Pro Cycling Challenge route includes Independence, Cottonwood passes
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- Created on Sunday, 15 May 2011 17:31
- Written by USA Pro-Cycling Challenge
STATELINE, Nev. -- Colorado's inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge will feature the two highest passes in international cycling as Stage 3 will include Cottonwood Pass and Independence Pass, two cycling sources confirmed here.
Cottonwood, at 12,126 feet, and 12,095-foot Independence represent the two highest paved passes in Colorado.
They dwarf the highest routes in the Tour de France: the 8,728-foot Col du Galibier in the Alps and the 6,939-foot Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees.
Stage 3 (Aug. 24) will be the fourth day of the race, taking cyclists from Georgetown to Aspen.
"It'll be the deciding day of the race, for sure," said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Boulder-based Team Garmin-Cervelo, when told of the route. "It sounds like one of the hardest days in cycling."
Vaughters' team often trains up Independence Pass but not Cottonwood.
"I've never even seen Cottonwood Pass," Vaughters said to John Henderson of the Denver Post. "What's it look like?"
Cottonwood, bordering Gunnison and Chaffee counties, is surrounded by forest. It can be accessed from Buena Vista up Chaffee County Road 306.
Near the Continental Divide the road changes its name to Gunnison County Road 209. Like Independence Pass, Cottonwood is closed during the winter and often doesn't open until May.
Independence consists of a series of switchbacks with a gradient of 6.5 percent. Trucks and other large vehicles are prohibited from driving on the road.
-- The Denver Post
PHOTO: Steve Garufi atop Independence Pass. Steve shares photos and stories and videos of his travels across Colorado on his website, ColoradoGuy.com. (As always, Steve, thanks for sharing!)
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