The inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge (UPCC) now belongs to history (sniffle, sniffle). Here are some ideas for fans just falling in love with the sport to consider as we all look forward to the 2012 UPCC.
Independence Pass ascent view from 1K to go above (Mary Topping)
Are there any great places to watch other than a start, finish, or on a mountain pass?
Andy fans risk all to show their love; this just below summit of Independence Pass (Mary Topping)
The climbs are one of my favorite places to watch a bike race. A special community atmosphere develops as people settle in and perhaps because of no Twitter feed need someone to talk to. Maybe it’s a special breed of spectator on the climbs, those willing to travel over smaller roads by car or bicycle or motorbike and rise extra early to arrive in plenty of time for a select spot on a switchback or above the road. With all this time on their hands they have the opportunity to exercise their creativity in designing sources of encouragement for their favorite riders (click on photo to see “Andy” engraved in snow).
UPCC Stage 6 corner of 19th and Washington in Golden (Mary Topping)
This year I found a new favorite place to watch a bike race – the inside corner of a turn at the crest of a hill. I stood on the northeast corner of 19th and Washington in Golden for my third viewing position of the sixth and final UPCC stage. The riders flew at me as they cut the corner, inches away. It was one of the most thrilling viewing locations I’ve ever experienced.
How can I find out what’s going on in the race if I’m on the race course and not in view of a Jumbotron?
Add a good Twitter feed to your phone or other device. The official race tweeter, @USAProChallenge is adequate though marketing-focused; other pro-cycling expert accounts such as @podium_live often provide more knowledgeable and accurate information about the riders and race action. Twitter is only as good as your carrier and it’s bandwidth; this year most did not get a signal on Monarch Pass or Independence Pass. Some obtained a signal on Rabbit Ears. One Twitter friend lost coverage on the last day in downtown Denver; overload occurred in more than one location during the race.
How can I see more of the riders?
Two suggestions.
Leopards Watering and Feeding in Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, pre-UPCC Prologue Recon (Mary Topping)
If a prologue starts the UPCC next year, visit the prologue course in late morning or early afternoon the day before the prologue. At least half of the teams rode the prologue course as I pedaled over it on August 21st this year. George Hincapie, Cadel Evans, all of the United Healthcare team, and others rode within one or two lanes from me. Observing the two Colombian teams crest a hill riding two-abreast in a tight group left me speechless. It’s good exercise too. If I heard someone speeding up behind me on one of the hills I unconsciously sped up – until I was too out of breath to continue.
Before watching a finish find the team parking location. Follow the course after it ends; the team parking will be relatively close and identified by the team buses, campers, and cars with a placard that says “team” in the windshield. Run to team parking after the finish and watch the riders roll up to their vehicles and dismount. One of the most amazing images of the race for me was observing Peter Stetina after he clicked out of the pedals and walked away from his bike at the end of stage 5. His legs wobbled. Anyone who saw Peter’s gait that afternoon would realize that the UPCC was hard for the guys who really raced.
Following the race means I can’t see as much of the TV or Tracker coverage as I’d like. How do I find out what happened during the race?
Many pro-cycling websites produce excellent summaries of how the raced progressed, such as who battled to get into early breaks, which teams rode at the front, who experienced mechanical problems, which riders rode strong or struggled, and more. I often rely on cyclingnews.com’s “stage reports,” such as this one for stage 6. Their daily report lists stage placings and standings in general, jersey, and best team classifications after the summary.
The pro-cycling race bug bit real hard during the UPCC. How do I keep feeding it until next year?
To fill the time before you watch another race, read up on the sport: learn about other races, both in and outside of the U.S.; discover why tactics matter so much and it’s not always the strongest rider who wins. A good way to learn is to watch race coverage on TV from Universal Sports or Versus and pay attention to the commentary. Many pro-cyclists, team directors, and coaches have written books about bike racing. In 1984 Edward Borysewicz, bike racing coach to U.S. Olympic medalists, wrote Bicycle Road Racing: The Complete Program for Training and Competition. Bob Roll’s books delight for his funny anecdotes; they also explain many elements of pro-cycling.
