The USA Pro Challenge, one of America’s most coveted cycling events come’s to Summit County, Colorado. The Imagine That team went and checked out stage 4 and 5 of the USA Pro Challenge. Stage 4 consisted of a 203km or 126-mile route from Aspen to Breckenridge. Three difficult climbs, Hooiser Pass, Boreas Pass, and Moonstone Road were part of this challenge route. These passes are leg screaming step inclines that can make or break the rider’s races. Speed of up to 100 mph were reached on the descend on some of the passes. After the last climb on Moonstone Road, the local crowds await to cheer on the riders all the way to the finish line.
Stage 5 of the USA Pro Cycling involve an 8.5-mile time trial including the same Moonstone Road route as well as a decent down Boreas Pass where racers will push the speed limits in order to cap a quicker time. The racers have only one night of rest from the 126-mile trek until the time trial event. This event was also the first for women racing to compete on the same course as well for the same amount of money as the men and help future equal winnings in races.
The winners of stage 4 was Dennis Rohan from Australia of the BMC cycling team with a time of 5 hours and 10 minutes for 126 miles. The BMC team took the leading team position and stuck with that top spot for the majority of the event, eventually becoming the winning team.
Stage 5 winners was also Dennis Rohan of the BMC team competing the 8.5mile leg screaming time trial in a time of 18 minutes and 11 seconds. A truly impressive feat even for these elite athletes. The women started their portion of the race here in Breckenridge and Kristen Armstrong from team T16 took the 1st position with a time of 21 minutes and 24 seconds on the same route as the men.