After reporting huge success in its first year, the Pro Challenge Experience presented by UnitedHealthcare, a mass participation bike ride taking place in Fort Collins, Colorado, will return on Sunday 10 August – just eight days before the start of the USA Pro Challenge professional race.
Open to all ages, the event gives recreational cyclists an opportunity to challenge themselves against some of the most difficult and scenic terrain in the world. Beginning and finishing in Fort Collins, a host city for the 2013 professional race, participants can ride one of three distances – 25, 50 or 100 miles.
“Fans from throughout the state and all over the country come out to see the USA Pro Challenge in August, and we want people to not only have the opportunity to witness the race action, but also to get out on the bike and ride some of the same roads that have been covered by the pros,” said Shawn Hunter, CEO of the USA Pro Challenge.
“UnitedHealthcare is again honoured to be a part of the Pro Challenge Experience,” said Beth Soberg, President and CEO of UnitedHealthcare in Colorado. “Cycling is a great way to get outdoors, enjoy our beautiful state and improve our health and well-being.”
Route
The 2014 Pro Challenge Experience presented by UnitedHealthcare blasts off from the main campus of Colorado State University. With three distances varying in length – from the 25-mile ‘Experience’ ride to the more daunting ‘Challenge’ route to the truly epic ‘Pro’ Century ride – the Pro Challenge Experience presented by UnitedHealthcare has something for every rider.
While revisiting some of Northern Colorado’s signature cycling challenges, including Manhatten Road, Red Feather Lakes and Owl Canyon, this year’s event also will incorporate the Horsetooth Reservoir climbs featured in Stage 6 of the 2013 USA Pro Challenge.
With the support of the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department and Larimer County, this will be the first organized cycling event to return to legendary Rist Canyon since the natural disasters of 2012 and 2013. Rist Canyon is hallowed ground for local cyclists and has been featured in countless regional and national cycling guides as one of Colorado’s great routes.
KOM competition
The King of the Mountain (KOM) climb will be chip timed for those participating in the 100-mile ride. The Pro Challenge Experience ‘King’ and ‘Queen’ of the Mountain (the riders with the fastest times to the top of this marquee climb) will be crowned at the post-ride festival, and each will be awarded an entry into the Amateur Time Trial before Stage 6 of the USA Pro Challenge in Vail on 23 August.
Ride with the pros
A new element for 2014, the ‘Champion’s Challenge’ will introduce a competitive element that combines the camaraderie of an organized and supported ride with the sportsmanship of a competitive effort. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride like a pro will see three teams of 30 competing to finish the 50-mile course first. The winning team will be determined by the aggregate scores of the top-10 riders on each team.
Each team will be captained by one of three National Champions – Timmy Duggan, Chris Baldwin and Alison Dunlap – to help guide them to victory. The fastest overall individual will receive two passes to the VIP Hospitality tent at the Stage 7 finish in Denver on 24 August.
“I’m excited to participate in the USA Pro Challenge Experience for the second year as a captain of one of the teams in the new ‘Champions Challenge’ team format,” said recently retired Duggan. “It will definitely provide a unique and fun change this year! I hope everyone comes out and joins us to get a feel for what it can be like racing on the roads of the USA Pro Challenge!”
Contest
In another new element for 2014, participants have the opportunity to win a weeklong VIP package to experience the 2014 USA Pro Challenge in style. After registering, riders will receive a custom ‘share link’ in the confirmation email. The person who gets the most referral registrations using their link will win two passes for each finish line hospitality area, as well as lodging for the entire race week.
Details
The cost to participate in the Pro Challenge Experience presented by UnitedHealthcare varies by distance and time of registration; rates increase on 1 June. Each ride begins between 07:00 and 08:00 MT, depending upon the distance. Registration includes an exclusive tech tee, a commemorative pint glass and a post-ride lunch complete with two tasty brews.
The first 200 registrants receive a free pair of Smith Optics sunglasses, and the first 500 to arrive on event day receive a free Polar water bottle. Spots for the ride are limited and can be reserved at usaprocyclingchallenge.com/registration.
