ASPEN — The USA Pro Challenge has signed its most lucrative sponsorship deal — it landed Exergy on a three-year deal through 2014, race CEO Shawn Hunter confirmed Wednesday.
He wouldn’t release the figures but said it greatly enhances the future profitability of the 2-year-old race.
“It’s another major step toward securing this race long term in Colorado,” Hunter said. “To have the financial support from Exergy, Nissan, United Healthcare, Coca-Cola, people are believing in this event, its relevance, its importance and the long-term viability. So we’re grateful and pretty excited.”
Vande Velde’s dad thrilled. John Vande Velde flew out from his home in New Lennox, Ill., and saw his son put on the yellow jersey Wednesday.
His son spent three weeks training in Boulder, his former home, and felt at his peak before last month’s Tour de France.
“He called me from the airport and said: ‘Dad, I haven’t had a drink in three weeks. I’m down to a 146 pounds and I can win this thing going to Paris,’ ” John said. “Then he falls three times the first week and loses 24 minutes.
“He got second here last year and he said, ‘Dad, I’m not losing this thing.’ “
Fan injured on course. A spectator descending Independence Pass crashed his bike about nine miles east of Aspen. A group of more than 100 bike-riding spectators was descending Independence Pass heading toward Aspen about 4 p.m. Wednesday. Race officials had cleared the course, but vehicles had yet to begin the descent from the summit of the pass.
About halfway down, the male cyclist wrecked hard, suffering apparent upper body injuries. Alicia Miller at Aspen Valley Hospital could not relay the extent of the man’s injuries, citing hospital policy against sharing patient information.
John Henderson and Jason Blevins, The Denver Post
