854. It was named in honor of John W...

 – Aspen
Aspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...

Mountain stage
211 km (131.1 mi)
3 25 August Vail
Vail, Colorado
The Town of Vail is a Home Rule Municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,589 in 2005. The town was established and built as the base village to Vail Ski Resort, with which it was originally conceived...

 
Individual time trial
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...

 
16 km (9.9 mi)
4 26 August Avon
Avon, Colorado
Avon is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous town in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,561 at the 2000 census. Avon is the gateway to the Beaver Creek Resort which lies about two miles south of the town. It was the previous site of Vail Resorts before the...

 – Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
The city of Steamboat Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Routt County, Colorado, United States. The city is also known as "Steamboat," "The Boat," or "Ski Town USA". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,088.The city is an...

 
Medium mountain stage
133 km (82.6 mi)
5 27 August Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
The city of Steamboat Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Routt County, Colorado, United States. The city is also known as "Steamboat," "The Boat," or "Ski Town USA". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,088.The city is an...

 – Breckenridge
Breckenridge, Colorado
Established in 1859, the historic town of Breckenridge is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Summit County, Colorado, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the town had a population of 4,540. The town also has many part-time residents, as many people have vacation homes in the area...

 
Mountain stage
169 km (105 mi)
6 28 August Golden
Golden, Colorado
The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...

 – Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...

 
Medium mountain stage
118.8 km (73.8 mi)

Classification leadership

Stage Winner General classification
General Classification
The general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...


Sprints classification
Points classification
The points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...


Mountains classification
Young rider classification
Young rider classification
Young rider classification is a cycling jersey competition in multi-day stage race events, such as the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and many others, which awards the current leader by overall time for riders below the age of twenty-five years old depending on the race rules...


Most Aggressive
Combativity award
The combativity award, , is a prize given in the Tour de France. It favours constant attackers and since 1981 the winner of the award has not won the whole Tour.- History :...


Team classification
Team classification
The team classification is a prize given in the Tour de France to the best team in the race. It has been awarded since 1930, and the calculation has changed throughout the years.-Calculation:...

P Patrick Gretsch
Patrick Gretsch
Patrick Gretsch is a professional cyclist, who rides for the UCI ProTeam, .-Palmarès:2008* Thüringen Rundfahrt** 1st, Stage 5** 1st, Overall* 2nd, World Championships U23 I.T.T.2009* 3rd, World Championships U23 I.T.T.* 4th, Overall Thüringen Rundfahrt...

Patrick Gretsch
Patrick Gretsch
Patrick Gretsch is a professional cyclist, who rides for the UCI ProTeam, .-Palmarès:2008* Thüringen Rundfahrt** 1st, Stage 5** 1st, Overall* 2nd, World Championships U23 I.T.T.2009* 3rd, World Championships U23 I.T.T.* 4th, Overall Thüringen Rundfahrt...

no award no award Tejay van Garderen
Tejay van Garderen
Tejay van Garderen is an American professional cyclist for . He lives in Lucca, Tuscany, during the season.-Early life:...

Danny Pate
Danny Pate
Danny Pate is a professional bicycle racer who currently rides for and for 2012 will join . He was born on 23 March 1979 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is experienced and accomplished in road, cyclo-cross and mountain bike racing....

1 Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a...

Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a...

E. Beltran Suarez Bradley White
2 George Hincapie
George Hincapie
George Hincapié Garcés is an American professional road bicycle racer currently riding for UCI ProTeam . Hincapie resides in Greenville, South Carolina...

Walter Pedraza
Walter Pedraza
Walter Fernando Pedraza Morales is a male professional road racing cyclist from Colombia.-Career:20002001...

André Steensen
André Steensen
André Steensen is a Danish professional racing cyclist on UCI ProTeam .- External links :...

3 Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a...

Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a...

4 Elia Viviani
Elia Viviani
Elia Viviani is an Italian cyclist, who rides for the Italian team, .-Palmarès:*2010** Stage 7, Vuelta a Cuba** Stage 7, Tour of Turkey** 1st, Memorial Marco Pantani** 1st, Binche–Tournai–Binche*2011** Prologue, Tour of Slovenia...

Elia Viviani
Elia Viviani
Elia Viviani is an Italian cyclist, who rides for the Italian team, .-Palmarès:*2010** Stage 7, Vuelta a Cuba** Stage 7, Tour of Turkey** 1st, Memorial Marco Pantani** 1st, Binche–Tournai–Binche*2011** Prologue, Tour of Slovenia...

Vladimir Efimkin
Vladimir Efimkin
Vladimir Alexandrovich Efimkin is a Russian professional road bicycle racer, who as of 2011 rides along his twin brother Alexander Efimkin on...

5 Elia Viviani
Elia Viviani
Elia Viviani is an Italian cyclist, who rides for the Italian team, .-Palmarès:*2010** Stage 7, Vuelta a Cuba** Stage 7, Tour of Turkey** 1st, Memorial Marco Pantani** 1st, Binche–Tournai–Binche*2011** Prologue, Tour of Slovenia...

Andy Schleck
Andy Schleck
Andy Raymond Schleck is a Luxembourgish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . He is the younger brother of Fränk Schleck, who also rides for . Their father Johny Schleck rode the Tour de France and Vuelta a España between 1965 and 1974...

6 Daniel Oss
Daniel Oss
Daniel Oss is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently racing with Italian cycling team on the UCI ProTour.-Biography:...

Rafael Montiel
Rafael Montiel
Rafael Anibal Montiel Cuéllar is a male professional road cyclist from Colombia.-Career:20052006...

Timmy Duggan
Timmy Duggan
Timothy "Timmy" Duggan is an American road bicycle racer who rides for in the UCI ProTour. He turned professional in 2005. In 2006 he co-founded the Just Go Harder Foundation with fellow cyclist Ian MacGregor....

Final Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a...

Elia Viviani
Elia Viviani
Elia Viviani is an Italian cyclist, who rides for the Italian team, .-Palmarès:*2010** Stage 7, Vuelta a Cuba** Stage 7, Tour of Turkey** 1st, Memorial Marco Pantani** 1st, Binche–Tournai–Binche*2011** Prologue, Tour of Slovenia...

Rafael Montiel
Rafael Montiel
Rafael Anibal Montiel Cuéllar is a male professional road cyclist from Colombia.-Career:20052006...

Tejay van Garderen
Tejay van Garderen
Tejay van Garderen is an American professional cyclist for . He lives in Lucca, Tuscany, during the season.-Early life:...

Timmy Duggan
Timmy Duggan
Timothy "Timmy" Duggan is an American road bicycle racer who rides for in the UCI ProTour. He turned professional in 2005. In 2006 he co-founded the Just Go Harder Foundation with fellow cyclist Ian MacGregor....


General classification

Rider Team Time
1
2 + 11"
3 + 17"
4 + 21"
5 + 53"
6 + 1' 14"
7 + 1' 18"
8 + 1' 42"
9 + 1' 49"
10 + 1' 50"
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