Alex Howes wins the final stage of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge

Alex Howes races for Team Garmin-Sharp. Plenty of local Coloradans know Alex, so when he won today, tons of people where very happy for him.

I have this thing about not liking to follow the pack. My niche in this great big crazy world of bike racing is to write about what it is like to experience a bike race and to offer tips to fans on traveling to and being at the race.

That is because I am good at moving around at a bike race.

I don't have big sponsorship or preferential treatment, but I have okay access and I can move. I often find myself in the right place at the right time during a race. Today I saw this large pack of photographers (below) crammed in at the end of the finishing straight, growing bigger by the minute, and I decided I did not want the same photo as everyone else. I also had added confidence knowing Ryan Wallace was out there somewhere (shooting for me) and Ryan is a very good action photographer (RevLine Photo).

All these photographers were lined up to catch the oncoming sprint finish.  © Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

So I went where I belong and feel best - I went to be with the fans. I studied the late afternoon light and decided that the stage winner would come flying around the corner past these photographers. I also knew the riders would stop shortly after the finish area and I wanted to get those happy post race shots. After all this would be Jens Voigt's last day of racing.

I watched the race while chatting with a variety of fans as I moved easily along the barrier between the VIP tents and the capital building. We were all thrilled to see Jens Voigt in the break, lap after lap. I had no idea who would win the sprint, I had no idea who would appear from around the corner.

Observing the mayhem from afar as more photographers and then team soigneurs were added to the corner where Alex Howes would later barely miss crashing into the barricade.  © Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Then it happened

A bird shit on my shoulder.

I turned to the fan next to me, whom I had earlier asked if it was okay if I stepped in next to him and said, "Oh that's why you weren't standing here." He laughed and said "Hey, that's good luck!" "Well it's kind of icky luck," I said, as I tried to brush the shit off my shoulder, quickly realizing I was just smooshing it around on my tshirt instead. But the fan and I decided that it indeed meant good luck.

Shortly there after, I could hear Dave Towle announcing the finish, and just as he declared Alex Howes had won the stage, Alex came screaming straight into the corner.

When I say straight, I mean he was not arcing as the riders had in previous laps. His added speed in the sprint changed his line and he was headed straight for the barrier. It all happened so quickly - the gasp from the crowd when they saw his trajectory, the surprise, the fear for his safety. Suddenly I was tracking an object in my viewfinder that I fully expected to be elsewhere.

Click click click

What just happened? He's still up, how did he do that? In a blur of seconds Alex Howes had won the final stage of the USA Pro Challenge in Denver and not only completed an impressive sprint, he defied gravity and barriers in a perfectly instinctual bike handling move; he was victorious. It was brilliant.

Or, it was the bird shit on my shoulder that brought the good luck. Either way the victory was thrilling.

Last Km of Stage 7 with replay (04:56 English) — nbcsports (via Steephill.tv)

click any image to enlarge

Alex sprints to the line (where my fellow photographer Ryan Wallace of RevLine Photo snapped this shot. © Photo by Ryan Wallace of RevLine Photo for Pedal Dancer®

Giving his victory salute, maybe he lingered too long, but his speed was high, and he needed to start thinking about turning - and fast! © Photo by Ryan Wallace of RevLine Photo for Pedal Dancer®

Alex's speed was so fast and his position so left, he began the curve before the pack of photographers and just didn't have enough room. I caught sight of him rapidly arcing toward the barrier. I really thought his front wheel had touched.

Nice save Alex!  © Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Fifteen feet later, here he is applauding himself, with the teams' soigneurs (who had luckily moved down the barriers) and the fans applauding as well. Can you imagine Alex's adrenaline level at this point? © Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Alex Howes still celebrating as his floats up Colfax trailing Reijnen and Schär behind him. © Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Alex Howes immediately after the race.  © Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Alex being guided by team staff after his stage win. © Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Alex, very happy on the podium  © Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Stage 7 winners!  1. Alex Howes, 2. Kiel Reijnen 3. Michael Schär.  © Photo by Ryan Wallace of RevLine Photo for Pedal Dancer®

In the last minutes of the stage, I saw Alex Howes nearly crash into the barrier after winning the stage, I ran up the road to see Jens Voigt stop racing (forever), I heard Alex Howes screaming out in joy behind Jens, and then walked back down the street to the podium presentation for more photos and to get sprayed by champagne. It turned out to be a lucky day.

