Springs to host cycling criterium prior to start of USA Pro Cycling Challenge
- Details
- Created on Friday, 24 June 2011 17:22
- Written by USA Pro-Cycling Challenge
By Evan Thomas, OutThereColorado.com
The USA Pro Cycling Challenge will start in Colorado Springs on Aug. 22 with an individual time trial, where professional cyclists will speed through Garden of the Gods in the first stage of a weeklong race.
Sponsor University Village Colorado is looking to join in on the cycling party with a race of its own. On Aug. 20, the shopping center will host the inaugural Grand Prix of Cycling.
Racers will take on a closed-circuit, USA Cycling-sanctioned criterium that starts in the main drive of University Village Center and loops onto the southbound side of Nevada Avenue in front of the shopping center across from the area near Pulpit Rock and Four-Diamond Sports Complex. All vehicle traffic will be routed to the east side of the street, giving riders three lanes to spread out as they sprint through laps of the course.
“We’re going to be very careful in how we run this first one,” said Kevin Kratt, of Kratt Commercial Properties, which developed the shopping center. “To shut down a main entrance, to shut down this street, I think is pretty ambitious. We want to make sure we execute properly.”
To that end, Kratt and University Village Colorado brought in promoter Colorado Endurance Sports and local cycling powerhouse Carmichael Training Systems to make the most of the race. They and Kratt estimate the challenging layout and cash purses for each category will bring in about 400 riders from all over the state, and more than 1,000 spectators looking to enjoy a long weekend of cycling. So far there isn’t word of any big names from the Pro Cycling Challenge wanting to compete, but Kratt expects the criterium’s status as an official ancillary to the pro race means some of those celebrities will show up to say hello to fans.
The aim of the Grand Prix of Cycling is accessibility, according to Kratt. He hopes this race will be a sort of opposite to the who’s-who atmosphere of the Pro Challenge’s time trial. There will be sanctioned races for men and women in categories one through five. Even kids will get a chance to race.
“Hopefully that’s the appeal,” Kratt said. “That people of all ages and experience can come in here and have a good time.”
Kratt said in the end this race — and University Village Colorado’s sponsorship of the Pro Cycling Challenge — is about community. “We want to participate in these types of events because we think it’s good for our community as a whole,” he said.
Weather
Current Contests
