Quiznos Pro Challenge bike race
Submitted by David on
Update, Name Change: USA Pro Cycling Challenge
Details on DailyCamera and another from DailyCamera
Details on Velonews
Video Credit: Adam Meek (Pearson eCollege Cycling Team)
Lance and Ritter make big announcement Wednesday at capitol Lance's tweet on event
There has been alot of speculation about a Colorado stage race. Lance Armstrong has met with Gov. Ritter. Well it looks like things are coming together.
From Velonews
Colorado stage race to launch in 2011
By Brian Holcombe • Updated: Jul 30th 2010 1:59 PM EDT
After two years of speculation, a new eight-day Colorado stage race is set to roll out in August or September 2011.
According sources that spoke with VeloNews on the condition of anonymity, the event will debut next year as an eight-day UCI stage race, following a schedule similar to that of the now-defunct Tour of Missouri.
Lance Armstrong and representatives from Governor Bill Ritter’s office have worked together since early 2009 to bring a major stage race to the state. Medalist Sports, promoters of the Tours of California, Georgia and Missouri, are involved in the event as well, and according to sources, an official announcement on the event will come next week.
Despite studies showing positive economic impact from the event, the State of Missouri Tourism Board withdrew its title sponsorship of that state’s own UCI race earlier this year. Medalist pulled the plug on the Tour of Missouri in May, opening a slot in the calendar for a new event in 2011. With the Missouri race’s September time slot open, as well as a new, two-race ProTour series in Canada the same month, the late season, pre-world championships timeframe for the Colorado race is a feasible scenario.
Colorado and Maryland have been among the states rumored to be vying to replace the Tour of Missouri as home to the second major stage race in the U.S. behind the Tour of California. All signs this week point toward Colorado assuming that position.
Sources did not comment on the title sponsor for the race. Coors Brewing Company sponsored the last major race of this kind in Colorado, the Coors Classic, which disbanded after its tenth running in 1988. Speculation has surrounded Armstrong’s role in the new race and whether he would bring the title sponsor to Colorado.
Medalist representatives declined to be interviewed for this story, opting to withhold comment until the official announcement.
13 Comments
Find Sponsor First
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
They need to find and sign a Sponsor First. This would be the 4th "Pro" Stage Race in the last Decade to be put on the calendar in Colorado, only to be "Cancelled" because of a lack of a sponsor. It would cost in the $3 to $5 Million range for 8 day UCI SR in Colorado.
What about the 2011 NCR Stage Race in Ft. Collins? Is the Pro Crit for this year ready to go? NCR Crit $50K= Budget, SR $100K+.
Points: 0
No Tour of Colorado
Submitted by Andy Bohlmann (not verified) on
At my request Velo News has removed any reference to a Tour of Colorado.
I own the name and website.
Medalist Sports says VN quoted an unreliable source.
Andy Bohlmann
Points: 1
ToC
Submitted by Weston Harriett (not verified) on
yeah, they can't just take strong brand like the ToCo, and start bouncing it around like they are the folks behind the annual ToCo stage race
Points: 2
ToCo Stage Race
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
Really? The Tour of Colorado is just a series of races where points are awarded not a stage race. I dont think most people even know that it even exists.
I think it is a stretch to call it a "strong brand" but I do agree that whom ever is organizing this Colorado Stage race should not just start calling it the Tour of Colorado.
Points: 2
Does a series of races
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
Does a series of races really qualify as a "tour of colorado" or is the name just being held onto so it can be sold at a later date. Or maybe someday andy will have a race to go with the name?
Points: 0
Alright, so they should find
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
Alright, so they should find a different name. How about... the 'Tour de Colorado'?
Points: 1
D'uh
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
You should get your sarcasm meter recalibrated. The previous poster was not serious in saying that the 'Tour of Colorado' was a strong brand. Everyone except the 'owner' of the name realizes that.
Points: 2
toc
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
....Please do something with that phrase or let someone else do something with it , because right now it is useless the way you are using it. I hope its not copywrited cuz if it is, what a diservice
Points: 0
You know it's kind of
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
You know it's kind of surprising that you would say something like "what a diservice" without probably even knowing what Andy has done for cycling in Colorado over the past 20 years--who do you think has been talking to the state capitol for a number of years and trying to solicit major corporations to run an event? Patrick O'Grady's blog (http://maddogmedia.com/wordpress/?p=3551) had an interesting article about the ToC that talks a little about Andy. Don't get me wrong it's great that LA and the Medalist guys are interested and might make something happen but the end of the day Andy had the foresight to do a Tour of Colorado so maybe they should give him a call and come to an arrangement.
Points: 1
I don't mean...
Submitted by JP (not verified) on
...to be a wet blanket here, but how many times have we heard this, especially out of that guy from the Springs? Maybe if Lance and Ritter are behind it, there's a chance, but aren't both of those guys on their proverbial ways out anyway? I'll gladly volunteer if it helps, but my eyebrows raised about this much when I read that.
Points: 1
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