STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — The USA Pro Challenge joined the Steamboat Stinger 50 mountain bike and running races, the Steamboat Triathlon and the Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series in filling the city over the weekend. The Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association was expecting 11,800 visitors Saturday, swelling downtown lodges to 100 percent capacity and lodging at the ski area to more than 80 percent.
Nice ride. Second-year race sponsor Lexus will award the men’s and women’s overall winners of the 2015 Pro Challenge a two-year lease of its new NX 200t cross-over SUV. The race’s car sponsor provides race staff with 130 vehicles to use during the race, creating a week-long, rolling commercial for the car brand.
PHOTOS:
King to retire. The Pro Challenge will be “bittersweet” for Team Cannondale-Garmin’s Ted King, who will retire from cycling after the race, wrapping a seven-year career as a pro cyclist.
The 32-year-old King said he is proud to end his career in Colorado.
“I have raced all over the country and all over the world, and I think no other state deserves a race with this much prestige and this much recognition as does Colorado,” said King, who hoped that race sponsor Lexus would offer two-year leases of its new SUV to retiring racers as well as champions.
Monday’s Stage 1
Distance: 96.6 miles
Start time: About 11:47 a.m.
Projected finish time: 3:15-4:10 p.m.
Where: Neutral start at Lincoln Avenue at the courthouse in Steamboat Springs. Actual start at Evans Street.
Brief description of course: 49-mile circuit featuring two loops through towns of Steamboat Springs and Oak Creek. One intermediate sprint at mile 47.9 in Steamboat and king of the mountain on Route 27 at 21.9 miles and 70.7 miles into the stage. Final sprint into Steamboat.
Key climbs: Category 4 climb at Mile 21.9 and Mile 70.7 on Route 27.