Colombian Riders Bios by Team, all Colombian riders in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge 2011
By Luis Barbosa (@Luisenciclismo), a writer and photographer for nuestrociclismo.com (with some minor English language corrections by Mary Topping)
August, 2011
Andres Miguel Diaz (25)
Born in Cartago, Valle del Cauca
He won many events in track and road, in Colombia he won the national point’s road in track. In 2005 Andres took 2th place in the Monjuich Trophy in Spain. In this season he had many good overall results in the American calendar. He is an all-terrain rider.
Carlos Alzate (28)
Born in Tulua, Valle del Cauca
Much expertise in the track, he has a national champion championship in the individual pursuit and the national record in the event. Big sprinter and time trial he has been for 4 years a member of the Colombian National Track Team.
(Luis did not include two Exergy members with some Colombian roots, Freddie Rodriguez and Sebastian Salas. George Hincapie could be added to the list too.)
Gobernacion Indeportes Antioquia
Sergio Luis Henao (23)
Born in Rionegro, Antioquia
The new big talent of Colombian cycling, he won the Tour of Colombia in 2010 at only 22 years-old. In his career he has stood on many podiums, the most important in Europe the World Cup Under 23 in Portugal and the Cinturon de Majorca in Spain. In the last Tour of Utah he won the prologue and the last stage, wore the yellow jersey for three days and finished in 2th place in the overall. For the next two seasons he will ride for Sky ProCycling.
Oscar Sevilla (34)
Born in Ossa de Montiel, Spain
The “baby face” has stood on many podiums in his career, including with the white jersey in the Tour de France in 2001, and at the Vuelta a España. In the last 5 years he rode in America first with Rock Racing team and in the last 3 years with Gobernacion, where he won many Colombian races. He finished fourth overall in the 2011 Tour of Utah. (MT note: Oscar is Spanish. 2008 and 2009 with Rock Racing.)
Janier Acevedo (25)
Born in Caramanta, Antioquia
A big climber he has the talent like worker to his “capos” but he can take responsibility in a leader’s role in some races. The most important victory in his career is the overall in the Tour of Costa Rica in 2009. In the last Tour of Utah he won the 4th stage, the Salt Lake City circuit.
Alejandro Ramirez (28)
Born in La Ceja, Antioquia
He won the most important Under 23 race in Colombia in 2005, and had a place on the Colombian esPasion Team. In this last year has been a very important worker in all-terrain; his work helped bring many victories to his team leaders.
Rafael Montiel (29)
Born in El Bagre, Antioquia
Riding as coworker in this last year, has shown his real talent and won some stages on the Colombian calendar. His most important victory is a 2th place in Tour of Guatemala and a stage win in the Tour of Colombia in 2006.
Carlos Ospina (26)
Born in Nechi, Antioquia
In 2010 won the time trial national championships. He’s an all-terrain rider, and combined the track with the road events. In the team he functions like a worker in the flat terrain and when has opportunities will go in the breakaways.
Oscar Alvarez (30)
Born in Medellín, Antioquia
In his 13 year career on the bike, he has done the most important work in the team as a “coworker,” a talent giving his better effort to the leaders and show a silent job to the great champion go to the podium. In 2009 he won the Colombian national championship on the road.
Cristian Montoya (22)
Born in San Vicente, Antioquia
The only under 23 on the Colombian Team, he won the Under 23 in the 2009 Tour of Colombia. He is a good climber. In the 2011 Tour of Utah he took the best young jersey in the last stage. He comes to Colorado to learn more.
Giovanni Baez (29)
Born in Santa Rosa de Viterbo, Boyaca
A great climber, in 2008 he won the Tour of Colombia and in 2010 the overall at the Tour of Guatemala. This year in Spain he won a stage of the Vuelta a la Comunidad de Madrid, and has a good talent for stage races.
Juan Pablo Suarez (26)
Born in Medellin, Antioquia
All –terrain rider, in the last two seasons he won different international events such as taking 2th place in the overall of Tour of Guatemala and the overall of the Vuelta de Norte de Santander. Three weeks ago he won the 2011 Tour of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, where his team finished in the top 4 places.
