The inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge was the most
demanding bike race ever held on American soil, with racers experiencing
breathless altitudes, day after day.
The race brought the high speeds, danger and adrenaline of
professional cycling to elevations more than two miles high in some of the most
picturesque terrain in the world—the Colorado Rocky Mountains. With altitudes
and downhill peaks double what riders usually endure, the Colorado Rocky
Mountains presented a course that was as much a part of the race as the riders
themselves.
Nearly 1 million spectators viewed this race from the
roadsides along the route while 161 countries and territories broadcasted the
race on television, including NBC and Versus. The USA Pro Cycling Challenge was
one of the largest cycling events in United States history. Referred to as
“America’s Race,” the USA Pro Challenge will take place August 19-25, 2013 and
travel through Vail.
The 2013 USA Pro Challenge will feature 16 of the world’s
top professional cycling teams, including UCI No. 1-ranked Sky Procycling,
which includes 2012 Tour de France overall winner Bradley Wiggins and second
place finisher Chris Froome(2013 Tour de France winner). Comprised of UCI Pro,
Pro Continental and Continental teams, the race will include some of the top talent
in the sport. Taking riders on a heart-pounding journey through the Colorado
Rockies, the seven-day stage race will travel nearly 600 miles.
“After featuring an impressive lineup of teams and riders
for the first two editions of the USA Pro Challenge, the 2013 race will host
the most competitive field yet,” said Shawn Hunter, CEO of the Pro Challenge.
“Interest from teams continues to grow year after year, making the selection of
these 16 even more difficult, but we looked at the stats and listened to the
fans, and have put together a field that is going to keep things interesting
down to the last minute of racing in Denver.”
"We're really looking forward to the USA Pro
Challenge,” said Carsten Jeppesen, head of technical operations for Sky
Procycling. “It's a great race that has everything. With climbing, sprints and a time trial, as
well as good crowds, it's a mini-Tour – the kind of race we really like. We'll
certainly bring a strong team and there are some strong young American riders
in Joe (Dombrowski) and Ian (Boswell) who would love to be there in front of
their home crowd. It's only our second race in the U.S. and we aim to put on a
good show."
Following is the complete list of teams that will be
competing in the 2013 USA Pro Challenge:
UCI ProTeams
BMC Racing Team (USA) @BMCProTeam
Cannondale Pro
Cycling (ITA) @cannondalePro
RadioShack Leopard
Trek (LUX) @RSLT
Sky Procycling
(GBR) @TeamSky
Team Argos-Shimano
(NED) @1t4i
Team Garmin-Sharp
(USA) @Ride_Argyle
Team Saxo-Tinkoff
(DEN) @TeamSaxoTinkoff
UCI Professional Continental Teams
Champion System
Pro Cycling Team (CHN) @TeamChampionSys
UnitedHealthcare
Pro Cycling Team (USA) @UHCprocycling
Team Novo Nordisk
(USA) @TeamNovoNordisk
COLOMBIA (COL)
@Col_Coldeportes
UCI Continental Teams
Bissell Pro
Cycling (USA) @BissellCycling
Bontrager Cycling
Team (USA) @BontragerCT
Optum Presented by
Kelly Benefit Strategies (USA) @OPTUMpbKBS
Jelly Belly p/b
Kenda (USA) @JellyBellyTeam
Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home (USA) @TeamJamisHB