USA Pro Cycling Challenge - Final Stage
Submitted by David on
303Cycling joined a crowd estimated to be over 150,000 in downtown Denver yesterday to witness the final stage of the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Even before the cyclists rolled into town, the enthusiasm was strong despite high temperatures and the Colorado sun. Cycling celebrities were on hand such as commentators Phil and Paul, our own Dave Toll, Davis Phinney and Tyler Hamilton to name a few. The crowds made it important to pick a spot early as spectators some with homemade signs for their favorite riders lined up early. We parked it close to the finish line on Broadway and got ready to watch as the best in the world would ride by six times on the way to determining the winner.
Cheers went up even as the cars rolled through in anticipation of the lead group of four starting the first lap which included former Best Young Rider of the Tour de France in 2001, Oscar Sevilla. With two minutes plus over the peloton it was unlikely the break would succeed but you would not have known that from the encouragement of the crowd. Watching the peloton pass by next, you knew you were at a world class race as over 100 riders took a 90 degree turn onto Colfax at 30 mph. The decision hadn't been made yet to catch the lead group and it was hard to believe speeds were about to increase even further. Lap three the real chase had begun. The power created by the peloton is almost indescribable and you could literally feel the speed as it passed and created the only breeze felt that day. It's one thing to see it on television, it's quite another to be within inches of these riders.
The final sprint proved very exciting as Best Young Rider jersey wearer, 3rd in the GC, Teejay Vangarderen made a bold attempt to move further up on the podium. Ultimately Liquigas' Daniel Oss and Elia Viviani went one two for the stage. Levi Leipheimer was the overall GC winner and five Americans rounding out the top five.
As the crowd was breaking up, the talk started about next years race. Rumors circulated that Andy Schleck has already said he would like to come back. And why wouldn't he? As the spectator next to me said, "I can't believe I was riding down Vail pass two days ago, hiked a 14'er yesterday and am watching a world class stage race today." Only in Colorado. Let's hope this race will continue for years to come.
Top 5 Stage 6
1. Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
2. Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
3. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Team Exergy
4. Daniel Summerhill (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo
5. Frank Kevin Pipp (USA) Bissell Cycling
Top 5 GC
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack 20:00:24
2. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:00:11
3. Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-Highroad 0:00:17
4. Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:00:21
5. George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:00:53
11 Comments
Another thing I noticed
Submitted by Mike (not verified) on
Another thing I noticed watching on Indy pass, the pelaton was completely silent. "Suffer in silence" I guess, but on top of that. The bikes make zero noise. Those mechanics are amazing, no derailleur sounds, no chain noise, creaks, etc. All you hear is the cheers and woohoos from the fans.
Points: 1
That kid was not on a
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
That kid was not on a collision course with the lady. She saw him coming, took a small step out and then took another step to push him, then she took a big step back to her original position.
If that car was closer it would have driven right over the kid.
Horrible.
Points: 2
That's what it looked like
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
That's what it looked like to me. Disappointed that more people around did not step up and defend the kid.
Points: 2
On a sad note, need to identify woman to pushed kid onto cars
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
video from yesterday on lookout. If someone can identify the woman who, on minute 5:27, trips and pushes a kid onto the oncoming biker and cars, please provide information. It will be confidential, of course. This has become a legal matter. Many thanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdCH7IyZoSM
Points: 1
a legal matter?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
Really? Somebody gonna sue that kid's parents for raising an idiot?
Points: 1
From the looks of it, the
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
From the looks of it, the kid was just about to run into the woman. She pushed him down, but only to keep from being knocked down. The kid was on a collision course with her.
Points: 0
Watching in slow motion that
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
Watching in slow motion that is what I see. Kid was about to run into woman who had just stepped out and probably did not see him coming until the last second. She may have pushed him some (can't tell for sure) as a natural reaction to about to be plowed into. And why would a kid be running out there in the midst of the melee??? I have 3 kids and made sure to hold them back from getting hit by a bike, moto, or car out there. And this kid is out there running...
Points: 0
what's sad?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
if the parent/guardian of the kid were present (or perhaps even running with the kid on the road) the sad part is that the parents are allowing their kids to run with the bike race. Just cause they do it on TV doesn't mean it's a good idea. Ridiculous.
Points: 0
observation
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
I was watching the coverage of the final climb of the Vuelta stage today, to the top of the Angliru. I noticed two things: 1) pretty big crowds, with only a few people running alongside the racers. Mostly cheering as they went by. 2) Not a single "hey, look at me" monkey in a costume.
Wow, I thought it was the act of dressing up like a buffoon that distinguished the true fans from the wannabes??
Points: 1
you are right
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
you are right, the wannabes dress up like buffoons and the real fans watch the race!
Points: 1
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