Colorado cyclist a 'favorite' in Pro Cycling Challenge

The climb up Cottonwood and Independence passes could separate the men from the boys in the upcoming USA Pro Cycling Challenge. The 130-mile journey from Gunnison to Aspen on Aug. 24, the third day and second stage of the inaugural race, is being called the highest stage in international cycling history.

Boasting elevations above 12,000 feet, the passes will be a test of endurance. Cyclists must wheel their thin road tires up 12 miles of dirt road as they ascend 2,740 vertical feet to reach Cottonwood Pass before they confront the grueling switchbacks up the steep and hairy roads of Independence Pass.

The descent into Aspen should be fast and fun.

Some riders, like Tour de France winner Cadel Evans, haven't ridden the passes before. Others, like Colorado resident Tom Danielson, 33, know them well.

In today's Denver Post, the director of Evans' BMC Racing team, Jim Ochowicz, told John Henderson that Danielson is the favorite to win the race. Danielson, who hails from Durango, is experienced in Colorado's high country. He holds the course record for biking Mt. Evans, where the road reaches 14,100 feet.

Meanwhile, even though Evans is familiar with Colorado and is reportedly excited for the competition here, he doesn't have the benefit of having ever ridden Cottonwood or Independence passes before. So he's going to wing it.

"He hasn't done them," Ochowicz told The Denver Post, discussing Evans' busy post-Tour de France schedule Down Under. "There's not enough time to plan to go see the courses. Nobody's going to have a chance to recon."

The trip from Gunnison to Aspen, known as the Queen Stage, will be utterly thrilling. But as Brian Holcombe at VeloNews notes “there will be a little bit for everyone” throughout the Colorado tour thanks to its interesting terrain. He too lists Danielson as a rider who could have success, particularly in the East Vail Time Trial where, Holcombe writes, the altitude and consistent pitch are well-suited for Danielson.

Check out Holcombe's breakdown of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge's prologue and six stages here.

River Name / Location	Stream flow, ft3/s	Gage height ft
Gore Creek
At Upper Station, Near I-70 Twin Bridges	n/a	5 ft
Booth Creek	n/a	4 ft
Abv Red Sandstone Creek At Vail	199	6 ft
At Mouth Near Minturn	231	7 ft
Beaver Creek
At Avon	21	2 ft
Lake Creek
Near Edwards	79	1 ft
Cross Creek
Near Minturn	97	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	231	4 ft
Wastewater Treatment Plant At Avon	671	5 ft
Below Gypsum	799	5 ft
Colorado River
Near Kremmling	396	4 ft
Near Dotsero	1,620	3 ft
Below Glenwood Springs	3,200	5 ft
Near Cameo	3,650	6 ft
Below Grand Valley Div Nr Palisade	2,200	5 ft
Near Colorado-utah State Line	4,080	4 ft
Near Cisco, Ut	4,160	3 ft
At Lees Ferry, Az	12,200	9 ft
Near Grand Canyon, Az	11,700	8 ft
Yuma Main Canal Ww At Yuma, Az	997	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	77	1 ft
Near Emma	464	6 ft
At Glenwood Springs	1,150	3 ft
Hunter Creek
Near Aspen	59	2 ft
At Aspen	49	4 ft
Frying Pan River
Near Ruedi	111	2 ft
Crystal River
Abv Avalanche Crk, Near Redstone	628	2 ft
Arkansas River
Ef Arkansas R At Us Highway 24, Nr Leadville	47	3 ft
Near Leadville	84	5 ft
Below Empire Gulch Near Malta	156	3 ft
Below Granite	453	4 ft
Near Nathrop	451	4 ft
At Parkdale	469	3 ft