Walter Pedraza (29)
Born in Bogota
Pro since 2006 with the Selleitalia Team, a good all-terrain rider, in 2006 he won the National Championship. In the last 4 seasons he rode for Europeans teams, and won some stages in France and Greece. This year he won the 1th stage of the Tour of Colombia and finished 7th place in the overall.
Stiver Ortiz (31)
Born in Medellin, Antioquia
A coworker in the last two seasons he won the Volta do Santa Catarina in Brazil and the Vuelta a Chiriqui in Panama. In Colombia he placed first overall in the Clasica de Girardot 3 weeks ago.
Rafael Infantino (27)
Born in Dominican Republic
His cycling career stared in Antioquia. He is an all-terrain rider with 4 seasons in Italian amateur teams, and then with pro-teams Amica Chips. In the last 2 seasons he won some stages in local Colombian races.
Carlos “Fredy” Piamonte (29)
Born in Aquitania, Boyaca
A great climber born at altitude 3000 meters above sea level. In his career he has overall win(s) in the Under 23 Category. In 2009 he won the Clasica de Girardot, and in 2010 won the Vuelta a Chiriqui in Panama. He took 7th place in this year’s the Vuelta a RepublicaDominicana.
Eduard Beltrán (21)
Born in Tunja, Boyaca
A climber, in the last season he has grown up in the European races. In 2010 he placed 2th overall at the Baby Giro in Italy, and 3 weeks ago took 3th place overall in the Vuelta a Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Several journalists caught up with Tom Peterson after stage 5 finished to talk to him about the break-away he rode in for most of the day with Andy Schleck, Ivan Basso, and Laurens Ten Dam. Here’s what he had to say as he took a breather on the steps of the Garmin-Cervélo bus.
Tom Peterson, Garmin-Cervélo, after UPCC stage 5
On Andy’s attack on Swan Mountain:
“Apparently Andy had other ideas, and when he went I thought: let’s see who else is going to go, is it just going to be just Andy? Ten Dam tapped me and said ‘Come on, we gotta work together,’ and then I was like oh, just stay on his wheel and get over and we’ll chase him down after that. I wasn’t really going that great on the final.”
You did a lot of work on the front during the race; how much did that take out of you in the last 5K?
“Yeah I definitely should have taken it a little easier. We wanted to put pressure on RadioShack and so we wanted the break to get out there. The Colombian guy dropped off. No one wanted him in there. I wanted him in there, to put pressure on RadioShack, but everyone else in the break-away didn’t want him in there and so we ended up just attacking and dropping him — I don’t know what happened exactly. I think Basso told him to go back.”
Are the Colombians doing less than you guys hoped they would in this race overall?
“Yeah, I kind of thought they’d be more aggressive, I don’t know. Yeah if they had been attacking on the first climb it would have caused a lot of problems for RadioShack. They didn’t do anything and I’m not sure they could have.”
Let’s look at the types of finishes Viviani has won thus far in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.
- Stage 4, a 2 mile straight run to the finish, slightly downhill
- Stage 5, finish about 0.5 miles after a left turn, slightly downhill
And let’s look at the characteristics of the stage 6 finish in Denver. The stage ends with six circuits; each circuit covers about 1.8 miles. The peloton makes a square in the part of the circuit with the finish line. The finish line is 0.1 miles from a right turn. There is about a 90 foot drop in elevation about 400 meters from the line.
The circuit nature of the final miles and finish favors a continental team sprinter who has raced many crits. The list includes:
- Robert Forster (UnitedHealthcare)
- Carlos Alzate (Exergy)
- Frank Pipp (Bissell)
Ken Hanson of Jelly Belly did not start the race.
Jaime Castaneda (EPM) sprinted for second place in stage 5 and sixth in stage 4. I’m not sure if crits are common in Colombia, or how good Viviani is with a turn 0.1 miles from the finish. This one has me a bit more in the dark than the previous stages.