My photo of Alex Howes doing a tripod in the meters just after his Stage 7 win got lots of air time on Twitter after the race. Thank you Neal Rogers, Dan Wouri, Ride_Argyl, Kathy Lemond and so many others who shared the experience of what we all saw on TV only couldn't tell quite how skilled a rider Alex Howes needed to be to have stayed upright.

Today I saw the race as a regular fan at the barriers - and loved it!

I attended the press conference after the race where I chatted with a number of my favorite photographer friends, I admitted to them, I don't want to go home, I don't want to discover I didn't get the shot. They knew exactly what I meant but did not know what I had seen through my camera lens. What I later discovered, was that I got the shot! I had already felt quite a part of the day as a fan of bike racing, but to see that image held in time - was so cool.

A quote from Alex Howes at the press conference post race:
"A lot of Europeans don't understand America, they think it is Las Vegas or whatever.  To me, this is what America is -- It's big open mountains, It's small towns, It's beautiful, It's home."

Alex Howes. © Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Anyone in Denver tomorrow - Jens Voigt will be at Wheat Ridge Cyclery (Ron Kiefel's bike shop) from 10:00-11:00am for the TrekFactory farewell.

Send good thoughts to Ian Crane (Jamis-Hagens Berman) injured today in the race: USA Pro Challenge stage marred by crash of Ian Crane by Cycling News

Results, photos and more stories from the road for Stage 7: 
Pro Challenge reports from the road Stage 7 - Boulder by Karen Rakestraw
Pro Challenge reports from the road Stage 7 - Denver, Final Stage by Karen Rakestraw
See more photos from Stage 7 by Ryan Wallace at RevLine Stage 7 by Ryan Wallace

Pro Challenge reports from the road Stage 6 - Vail Time Trial

The excitement of a high altitude time trial in the rain

Let's talk speed. In the rain and wind of Stage 6 in Vail, Tejay van Gardern actually beat his best time last year (25:01) in this individual time trial at high altitude with a winning time of 24:26. That's fast. That's over two minutes faster than Andy Hampsten's old record from the Coors Classic. Tejay is now 1:31 ahead in the overall lead of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge.

What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, even with the rain and cold.

Vail, Colorado has hosted the same time trial course three times.

Time Trial ready

RESULTS

Stage 6 Results

First - Tejay van Garderen (USA) of BMC Racing Team
Second - Tom Danielson (USA) of Team Garmin-Sharp
Third - Serghei Tvetcov (ROM) of Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis

GC Standings

First - Tejay van Garderen (USA) of BMC Racing Team
Second - Tom Danielson (USA) of Team Garmin-Sharp
Third - Serghei Tvetcov (ROM) of Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis

Jersey Winners

Yellow Jersey - Tejay van Garderen (USA) of BMC Racing Team
Green Jersey - Kiel Reijnen (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
Polka-dot Jersey - Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) of Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home
Blue Jersey - Clement Chevrier (FRA) of Bissell Development Team
Orange Jersey - Ben King (USA) of Team Garmin-Sharp
Dark Blue Colorado Rider Jersey - Tejay van Garderen (USA) of BMC Racing Team

General Classification after Stage 6 (via Steephill.TV)
USA  1  VAN GARDEREN, Tejay (BMC RACING)                     17:20:22
USA  2  DANIELSON, Thomas (GARMIN SHARP)                       + 1:31
MDA  3  TVETCOV, Serghei (JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS)              + 1:45
POL  4  MAJKA, Rafal (TINKOFF-SAXO)                            + 1:48

PRESS CONFERENCE

Some quotes from the Press Conference today post race with Tejay, Tommy D, and Serghei. You never hear these comments outside the press room, it's a shame because the guys are actually quite funny:

Tom Danielson shared the thoughts running through his mind near the end of the race, "I thought, all this pain could stop, I could just hit that banana guy right there, and then it would be over."

