Pikes Peak Region Trail Finder

Photo by Kristin Anderson, Vail Daily

By SCOTT N. MILLER, VAIL DAILY

VAIL — The USA Pro Cycling Challenge was a full-fledged hit when it rolled through the Vail Valley last month. That's no guarantee the race will return, but it won't be for lack of effort from local residents.

The Vail Valley Foundation last year put together the valley's bid for a pair of stages — a time trial from Vail Village much of the way up Vail Pass and the start of the stage from Avon to Steamboat Springs. Getting the bid, then pulling off a great event, took a lot of time, effort and money.

Hosting successful events, combined with Vail's relatively central location in the mountains, would seem to make the valley a logical spot for the tour for years to come. But, Foundation Vice President of Communications John Dakin said, there are no guarantees.

“We've got the tour saying they want to take the race to different parts of Colorado,” Dakin said. “There were some cities that were major parts of the old Coors Classic that weren't part of the Pro Cycling Challenge this year.”

Both Front Range and Western Slope cities and towns that hosted the old Coors Classic races, last run in 1988, will surely ask to be part of future events.

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