In our mind's eye the most epic American bicycle stage race has gone on every summer since Mo Siegel started the Red Zinger Bicycle Classic in 1975. The amazing imagery and romance of the mountains of Colorado combined with the toughness, daring and speed of road bike racing has become an absolute monument in the history of velo sport in the United States. Next August 22-28 will see the newest rendition of an old classic, the Quizno's Pro Challenge, announced by Lance Armstrong and Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, and even though it will be a first year event, this battle on two wheels has raged on in the imagination of American cyclists around the country summer after summer since the beginning.
No matter if one's heart was touched by the Red Zinger or the Coors Classic that followed, the setting, the mountains of Colorado, were always the back drop. Even if they came from the midwest or the east coast and The Hell of the West with a young Kevin Costner was all they knew of the real thing, riders around the country longed to ride in Colorado and to race up and down the high passes, just like Greg Lemond, Bernard Hinault and Davis Phinney. Even when the Coors Classic ventured to California and even on to Hawaii, the race yearned for it's home in Colorado.
Quoted earlier this week, Graham Watson, the veteran cycling photographer said,
- "I find the Colorado news more exciting than when TOC launched in '06, it's like USA cycling coming home to its birthplace..."-
Such are the memories of this race that they come dancing back periodically due to some random event... For me any ride or drive at, or near the Colorado National Monument has me thinking about the Tour of the Moon stage out of Grand Junction. Man that was awesome, such an epic course that provided amazing racing. Every time I drive into Boulder from Golden, I mean every single time, I realize that I'm on the Morgul Bismarck! And for sure, any time I see a guy riding in a full black beard, I think of the Russian from American Flyers. - YOUUU GO GET HIM, he says to Muzin every time.
This got me thinking of some possible stages and I thought I'd have a go, how about a nice look back as we go forward. This would be my ideal opening edition of the Quizno's Pro Challenge:
August 22: Tour of the Moon Road Race, Grand Junction
August 23: Aspen Circuit Race
August 24: Aspen to Copper Mountain Road Race
August 25: Vail Pass Time Trial
August 26: Vail Criterium
August 27: Morgul Bismarck Road Race, Boulder
August 28: Denver Cicuit Race
Looks AWESOME to me, I hope they do it!
How nostalgic, how joyous to have the race actually coming back for real. I mean the imagination is great, and it usually means that we're out riding, but to actually have it happen... well, THANKS QUIZNO'S.
Think I'll go get a nice toasted sammy to celebrate.
Wow, for some reason I just thought about Greg Lemond and Taco Bell.... Hhhmmmm, somebody's trying to tell me something.
Cheers to Quizno's, Lance Armstrong, Bill Ritter, The Colorado Board of Tourism, thanks a ton for getting this off the ground. Hope to see you all following the Challenge next August!
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