Tejay explained about power output, "If you do 500 watts, you're going to pay for it later." Tom Danielison interupted him, "Did you say 500 watts?"

Tejay van Garderen answering a question from the media about whether he knew he was ahead during the time trial, "No I didn't get time splits... Only give me the times sprints if I'm up. "

PHOTOS  click any photo to enlarge  All photos by Karen of Pedal Dancer

The day

Vail Pass was quiet in the morning rain

Very good viewing at the start ramp area where the rain was much lighter in Vail Village

The fans

Sizzle on Vail Pass

There was actually an amateur time trial that attempted to race through this mess of fun

Lots of play time on Vail Pass today

Bubbles and beer

The race

As Drapac hit the course, it was pouring rain on Vail Pass and clear below in Vail Village

Ted King came racing by and of course I had to cheer for him very loudly

Some men just love to race a time trial - Ben Jacques-Maynes (polka-dot jersey)

Matej Mohoric on the start ramp

I like this photo of Luis Davila (Jelly Belly)

A very happy Kiel Reijnen (sprinters jersey) and very happy fans watching his smile

Mic Rogers!

Laurent Didier (French National TT Champion)

Jens Voigt's last professional ITT- the crowd went crazy as he rolled down the ramp

Frank Schleck races in the rain

Carter Jones takes off

Rafal Majka trying to stay warm before his race

Serghei Tvetcov waiting to race - Can't you jest feel the anxiety

Tejay waiting for his race of truth

Tejay walks to the start ramp

The podium

Sierra Nevada for the stage winners

Young Clement Chevrier is still representing CSU Rams and the Best Young Riders jersey very well

Ben King was again in orange (Most Aggressive Rider jersey) at the end of the stage

Tejay has this race wrapped up (if all goes well tomorrow).

Tejay likes Colorado

This is the Tejay wave

If there is ever a decision to be made between Khaki pants and cycling legs - I choose cycling legs.

These legs are Ben King's

NEXT STAGE

Stage 7 activities and schedule for the day: 
Sunday, August 24, 2014, Boulder - Golden - Denver

SUNDAY, STAGE 7 : 78 miles  Stage Map PDF  Stage Profile PDF
Boulder - Golden - Lookout Mountain - circuits in Denver (different route than 2013 in downtown Denver!)

Stage 7 Start time: 12:30pm
Stage 7 Finish time: 3:50pm
Stage 7 Timetable.pdf

State Highways Impacted: SH 93, US 40, SH 391 (Kipling Street), SH 121 (Wadsworth), SH 95 (Sheridan), I-25, USA Pro Challenge Road Closures 2014
* Please note that the route of the circuit laps in downtown Denver does not go down Speer Blvd or through Larimer Street this year. The race is concentrated around Civic Center Park, along 17th Street, and in City Park. The finish again is in front of the State Capital Building.

BOULDER - Sunday, Stage 7
http://www.usaproboulder.com
Sunday: !0:30-2:00pm - Festival in Boulder
Sunday: Stage 7 Start in Boulder at 12:30pm at 18th and Pearl St
Best viewing: Team buses, sign-in, and Start line in Boulder

GOLDEN - Sunday, Stage 7
On the path of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge - Golden by Pedal Dancer® (My tips)
Golden Events 
Friday: 3:00pm Lookout mountain closes to traffic (through 2:00pm Sunday 8/24/14)
Sunday: Stage 7 Start in Boulder at 12:30pm
Sunday: the race will be in Golden from 1:00-3:00pm
Sunday: Stage 7 Finish in Denver at 3:50pm
Best viewing: Sprint in town or on Lookout Mountain

DENVER - Sunday, Stage 7

On the path of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge - Denver by Pedal Dancer® (My tips)
Sunday: 11:00-5:00pm - Festival in Denver Civic Center Park
Sunday: 3:50pm - Stage 7 Finish in Denver
Sunday: 4:15pm (approx.) final podium presentation near finish line in Denver
Best viewing: VIP tents, near Broadway, along 17th St, or in City Park.
 

