The final day of many stage races is often largely processional but that won’t be the case with the 2014 USA Pro Challenge, with the race organisers today announcing that the seventh stage will include the tough climb of Lookout Mountain.
The climb, which lies close to the finishing circuit in Downtown Denver, will provide opportunity for one last assault on the overall race leader, thus keeping the final result open at a time when it would usually be decided. The race should enjoy greater suspense as a result, and also provide fans with a superb location to see the riders in action on day seven.
The start and finish cities were announced on November 4th, save for the final day of racing. At the time the organisers said that they would allow the fans to vote on the route for stage seven, providing four options.
The fans duly voted on their preferred choice, which was unveiled today.
The route will begin in Boulder and pass through Golden before scaling Lookout Mountain, and then conclude with three finishing circuits in downtown Denver.
“The 2014 USA Pro Challenge is going to be the most exciting year yet,” said the race owner Rick Schaden. “Boulder, Golden and Denver have been such great hosts over the history of the race, so we decided to work them all into the final day of competition. These three iconic Colorado cycling locations are going to create one grand finale!”
The race has finished in Denver in each of the three previous editions and will maintain that tradition this time round, but the preceding kilometres will be much tougher because of the climb.
The race CEO Shawn Hunter said that the increased difficulty would be a plus for the race, and said that engaging with the fans was something that was important to the event.
“Cycling fans are so passionate and such an important part of the sport, so we decided to give them a voice in the route selection process,” he said. “We wanted to try something new this year and by incorporating fan feedback we have come up with what is going to be an incredible final day of racing.”
The 2014 USA Pro Challenge will begin on Monday August 18th with the Aspen and Snowmass Village circuit race. Day two takes the riders from Aspen to Mt. Crested Butte, while the first real mountaintop finish in the race’s three year history will follow on stage three, which runs from Gunnison to Monarch Mountain.
Stage four is a circuit race in Colorado Springs, stage five runs from Woodland Park to Breckenridge, and then the penultimate day will be an individual time trial in Vail.
The action will then include on the route unveiled today, Boulder to Denver and taking in one of the most well known climbs in the region.
More details of the stages will be unveiled in the spring. Tejay van Garderen won this year’s edition.
2014 USA Pro Challenge:
Stage 1: Monday, Aug. 18 – Aspen and Snowmass Village Circuit Race
Stage 2: Tuesday, Aug. 19 – Aspen to Mt. Crested Butte
Stage 3: Wednesday, Aug. 20 – Gunnison to Monarch Mountain (mountaintop finish)
Stage 4: Thursday, Aug. 21 – Colorado Springs Circuit Race
Stage 5: Friday, Aug. 22 – Woodland Park to Breckenridge
Stage 6: Saturday, Aug. 23 – Vail Individual Time Trial
Stage 7: Sunday, Aug. 24 – Boulder to Denver