USA Pro Cycling Challenge Stage 1 Start – Where to Watch in Chaffee County
The USA Pro Cycling Challenge Prologue was Epic and a great start to this fantastic event but now its time to climb. Riders will now get their first breath of our high altitude climate and views of our incredible mountain region. Beginning at 11:45am MST tomorrow, riders will begin their first day of road racing at an elevation of 7241.68 in the lovely little town of Salida and compete for the finish in Crested Butte 99.6 miles away. Colorado’s Mountain Town residents are really pumped up and ready to welcome you all. Heading out to watch the start? The here is what you need to know.
Where to watch, road closures and shuttle service
Chaffee County, Colorado will be host to the first mountain stage start of the Inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge. 130 riders from 20 countries will battle for the title, riding more than 600 miles at altitude. This will be the most demanding bike race ever held on American soil. High speeds, high altitude and high drama are sure to grace the Colorado Rocky Mountains during the six day race. The top three riders from the Tour de France will compete with the rest of the world’s best riders for the coveted title.
Salida will host the first stage start, August 23, 2011 and Buena Vista will see the riders pass through on their way down Cottonwood Pass enroute to Aspen on August 24, 2011.
Where to Watch
Stage 1
Downtown Salida hosts the Stage Start. With a couple parade laps in downtown, this will be first stage start of this inaugural event and the party will be a great one!!! With historic downtown Salida as a backdrop, the spectacle will be one that will be talked about for years to come.
Monarch Mountain will open the area parking lot for overnight camping for self-sustained campers and RVs.
Old Monarch Pass Road is just over a mile from the top of the pass and you will be able to see the racers as they battle their way up to the top of the almost 12,000 foot pass for the very first KOM (King of the Mountain) title. The road curves before they turn to the top so you can see the racers on the road for quite a while. If you want to dress up and run along with the racers, this is the spot to start from.
Top of Monarch Pass is where the first KOM of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge will be determined. With a large parking area, this location will fill up fast, but the party should be one of the best. Watch the racers crest the top of the pass and head down into the Gunnison valley.
Note: You will not be able to watch the Stage Start in Salida and make it up Monarch Pass before the road closes.
Here are a few things to remember about parking and camping along the route:
- Roadside parking/camping can be in place no more than 24 hours in advance of the time the race is expected to pass that location. Propane grills and gas stoves are strongly encouraged. Building of campfires is strongly discouraged. Let’s keep our forests safe!
- All vehicles, including trailers, must be parked entirely off the traveled portion of the highway, including all shoulders, gore points, divided highway areas, and access to private property.
- All vehicles, including trailers, may not pose a safety risk to the motoring public regardless of parking or camping area.
- Please make sure you are a good spectator (and citizen) and ensure the areas are clean of debris and trash promptly after the race passes.
- Parking on the dirt section of Cottonwood Pass will not be allowed so crews can prepare the road for the race. The county road and bridge crew are working extremely hard to make this a great event, so let’s make sure to stay out of their way!
- Please be respectful to private property and “no trespassing” signs.
Road Closures in Chaffee County
August 23, 2011, Hwy 50 will close at Lionelle Road (where Weldon Creek meets Highway 50) as the Route Car reaches that point. Once the “end of convoy” vehicle passes the CSP Trooper at Hwy 50 and Lionelle, Hwy 50 will re-open. Those vehicles MUST stay behind the event.
Highway 50 east bound from Gunnison will close at Highway 114 at 9:45 am.
Also on August 23, 2011, Cottonwood Pass will close at 3:00 pm to all vehicles so that Gunnison road crews can prepare the dirt section of the road for Stage 2 the following day. The pass will remain closed until the “end of convoy” from the race comes through on August 24, 2011.
Shuttle service for Monarch and Cottonwood Pass
August 23, 2011, High Valley Center in Poncha Springs will run shuttles to the top of Monarch Pass beginning at 7am and running every hour until the “last run” at approximately 10 am. They will return shuttle riders after the race has crested Monarch Pass. The cost of the shuttle will be $12 with $2 being donated back to the Chaffee Sports Commission, the funding organization of the Salida Stage Start.
August 24, 2011, High Valley Center will be offering shuttle service to the top of Cottonwood Pass (on the Chaffee County side) out of Buena Vista. The shuttle will pick up passengers at River Park on the south end of Main Street beginning at 6:30am and ending with the “last run” at approximately 9:00 am. The cost of the shuttle will be $12 with $2 being donated back to the Chaffee Sports Commission, the funding organization of the Salida Stage Start.
For information call the High Valley Center at 719-539-6089 or 1-800-871-5145.
Please have a wonderful time watching these world class cyclists in Chaffee County. Cheer on your favorites, but remember to be respectful to other spectators, riders and law enforcement.
Click here for further info on Stage 1
ABOUT CHAFFEE COUNTY:
Chaffee County is located in Central Colorado, the Heart of the Colorado Rockies. As Colorado’s Headwaters of Adventure – it stars the small towns of Buena Vista, Salida, Poncha Springs as well as Monarch Mountain. Folks drawn here enjoy the welcome contrasts to the state’s more glamorous destination resorts. You don’t need the trendiest clothes or newest equipment to fit in with the locals. However, if you do have a thirst for adventure we have more than 100 miles of Arkansas River to raft, fish, float or kayak in. Twelve of the states 53, 14,000 foot peaks touch the sky here in Chaffee County.
In spring, summer and fall Chaffee County is a mecca for the outdoor enthusiast. Visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, biking, ATVing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, fly-fishing, camping, horseback riding, zip lining, swimming, tennis and golfing. Winter sports fans can enjoy skiing and snowboarding at Monarch Mountain, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing. Year-around visitors in the “banana belt” can enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops, incredible art galleries and a large selection of antique shops in the historic towns of Salida and Buena Vista. Lodging options range from motels to rustic inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, beautiful campsites to guest ranches.
For more information and a complimentary brochure, visit www.NowThisIsColorado.com
~Now This is Colorado
Featured Photo Courtesy of http://shoppinginsalidaco.blogspot.com/
