Cancellara, Schleck brothers bolster bicycle competition

In announcing the Quiznos Pro Challenge, Lance Armstrong and his crew of cycling crusaders envisioned the first elite international race in Colorado since the famed Coors Classic.

Now that's what they've got.

Four-time world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, Luxembourg luminaries Andy and Fränk Schleck, Australian vet Stuart O’Grady and Canadian Svein Tuft are among the featured names in today's announcement of riders. They will represent teams Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), Leopard Trek (Luxembourg), UnitedHealthcare (USA), Team Type 1-sanofi aventis (USA), Skil-Shimano (Netherlands) and Team Spidertech Powered By C10 (Canada).

Those teams will join previously announced Team RadioShack (USA), HTC-Highroad (USA), Team Garmin-Cervélo (USA), BMC Racing Team (USA), and Liquigas-Cannondale (Italy) at the starting line in August.

“We are excited to have secured commitments from such world-class teams in the competition’s first year,” said Shawn Hunter, co-chairman of the Quiznos Pro Challenge. “We’ve set high goals for this race and the addition of these teams shows great promise for our future and cycling in the United States.”

Armstrong isn't expected to race after recently announcing another retirement.

Organizers are hailing the Quiznos Pro Challenge as "the most demanding professional bike race ever held in America, with racers experiencing breathless altitudes and nearly 600 mountain miles, for seven straight days. It will take place Aug. 22-28 and it is expected to be the largest spectator event ever held in Colorado."

The race will traverse some of Colorado's most breathtaking scenery with stages in Aspen, Crested Butte, Gunnison, Vail, Avon, Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge, Colorado Springs, Golden and Denver.

River Name / Location	Stream flow, ft3/s	Gage height ft
Gore Creek
At Upper Station, Near I-70 Twin Bridges	n/a	4 ft
Booth Creek	n/a	4 ft
Abv Red Sandstone Creek At Vail	190	6 ft
At Mouth Near Minturn	225	7 ft
Beaver Creek
At Avon	21	2 ft
Lake Creek
Near Edwards	79	1 ft
Cross Creek
Near Minturn	98	4 ft
Homestake Creek
At Gold Park	127	5 ft
Eagle River
East Fork Eagle River Near Climax	n/a	2 ft
At Red Cliff	30	3 ft
Near Minturn	234	4 ft
Wastewater Treatment Plant At Avon	671	5 ft
Below Gypsum	826	5 ft
Colorado River
Near Kremmling	402	4 ft
Near Dotsero	1,620	3 ft
Below Glenwood Springs	3,080	5 ft
Near Cameo	3,740	6 ft
Below Grand Valley Div Nr Palisade	2,160	5 ft
Near Colorado-utah State Line	4,120	4 ft
Near Cisco, Ut	4,100	3 ft
At Lees Ferry, Az	12,100	9 ft
Near Grand Canyon, Az	12,000	9 ft
Yuma Main Canal Ww At Yuma, Az	987	10 ft
Roaring Fork River
Abv Lost Man Cr Near Aspen	n/a	n/a ft
Ab Difficult C Nr Aspen	53	1 ft
Near Aspen	78	1 ft
Near Emma	476	6 ft
At Glenwood Springs	1,160	3 ft
Hunter Creek
Near Aspen	57	2 ft
At Aspen	49	4 ft
Frying Pan River
Near Ruedi	111	2 ft
Crystal River
Abv Avalanche Crk, Near Redstone	610	2 ft
Arkansas River
Ef Arkansas R At Us Highway 24, Nr Leadville	46	3 ft
Near Leadville	85	5 ft
Below Empire Gulch Near Malta	156	3 ft
Below Granite	453	4 ft
Near Nathrop	451	4 ft
At Parkdale	464	3 ft