Here is the ProVéloPassion stage 6 podium prediction:
- Robert Forster (UNH)
- Jaime Castaneda (EPM)
- Carlos Alzate (XRG)
The Lookout Mountain portion of today’s stage is going to be insane.
Top of Swan Mountain, UPCC Stage 5
Here are a couple of photos from a friend who watched from Rabbit Ear’s Pass yesterday. Thongs could be all over Lookout — it’s going to be hot, in the 90’s (F). The rocks radiate the heat and there’s little shade. Get out there and have a great time…without knocking over Chris Baldwin.
No-snow skier on Rabbit Ears Pass, UPCC stage 5 (D.J. Molny)
Green thong on Rabbit Ears Pass - expect these on Lookout (D.J. Molny)
UPCC stage 5 profile
Stage 5 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge is an interesting one to call on the morning of the stage. Knowing which team wears the leader’s jersey and how far behind on GC the next few highest placed riders are informs what the teams’ tactics may be. So, this should be easier than the earlier stage predictions, right? Hmmm…
Here are the elements in play:
- Christian Vande Velde, now in second place on GC, is eleven seconds behind Levi, the leader. Christian’s teammate Tom Danielson sits in fourth on GC twenty-one seconds back. Tejan Van Garderen owns third place with a seventeen second deficit.
- After the Vail TT finished, Jonathan Vaughters paced back and forth in front of the Garmin team bus. “If we play it perfectly,” he said, we can win. Levi won’t know who we are behind until the last minute. We have a lot of options to play.”
- Levi Leipheimer, speaking about stage 5: “I think there is a lot of chance for the other riders and competitors to attack and put us under pressure and I’m not going to assume otherwise. Tomorrow is a big obstacle on the way to Denver and we just have to take it day by day.”
- Elia Viviani is a good sprinter on the uphill and Liquigas will work for him. In yesterday’s press conference he said: “Tomorrow is a good stage for us because the last kilometer is in the climb and for me it is good for the last stage.”
- Just two days remain for the teams that have not won a stage or a jersey to grab one of these prizes. While the Colombians have the mountains jersey, they haven’t won a stage yet. The finish in Denver will be a sprinter’s finish so today is their last chance, as well as the last chance for teams without good sprinters on the flat, for a stage win.
- From VeloNews.com’s Brian Holcombe: “If he handles the altitude well after a weeklong camp with his team near the stage 6 climb of Lookout Mountain, in Evergreen, Ken Hanson will be a rider to watch in the finishes in Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge and Denver.” Unfortunately, Ken Hanson of Jelly Belly did not start — further evidence of the difficulty of making predictions in advance of the race.
- Our consistently willing to predict Twitter colleague, @Biff Bruise David Napoli, is counting on a breakaway.
Swan Mountain Rd in Winter (Summit County Voice)
With the climb up Lookout Mountain in the final stage 6 so far from the finish, stage 5 is the last chance for someone to move up on GC. I expect Garmin and HTC to be aggressive on Swan Mountain, and they will have to attack multiple times on the earlier climbs to weaken RadioShack’s support for Levi and isolate Levi on Swan Mountain. This should make this stage very fast. The descent off Swan Mountain is relatively short, with just one or two sharp turns.
Given the limited opportunities remaining for prizes and the stage’s uphill profile with a grade of about 1.5% in the last five miles, I expect a rider from the break-away to win. The grade is relatively shallow but could be a challenge after a really hard pace up Swan Mountain which tops out about eight miles from the finish. The GC men will be charging so hard they are likely to finish not far behind the winner and they will be looking for time bonuses at the finish. Tejay should be near the front as he has shown good sprinting ability. The descent off Swan Mountain probably isn’t a place where he can gain a lot of time.
Guys we might see in the break: Jens Voigt, Chris Jones, Chad Beyer, Daniel Navarro, Sebastian Salas, Ben Jacques-Maynes, Laurens Ten Dam, and a bunch vying for the KOM: Walter Pedraza, Sander Oostlander, Rafael Montiel, Rafael Infantino).
