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By Jason Blevins, John Henderson and Nancy Lofholm, The Denver Post
Twelve Colorado cities will host next year's USA Pro Cycling Challenge -- including Colorado Springs, according to sources speaking on condition of anonymity.
UPDATE: Colorado Springs organizers confirm city is chosen as finish for Stage 5.
Next year's race, scheduled for Aug. 20 through Aug. 26, will begin in Durango and end in Denver, those sources say.
Race organizers are scheduled to officially announce the route Tuesday. But sources confirmed Thursday that a dozen of the 25 Colorado cities and towns that bid for host status won a coveted stage.
The first stage of the 2012 race will wind 111 miles from Durango over 10,222-foot Lizard Head Pass and down into Telluride.
The second stage, scheduled to begin in either Ouray or Montrose, will end in Mt. Crested Butte, a host city from this year's race.
Stage three will start in Gunnison and race over 12,126-foot Cottonwood Pass and 12,095-foot Independence Pass into Aspen, the same 131-mile route as this year's second stage.
During stage four the racers will pedal 102 miles back up Independence Pass, down into Leadville and through Minturn, climbing to a finish at Beaver Creek village.
Stage five will begin in Breckenridge and race over 11,532-foot Hoosier Pass, ending in Colorado Springs.
Stage six will begin in either Golden or Lakewood and run up Coal Creek Canyon to the Peak to Peak Highway.
A final stage will be held in Denver, with organizers planning a time trial along city streets.
Race organizer spokeswoman Stacie Lange declined to comment until Tuesday's announcement.
Read additional details of the unconfirmed race route and updates to this story at denverpost.com.
Read more about the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and see photos and videos of the 2011 race at OutThereColorado.com's USA Pro Cycling Challenge page.
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