Attending The Race - Race Day Planning in Loveland
PEDAL DANCER FAN GUIDE - Stage 6 - USA Pro Challenge 2013
Route Description
There is a first for everything and this year the USA Pro Challenge heads north of Denver to the towns of Loveland and Fort Collins. Loveland sits at the base of a cycling paradise and Fort Collins, a University town, is home to one of the key Partners (Sponsors) of the race - New Belgium brewery. I like old Belgium, so I certainly like New Belgium.
This route takes riders from the plains to the mountains and back. A big day for the climbers, who will climb along a river and through pine forests to reach Estes Park. The town of Estes Park is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, a 265,761 acres (107,550 ha) park with 359 miles (578km) of trails, 150 lakes, and 450 miles (720km) of streams. The park contains 72 named peaks higher than 12,000 feet (3,700m), and over one-fourth of the park resides above tree line. Colorado's National Park receives over 3 million visitors a year.
Estes Park sits at 7,522 feet (2,293 m), but the nearby mountain peaks including Longs Peak at 14,259' (4,346 m) added to the spectacular natural beauty and wildlife, make Estes Park an exciting location for a pro race. Amateur cyclists tackle nearby Trail Ridge Rd, the highest continuous road in the United States, on a regular basis in good weather. Closed in winter, the road is a fantastic ride on a bike. If you plan to see the race in Estes Park, please read: Estes Park Event information
The pro riders will climb 11,855ft in Stage 6 - the penultimate stage - of the 2013 USA Pro Cycling Challenge.
For information about the Stage finish in Fort Collins, please go to: USA Pro Challenge in Fort Collins, By Pedal Dancer®.
For route and event information for USA Pro Challenge Stage 6 in Loveland and Fort Collins, please visit: http://www.nococycling.com/. The local website offers information on:
Complete route description
Complete route road closures
List of links to accommodations
31 Stage 6 Sponsors
The most prominent peak in the scenic byway Peak to Peak range is Longs Peak near Estes Park - rock and mountain climbers paradise at 14,259' (4,346 m). Photo from Reminisces on SmugMug
Loveland and Fort Collins - from the plains to the mountains and back.
STAGE FACTS
Official 2013 Spectator Guide
Date:Saturday, August 24, 2013
Route Map: Route Map
Route Profile: Route Profile
Miles: 115.2
Climb: 11,855ft
Stage Start - Loveland: 11:35am
Start Location: The Ranch Events Complex, 5280 Arena Circle Suite 100, Loveland, Colorado 80538
Stage Finish - Fort Collins: 4:15pm approx.
Finish Location - near Old Town Square on Mountain Ave., Fort Collins
Event Website: NoCOCycling
Highways Impacted: State Highway (SH) 392, US 34, SH 7, US 36, US 287
Stage Sponsor: New Belgium
USA Pro Cycling: Official Race Website Facebook Twitter YouTube
Stage 6 jersey USA Pro Challenge
PEDAL DANCER RECOMMENDATIONS
Stage 6
This stage clearly has something for everyone - in fact, it might just have too much. Fans can easily drive or bike from the start area at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland to the finish area in downtown Fort Collins in time to see the finish. Fans can also get from downtown Loveland to the finish area in downtown Fort Collins. Fans will not have time to travel from Horsetooth Reservoir to downtown in time to see the finish. Fans who see the race in Estes Park should just stay there and enjoy the lap around town.
Local business, New Belgium, is the stage sponsor for Stage 6.
For this stage you have the option to enjoy the city activities before and in between watching the start and finish of the race. Or you could try to see the riders in the spots where they will pass more than once: Downtown Loveland (Lincoln & Cleveland Streets); the junction of 34 and 29; Elkhorn and St Vrain Avenues in Estes Park; in the town of Drake.
There are plenty of homes and businesses along this route so it might be nice to just stay local. Road closures and traffic control will be a major task in this populated area. For road closure information read: All Colorado Road Closures for the 2013 USA Pro Challenge Bike Race.
Cyclists
Boulder Cyclists can ride to Estes Park via Hwy 7 where they could watch the KOM point in Estes Park. Other cyclists might want to ride up Big Thompson Canyon in the early morning to watch the riders pass by twice in the town of Drake (once up and once down). Remember the steeper the slope - the slower the riders, although these riders are never really slow.
Glen Haven switchbacks. Photo by Jeff Kerkove.
I would be interested in riding or driving up Big Thompson to Drake or continuing to Glen Haven to watch the riders. I have done this ride and remember the switchbacks being STEEP. Here are some photos of the area on a blog post by local mountain biker Jeff Kerkove: Throttled (although I've never seen someone take a back video of their legs while riding, maybe it was to prove to his coach he really was riding it).
Personally I think the switchbacks and Devil's Gulch outside of Glen Haven would be an awesome place to watch the race. You could ride up to Glen Haven in the morning to watch the pro riders on their climb to Estes Park, then descend to the town of Drake and catch the riders as they pass by again in a reverse direction back down Big Thompson on their way to Horesetooth reservoir and the finish in Fort Collins. You will be able to descend from Drake once Course Marshals open the road to cyclists.
Horsetooth reservoir could also be a good place to ride and watch the riders, but don't expect to be able to descend into town to catch the finish or podium awards, the riders are much faster than you having to deal with traffic and parking in an anticipated already crowded downtown Fort Collins.
