|
By John Henderson, The Denver Post
Whether you're recovering from a hangover atop Lookout Mountain or inspired to take out a second mortgage on a racing bike, Colorado's inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge affected hundreds of thousands. While I find the bike lock of my 1974 Raleigh Grand Prix, here is my best and worst of America's new great bike race:
THE BEST : The crowds. The delirium rivaled that on l'Alpe d'Huez in France, except there were no Dutch fans passing out Heinekens. So, where were all the Coors handouts on Lookout?
THE WORST : The crash of Daniele Callegarin. The fall on the Queen Stage turned his face into a mask of blood. Teams were warned of the cattle guards, but organizers need to find a way to cover them up. Pelotons are too tight to avoid even a 2-inch gap like that.
BEST STAGE : Queen Stage. Two 12,000-foot passes and a descent off Independence that would frighten Lindsey Vonn. It came down to a sprint won by America's favorite old war horse, George Hincapie.
WORST STAGE : Avon to Steamboat Springs. The overall title was pretty much decided by Thursday's Vail time trial. Friday's Stage 4 to Steamboat Springs was all but downhill the last 40 miles. Suggestion: Reverse Saturday's Stage 5 from Steamboat Springs to Breckenridge so riders must climb endless Rabbit Ears Pass right before the finish.
BIGGEST COMPLAINT FROM CYCLISTS : No mountaintop finish. How about finishing atop 14,264-foot Mount Evans? Besides, it would give Colorado the highest climb in international cycling.
MOST SELF-DEPRECATING COMMENT : Levi Leipheimer. One day after the Queen Stage when Tejay Van Garderen said Leipheimer "sometimes loses his nerve" on descents, Leipheimer said, "I wasn't doing well when the rain came down on the descent. I was having problems handling my bike, so the point he made was absolutely fair."
MOST POPULAR RIDER : Andy Schleck. T-shirts around Leopard Trek's team bus read, "Marry me, Andy." Many fans wore Luxembourg flags on T-shirts. Why Schleck? Female spectators told me he signs everything and smiles at everybody. Baseball players, are you reading this?
MOST DISAPPOINTING RIDER : Andy Schleck, Leopard Trek. Sorry, ladies, but he came to Colorado nearly two weeks in advance and finished 33rd, more than 20 minutes behind.
BEST COSTUME : On Saturday from Steamboat Springs to Breckenridge, a man dressed like Jesus with a white robe and a crown of thorns carried a sign reading, "Spandex is sin."
WORST COSTUME : On Rabbit Ears Pass the same day, a man who should have worn a hockey uniform wore a Borat-style, green thong one-piece. He had, um, a dollar bill tucked in the back.
MOST BEAUTIFUL DRIVE : Highway 50 from Colorado Springs to Salida. The transfer for the start of Stage 1 was a kaleidoscope of Colorado at its best. Along the Arkansas River, I saw fly-fishermen knee deep in crystal-clear water and rafters negotiating rapids under tall, orange-red cliffs with mountains off in the distance.
BEST SIGN : On Stage 4 from Avon to Steamboat Springs: Above a big cooler, a sign read, "FREE BEER. CYCLISTS ONLY."
BEST MEAL EXPERIENCE : Moose Cafe, Kremmling. On Stage 5 from Steamboat Springs to Breckenridge. I sat outside and had one of the best pancakes of my life, a giant Moosecake, at the starting point of the designated sprint while looking out at the Gore Range.
BEST IMPRESSION LEFT FROM RACE : This state we live in is truly amazing.
PHOTO: Cyclists climb Cottonwood Pass from the west. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
See additional photos, videos and stories at OutThereColorado.com. Click here for a shortcut to photos and videos.
|