2014 USA Pro Challenge - Stage 7 route map

Look for these men tomorrow

USA PRO CHALLENGE Race, travel and fan guide by Pedal Dancer®

Pro Challenge reports from the road Stage 5 - Breckenridge

Racing through National Forest Lands in Colorado

Today the USA Pro Challenge crossed the valleys and rivers in the land of the fourteeners. Those high mountains that reach above 14,000 feet in elevation. It can make a pack of even the best pro riders feel small in comparison. Today many of those high peaks were also shrouded in clouds. It rained again in Colorado today (although very lightly in Breckenridge), it is going to rain more tomorrow - on the individual time trial. For some but not for all riders, which should make finish times inconsistent, which means luck is a big factor for tomorrow. .

The local Colorado rule of off the summit by 1pm should apply to a bike race if they want to avoid the typical weather patterns all Rocky Mountain cyclists know all too well. It rains in the afternoon here (very rarely all day). But television broadcasting schedules rule the roost and determine start and finish times, and then the storms come and television is unable to broadcast due to the weather and the world doesn't get to see our spectacular landscape - darn it.

Stage 5 crossed magnificent Rocky Mountain Colorado scenery from Woodland Park, west of Colorado Springs, across the newly pave Terryall Rd and Hoosier Pass (highest point in this stage race at 11,550ft and a low 49 degrees when the peloton hit the summit) into beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado.

It is tough to begin a race in the rain but today the riders had to do just that. The break took three attempts to finally stick. Thirteen rider were let go with BMC controlling the pace for much of the day. The lead pack began to break apart over Hoosier Pass when Laurent Didier was able to break free on the descent in a solo effort. Soon Britton, King and Acevedo joined him as these four entered Breckenridge. Didier attacked on the climb toward Boreas Pass and was able to hold his lead to the finish line. Ben King earned most aggressive rider jersey for the day, the other jerseys remained the same.

RESULTS

Stage 5 Results
First - Laurent Didier (LUX) of Trek Factory Racing
Second - Janier Acevedo (COL) of Team Garmin-Sharp
Third - Rob Britton (CAN) of Team SmartStop

Laurent Didier

Janier Acevedo (bottom) and Rob Britton (top)

GC Standings
First - Tejay van Garderen (USA) of BMC Racing Team
Second - Rafał Majka (POL) of Tinkoff-Saxo
Third - Serghei Tvetcov (ROM) of Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis

Jersey Winners
Leader Jersey – Tejay van Garderen (USA) of BMC Racing Team
Sprint Jersey – Kiel Reijnen (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
King of the Mountains Jersey – Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) of Jamis-Hagens Berman
Best Young Rider Jersey – Clement Chevrier (FRA) of Bissell Development Team
Most Aggressive Rider Jersey – Ben King (USA) of Team Garmin-Sharp
Best Colorado Rider Jersey – Tejay van Garderen (USA) of BMC Racing Team

Ben King today in orange

Yes Tejay is again in yellow, but I like this photo today - the Colorado National Guard Best Colorado Rider Jersey

Kiel Reijnen, Clement Chevrier, Tejay van Garderen, Ben Jacques-Maynes, Ben King

General Classification after Stage 5 (via Steephill.TV)
USA  1  VAN GARDEREN, Tejay (BMC RACING)                           16:55:56
POL  2  MAJKA, Rafal (TINKOFF-SAXO)                                 +    20
MDA  3  TVETCOV, Serghei (JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS)                   +    37
USA  4  DANIELSON, Thomas (GARMIN SHARP)                            +    39
USA  5  BUSCHE, Matthew (TREK FACTORY RACING)                       +    51

A nice photo of podium girl Heidi Golznig today

PHOTOS FROM THE ROAD

Today was a different kind of day, I got delayed leaving my home in Denver and was late arriving into Breckenridge which meant I hit traffic. I relearned why it is I always advise to go early to a stage, ugh. Lots of people were gathering in Breckenridge and the city looked colorful and lively.