ProVéloPassion’s UPCC stage 5 podium predictions:
Rafael Montiel (GOB), Vuelta a Colombia (Luis Barbosa)
- Rafael Montiel (GOB) or Janier Acevedo (GOB)
- Chris Jones (UHC)
- Tejay Van Garderen (THR)
Jonathan Vaughters talks Vail TT course with Tom Danielson (Mary Topping)
Mixed emotions swirled around the Garmin team bus yesterday near the end of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge (UPCC) stage 3 Vail time trial.
Peter Stetina arrived at the bus after his ride and immediately set his bike on the trainer. Six-inch oblong red patches on his calf and elbow remained from the road rash of his crash during the Tour of Utah. He described his UPCC TT ride. “It was a horrible day,” he said. “I don’t know why. The numbers were all wrong.”
As he spoke Christian Vande Velde and Tom Danielson plugged away on the ten mile course. The Garmin team camp didn’t have a TV or race radio, which according to their Director of Communications Marya Pongrace is typical at American races. Marya and I scrolled through Twitter on our phones for updates as John Henderson of the Denver Post and a couple of fans looked on.
The desired dispatch appeared on our screens: a new best time for Christian. Hope rose in an almost totally abandoned team parking area.
Moments later Levi’s time popped up — half of a second better than Christian’s time. Sadness descended. But hope prevailed; Tom still raced on course, and even though he didn’t feel well the night before, he had warmed up for a long time and started.
After a few minutes we knew Tom had finished, but apparently no one — not even Phil and Paul, knew his time. When his time appeared in Twitter it was a double edged sword. He didn’t win, but he didn’t do as poorly as folks feared he might given lack of sleep the night before.
John Henderson of the Denver Post covered Tom Danielson the morning of and after the Vail TT . I ran beside him up and down the Vail frontage road from the media center to team parking and back to the media center in the morning, then to team parking again at 2:30 to be in place to interview Tom post-TT. John’s legs must be twice as long as mine.
Tom Danielson interviewed by John Henderson, Denver Post, after Vail TT (Mary Topping)
Predictions
The ProVéloPassion Podium Prediction for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge UPCC stage 3:
- Tejay Van Garderen (Team HTC-Highroad)
- Tom Danielson (Team Garmin-Cervélo)
- Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack) or Cadel Evans (BMC) or Chris Baldwin (Bissell)
The actual placings:
- Levi Leipheimer, (RSH) in 25’47″08
- Christian Vande Velde (GRM) +0″58
- Rafael Infantino (EPM) +04″
The biggest surprise of the day had to be Tejay Van Garderen’s performance which was 51 second’s off the winner’s pace. One can only speculate why. Did the mental effort of taking risks on the rainy descent from Indpendence Pass take it’s toll in energy and focus? Did he dose his efforts ineffectively? Youthful enthusiasm? Henderson also interviewed Jonathan Vaughters at the end of the stage; Jonathan thought Tejay had gone out too hard. Is it a coincidence that the “elder statesmen” finished ahead of Tejay (Levi is 37 years-old and Christian is 35).From what I’ve read the key to winning on the course is to slightly underspend on the flatter part and overspend on the part that goes uphill.
All of my stage 3 picks finished in the top 17 on the stage. Maybe next year the predictions ought to project the top 10 finishers, in no particular order.
It’s curious that even in an uphill TT 10 miles long, Andy Schleck could lose two minutes eleven seconds.
Favorites
Favorite quote of the day: Christian Vande Velde, on how happy Colorado fans are having a race at home: “I’m sure everyone’s going to buy Quiznos sandwiches for a year.”
Favorite image of the day: Christian Vande Velde on the TT course, by @Kalenski. I chose a photo of Christian because he is over the moon about riding at his potential after some seasons of crashes and recovery. “It’s great to put the foot to the gas pedal and feel good again,” he said.
This is short post from the media room in the Sebastian Hotel in Vail. The first guys have gone off in the TT. I’m following John Henderson of the Denver Post to see what I can learn from an established veteran.
