2013 USA Pro Cycling Challenge

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