Water games in the river in Breckenridge before the race arrived in town

The town waits

I walked by the VIP tent and noticed the mayor of Breckenridge, calling out to him, I introduced myself and asked if I could take his photo

Mayor John Warner has been Mayor of Breckenridge since 2008, he is a Dentist serving the small-town community since 1981.

Happy VIP people in Breckenridge where I heard they served Filet Mignon

I met more friendly fans in the festival area and up the first section of the climb in the town of Breckenridge.

I am hoping they were watching Tour Tracker!

Jens everywhere you look

Friendly Fans on Wellington Rd

Then a bike race came by ...

The breakaway finally climbs Wellington Rd, with a gorilla

The race Leaders in Breckenridge

The peloton hits the climb

Did you know that Marcel van Garderen's Dad drives the Medical Moto in this race? Yes that is Marcel driving (with a big smile!).

Marcel van Garderen

The area just after the finish line is a really interesting routine, where soigneurs wait to great their riders after a hard race. Today it was to offer clean dry warm clothing.

This BMC Soigneur happens to be Kate Ochowicz-Hogan, the team's Marketing Director

Here UHC staff Soigneurs rush to help Kiel Reijnen change and get warm immediately after the finish

The hectic area after the finish line where riders, soigneurs and fans merge into one mass

After getting in the way of an approaching moto in the extended finish line area, and feeling like an idiot, I had a horrible experience trying to struggle through (and feeling awful for trying to push my way through) the jam-packed crowd to get to the photographers designated pen in front of the podium stage to take photos. Ugh.

But it was worth getting there to see The Jensie's new look. The town of Breckenridge gifted him with a free vacation to Tiger Run Resort for he and his large family, presented by the town Mayor (featured above).

Could be a new trend

The rain meant lots of washing of bikes and buses after the stage

The BMC bus gets washed

Every bike had to be washed by the mechanics post race

I visited with the Mavic Men. Did you know that between these 9 men they have 100 years of experience in support service.

The Mavic Men working to clean and store their wheels for the next day

They do this every day

NEXT STAGE

Start order (start list) of riders for the time trial in Vail, Stage 6 USA Pro Challenge, Saturday
2014 Pro Challenge Stage 6 Time Trial Start Order.pdf

The riders go off at 1 minute intervals until the final 20 riders, who will go off at 2 minute intervals.
The course record from 2013 was Tejay's with a time of 25:01

Trek TT bikes waiting to be built. There will be no special custom painted time trial bike for Jensie tomorrow

Stage 6 activities and schedule for the day: 
Saturday, August 23, 2014, Vail ass Individual Time Trial!

SATURDAY, STAGE 6 : 10 miles Stage 6 Map PDF  Stage 6 Profile PDF
Individual Time Trial up Vail Pass bike path (same route as previous years).

Stage 6 Start time: 1:05pm
Stage 6 Finish time: 3:50pm
Stage 6 Timetable.pdf

State Highways Impacted: I-70,  USA Pro Challenge Road Closures 2014

VAIL - Saturday, Stage 6
Recommended road rides near Vail, Colorado
Saturday: 11:00-5:00pm - Festival in Vail Village 
Saturday: 11:30am - Road Closures
Saturday: 1:05pm - first racer, 3:50pm - last racer finishes
Saturday: 4:15pm - podium presentation in Vail Village
Best Viewing: Starting ramp in Vail Village, from the gate on Vail Pass bike path to the finish line near the top.

My tips on where and how to see the stage On the path of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge - Vail by Pedal Dancer®

2014 USA Pro Challenge - Stage 6 route map

USA PRO CHALLENGE  Race, travel and fan guide by Pedal Dancer®.