Yesterday my position was 1 K from the summit of Independence Pass. The atmosphere mimiced the Tour de France — the road lined with spectators, several in costume, and coolers open. Costumes: bunny, hotdog, furry blue from head to toe, the sumo wrestler. From our position we could see the peloton coursing along the road below. As the lead group arrived just below our perch, a rider in a blue jersey surged forward. This was Tejay Van Garderen making his move. By the time he reached our spot on the mountain Tejay had a few seconds’ lead over Levi Leipheimer who had sprinted from the pack to chase Tejay.
On the descent Tejay established a lead over most of the favorites. With him, Tom Danielson, who gained enough time by the finish to move into third on GC.
Predictions
yesterday’s podium was:
- George Hincapie (BMC)
- Tejay Van Garderen (THR) – same time
- Tom Danielson (GRM) – same time
And ProVeloPassion predictions were:
- Timmy Duggan (Team Liquigas-Cannondale)
- Janier Acevedo or Oscar Sevilla Ribera (Team Gobernacion De Antioquia-Indeportes Antioquia)
- Alex Hagman (Team Jelly Belly)
Acevedo finished 5th, and there were at least two Colombians in the break. All in all, this may be the best prediction success for the UPCC to date.
Favorites:
Favorite quote, Tejay Van Garderen talking about the descent off Independence Pass in the rain, where he with a small group achieved a 45 lead: “I have balls.”
Stage 1 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge delivered a very exciting finish. Surprises and confirmed expectations defined the day.
Surprises
- Levi Leipheimer attacking uphill in an explosive finish
- Frank Schleck finishing third, 53 seconds ahead of brother Andy who spent more time than Frank at altitude
- Sergio Henao unable to catch Leipheimer at the finish. Perhaps not unexpected when remembering the grade up to the finish is 4% — perhaps not steep enough to suit Henao.
- The “slower” pace; I expected more attacks from the Colombians to intensify the pace. Is everybody saving something up for stages 2 and 3?
Confirmations
(l to r) Beltran, Suarez, staff, Pedraza of EPM-UNE, UPCC Prologue (Mary Topping)
- The Colombian teams want to do well. Beltran captured the polka dot jersey.
- A strong finish by Robert Gesink at 10 seconds behind Leipheimer confirms Gesink is here to win.
- Crossing the line 28 seconds behind the winner reveals Timmy Duggan and Lucas Euser are on good form; one can say the same of Alex Hagman who finished just behind these TIAA-Cref alums.
- Three Team Exergy men lead the peloton about 20 miles from the finish; they believe they are a strong team and they proved it today.
Prediction Score
The ProVéloPassion Podium Prediction for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge UPCC stage 1:
- Jens Voigt
- Tom Danielson
- Matt Goss (if he comes)
The actual placings:
- Levi Leipheimer, (RSH) in 4:29:22
- Sergio Henao Montoya (GOB) +04″
- Frank Schleck (LEO) +07″
This looks like a worse performance than yesterday. The prediction was for one guy out of the break-away to survive, which was Jens. He didn’t get into the day’s break and placed #47, one minute eleven seconds behind Levi. Tom placed #10, 18 seconds behind. Matt Goss is not riding the UPCC. With hindsight what happened is probably pretty much how Levi described the stage at the finish: most were taking it kind of easy to gauge their reaction to altitude and how they were feeling.
Favorites
Favorite quote of the day: Levi Leipheimer just after he won the stage, “I guess in my old age I’m learning some new tricks.”
Favorite image of the day: Riders after the finish, breathing. (for this photo in a larger size, click here.)
Barely upright at finish of UPCC stage 1 (Jonathan Devich, cyclingnews.com
General Classification: 2011 UPCC Prologue GC Results
- Patrick Gretsch (THR)
- Christian Vande Velde (GRM) +02″
- Brent Bookwalter (BMC) + 04″
Best Young Rider Classification: 2011 UPCC Prologue BYR Results
- Tejay Van Garderen (THR)
- Benjamin King (RSH) + 08″
- Danny Summerhill (GRM) + 13″
ProVéloPassion 