USA Pro Cycling Challenge

August 21, 2012 - Stage 2 Finish Returns for Second Year
Please Visit CBProChallenge.com for Stage 2 Finish Information & Updates
The USA Pro Cycling Challenge is coming to Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte. CB - Mt. CB again this summer!  We will be hosting the second stage finish on August 21st, 2012.

We had the wonderful opportunity to host the Stage 1 finish in the first ever USA Pro Cycling Challenge last year and look forward to the race returning again this year. Be sure to follow the stage finish on Facebook and Twitter. 

Local Route Information:
Stage 2:  Montrose to Mt. Crested Butte – Tuesday, Aug. 21
At 99 miles, Stage 2 is a mix of old and new. Beginning with a new course for the first 65 miles, the race then visits familiar territory as it passes through Gunnison and retraces the 2011 route up to the grueling finish in Mt. Crested Butte. Beginning at Montrose Pavilion, the stage will begin with a quick neutral lap, then the riders head east out of town. As Montrose fades into the distance, the short but challenging climbs over Cerro Summit and Blue Mesa Summit await and make for early launch pads for the breakaway specialists.
As the road levels giving way to the picturesque twists and turns along the shores of Blue Mesa Reservoir, the riders approach the first Sprint Line of the day in Gunnison, 65 miles away from the start in Montrose. Gunnison will host the race two days in a row, first as a pass-through in Stage 2 and then as a start city in Stage 3. Moving north out of Gunnison breakaway time gaps will shrink, team leaders will move to the front and domestiques will protect and position their leaders. As the riders head into downtown Crested Butte, they face the day’s last Sprint Line. From there it’s a 2-mile climb to the line at Mt. Crested Butte. A dynamic and exciting uphill finish, this short, but steep hill gave Levi Leipheimer the leader’s jersey in 2011.

Stage 3:  Gunnison to Aspen – Wednesday, Aug. 22
In 2011, U.S. stage racing saw one of its toughest days with the ride from Gunnison to Aspen and in 2012 the “Queen Stage” will again feature two of the highest climbs in professional racing. The stage starts in downtown Gunnison with a short neutral section leading out of town; however, as soon as the racing begins, so do the challenges. Just after the first right turn the riders face the first Sprint Line of the day in the small community of Almont. This will most likely be the last time the true sprinters will play a part in this stage, as the race quickly turns uphill and heads toward the first King of the Mountain (KOM) of the day near Taylor Park Reservoir.

A short, flat section on the north side of the reservoir will be the last pavement the field will see for almost 14 miles, as the dirt climb that follows will take the race to 12,126 ft. and the highest point of the week at Cottonwood Pass. A beautiful, twisting descent will take the peloton down into the town of Buena Vista and the second sprint line of the day before heading north on US 24 to Twin Lakes. The left towards Twin Lakes will show the field what is to come as they see the massive ridge in front of them. Although the climb up Independence Pass is paved and not quite as high as Cottonwood, it is sure to produce fireworks again this year. Lined with fans in 2011, the climb to 12,095 ft. caused several gaps in the field that led to an exciting finish in Aspen, which will no doubt be duplicated in 2012.



Visit the Official Stage 2 Finish website here» 

Lodging Info
Crested Butte Mountain Resort is the official lodging partner for the Crested Butte - Mt. Crested Butte stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Lodging info for the 2012 race will be available soon.

2011 Race Recap - Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Stage 1 Finish

2012 Host City Video