Alternatively you could do some town riding between the start and finish area, or between downtown Loveland and downtown Fort Collins. Seeing the riders twice in the day. For this I would go no-lycra and just wear your casual around town clothes, it'll be a long warm day.
*Remember, it often rains in Colorado in the afternoons between 1pm-4pm, be prepared.
ATTENDING THE RACE AS A SPECTATOR
Road Closures
Full road closure details for the Loveland and Fort Collins area: All Colorado Road Closures for the 2013 USA Pro Challenge Bike Race. Also read local road closures.
Events and Travel information in the Host Cities
For information about Loveland and Fort Collins and race day events - please see http://www.nococycling.com. For information about Estes Park and race day events - please see http://www.visitestespark.com/events-calendar/special-events/usa-pro-challenge/
Suggested race day highlights & timing:
* Portions of Old Town FC, and Horsetooth Reservoir close Friday night.
8:00-10:00am - get in place in the mountain towns (check road closures)
9:30am - Arrive at Start area
10:00am - Team buses and team cars should arrive at start area
10:00-11:20am - Riders will sign-in on the stage at start area
11:35am - Race Start
12:00pm - Big Thompson Rd closes
11-5pm - Major road closings through out the area
1-3pm - Estimated time riders will be in and around Estes Park>
1-4:00pm - Begin tracking the race on Tour Tracker
4:15pm - Approximate finish in Fort Collins
Riders in the 2013 USA Pro Challenge
Teams for 2013 USA Pro Challenge announced
AT THE RACE
VIP Tickets
Loveland, Stage 6 Start area - Start Lounge $125
Fort Collins, Stage 6 Finish area - Founder Box $300
Learn more, or Buy VIP Tickets
What VIP includes: a prime viewing spot on the race route, food, beverage, private access, tables & chairs, live TV race coverage, shade or shelter.
Be a Volunteer at the race in Loveland/Fort Collins
Volunteers are needed on August 24, 2013: Read more, or sign-up or local volunteer sign-up.
Tips on seeing the race
Gathering near the Team buses at the Ranch Events Complex in Loveland on Saturday morning should be fun. Start areas are good for families and avid cycling fans. Team buses and mechanic trailers are the place to see the bikes close up. You will likely only see the riders briefly at the team buses when they exit to mount their bikes and head to the start-line, this stage allows the riders to warm up on route. One tip is to look for Bob Roll or other interviewers, because the riders will come out of their bus or RV and offer interviews pre-race.
The sign-in stage at the start area (or nearby it to watch the riders freely riding by) is a fun location for good rider viewing and to hear the pre-race interviews by the race announcers on stage. Autograph Alley next to the sign-in stage is the place to collect more rider autographs.
Another good viewing location should be in downtown Loveland. The corner of 4th Street and Lincoln Ave is the location of the 2nd sprint of the stage. If you are near 1st Street you will be able to see the riders pass by twice, up N. Lincoln Ave to 4th St and down Cleveland Ave turning west of 1st St. My solid guess is you will not be able to cross over the course so be on one side or the other before the riders take the first corner and then join the crowd running west to see them pass again (map above).
The steep section on route near Glen Haven, with it's the famous steep “Devil’s Gulch” with an average 8.5% grade, or the max grade of 12.5% switchbacks nearby would be a great place to be on race day. This is the point where the riders will be going their slowest on the stage. Any downhill sections will see very high speeds.
Estes Park will have visitors who probably got stuck on vacation when a bike race happened to hit town, but this could also be a good place for cyclists wanting to ride themselves to a KOM point on course.
Fort Collins downtown will be hopping, so should City Park located on Mulberry and Taft Hill.
STAGE 6 ROUTE - MAPS, PROFILES AND DESCRIPTIONS
Route and Profile maps
Stage 6 : Route Map | Route Profile
Details: Stage 6: Loveland to Ft. Collins – Saturday, Aug. 24
Stage Start - Loveland: 11:35am
Stage Finish - Fort Collins: 4:15pm approx.
Miles: 115.2 (185.4km)
Stage 6 Route Map
Start is located at: The Ranch Events Complex, 5280 Arena Cir Loveland, CO 80538
click any map to enlarge
Stage 6 Route Profile
Stage 6 USA Pro Challenge - location of Stage Start
Location of start of Stage 6 race in Loveland
Stage 6 Event map USA Pro
Stage 6 USA Pro Challenge - begins east of I-25 in Loveland
Stage 6 USA Pro Challenge - passing through Loveland
Stage 6 USA Pro Challenge - passing through Loveland
The route passes up and down Loveland before continuing along 1st St. west to Estes Park.
Stage 6 USA Pro Challenge - up Big Thompson and through Glen Haven
Stage 6 USA Pro Challenge - entering and exiting Estes Park
Stage 6 route into Estes Park USA Pro Challenge
*For route maps into Fort Collins please continue to: USA Pro Challenge in Fort Collins
Other PEDAL DANCER FAN GUIDES - USA Pro Challenge city event guides, route maps, road closures, and stage start and finish times.
I have chased pro races for 13 years on the Continent and in Europe. I am now granted the thrill to be Media at some of the races but am always in touch with my roots as a fan. I share with you my inside tips on how to see and enjoy a professional cycling race. My love of travel, maps, photographs and human interest blend with the love of any bike. Welcome and enjoy the ride! (About Pedal Dancer®)
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For more information please visit the PEDAL DANCER GUIDE PAGE: USA PRO CHALLENGE