Vail, CO – Current US Road Champion Timmy Duggan of Boulder, CO is scheduled to attend the September 28-30 Tour of Vail Cycling Weekend as a special guest of the event. A member of the Liquigas Cannondale Professional Cycling Team, Duggan won the 2012 US Professional Cycling Championship in Greenville, SC in a solo breakaway besting a chase group containing 2011 champion Matt Busche of Radio Shack Nissan. Duggan will participate in the Saturday Bicycling Challenge Ride – a non-competitive gran fondo event on the infamous ‘Copper Triangle' in support of his JustGoHarder Foundation - a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization creating scholarships that give kids an opportunity to get involved and find mentors in the unique and extraordinary sports of cycling and skiing. $5 of every entry will support the foundation.

The event is organized by Anthem Sports, organizers of the Stan's Notubes Great American Cycling Series and the Tour of the Battenkill in New York - the largest Pro/Am cycling race in the US.

Vail, Colorado - The Tour of Vail begins on Friday, September 28 with the Vail Time Trial. A 10 kilometer, winding course through the Town of Vail, the time trial is a prologue to competitive and non-competitve events on Saturday and Sunday. The time trial is open to amateur and professional riders.

Saturday's Bicycling Vail Challenge 100 kilometer gran fondo is an epic and scenic cycling tour of parts of the infamous 'Copper Triangle' that includes both the Freemont and Tennessee Pass. Chip timing, aid stations, and other amenities are included. Starting in Copper, passing through Leadville and returning to Vail, participants will compare climb and finish times for a chance to win Stan's Notubes wheelsets and other prizes. The ride finishes in downtown Vail Village.

Sunday includes the marquee events of the weekend - the Vail Criterium & USA CRITS Final. The course is reminiscent of the Coors Classic from the late 80's - a 1 kilometer flat circuit through the cobbled streets of Vail Village. The day's schedule includes races for amateurs, a kids race, and culminates with the USA CRITS Final for both men and women where the nation's best elite and professional cyclists will compete for more than $25,000 in cash and prizes.

According to officials at the ACA Colorado is experiencing so far higher racer participation than 2011. The numbers are not including new events recently added to the umbrella of ACA like collegiate and track.

- April and May were 10-20% higher per event than last year. same events, same venues. more racers.

- June and July were about the same as last year. Some better, some not nearly so high.