ASPEN — Following nearly an hour of discussion that included concerns over spending money on an untried special event, the Aspen City Council has unanimously voted to approve a $190,000 contract to assist a company with the upcoming Quiznos Pro Challenge professional cycling competition.
The event is scheduled to be held in Colorado from Aug. 22-28. Approval of the $190,000 contract with Classic Bicycle Racing LLC during Monday’s regular council meeting means that Aspen will host the final stage for the inaugural competition.
The Aspen Chamber Resort Association is covering $50,000 of the contract amount, with the city obligated to pick up the remaining $140,000 unless money can be raised from private sources to offset the financial burden.
Supporters say the event will help bring business to Aspen during the late summer slowdown. The local lodging community has already pledged to cover around $200,000 worth of room fees, spread over Aug. 23-24, for the pro-cycling tour.
There’s also a chance that Classic Bicycle Racing won’t need the full $190,000 listed in the contract, the city’s special events director, Nancy Lesley, told council members.
Mayor Mick Ireland, an avid cyclist, defended the expenditure and expressed optimism that the event will be successful.
“The $190,000 is not a one-year investment; it’s a long-term investment,” he said. “And it’s not the net-net cost because we have the ability to offset that with donations and sponsorships.”
Ireland acknowledged the risk, saying he doesn’t know whether the total cost can be offset through sponsorships in the event’s first year.
The seven-stage Quiznos event will bring 128 riders from Gunnison to Aspen on Aug. 24 via a route that takes them over Cottonwood and Independence passes. Organizers hope to arrange several days of professional women’s racing leading up to the arrival of the Quiznos riders.
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