2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge Route Announced

By all accounts, the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge was a great success in its inaugural run. The race featured some of the top riders in the world on a challenging course that featured plenty of climbing in Colorado's thin mountain air. Now, as the year comes to an end, plans are already in place for next year's event, and the Denver Post as all the details on the new route.

The 2012 edition of the Pro Cycling Challenge will begin on August 20th in Durango, Colorado and run through the 26th, ending once again in Denver. The course will be roughly 600 miles in length and feature five mountain passes that are above 10,000 feet (3048 meters).

The stages look like this:

Stage 1: 111 miles from Durango to Telluride over Lizard Head Pass. (10,222 ft/3115 meters)
Stage 2: 92 miles from Montrose to Crested Butte
Stage 3: 131 miles from Gunnison to Aspen and features two passes above 12,000 ft (3657 meters).
Stage 4: 102 miles from Aspen to Beaver Creek over Independence Pass. (12,095 ft/3686 meters)
Stage 5: 106 miles from Breckenridge to Colorado Springs over Hoosier Pass. (11,532 ft/3514 meters)
Stage 6: 61 miles from Golden to Boulder
Stage 7: A Time Trial through the streets of Denver. Distance TBD.

That is going to be one very busy week or racing, as the altitude will certainly have its effect on the riders and those distances aren't exactly short either. Hopefully the race will have as a good of a turn-out in 2012 as it did this year, as the peloton was stacked with quality riders and the roads were lined with fans.

Thanks to Outside Online for the tip!