Upstart USA Pro Cycling Challenge to rival Vuelta

A couple of days after the Vuelta a Espana, the last Grand Tour of the year, begins in late August, the entire podium of the 2011 Tour de France will be in the start house in Colorado to contest a new race that revives a lost one from the 80’s. Cadel Evans and the Schleck brothers are among the racing luminaries who will navigate a prologue in Colorado Springs August 22nd, kicking off the first USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Like the legendary Coors Classic of the 80’s, this seven stage, 830 kilometre race will take in the Rocky Mountains and attract some of cream of the road racing world.

Originally dubbed the Quiznos Pro Challenge, the 2.1 rated race draws all the top U.S.-based World Tour teams like Garmin-Cervelo, BMC, HTC and Radioshack, along with European squads Liquigas, Leopard and Rabobank. The Canadian SpiderTech Presented by C10 gang will be there too, so Svein Tuft and company will be sure to provide some fireworks from August 22-28. The Queen Stage comes early: on stage two the course from Gunnison to Aspen takes in two big climbs at Cottonwood Pass and Independence Pass.

The race’s jerseys are among the most garish ever devised, with the race leader’s a yellow and white checkered affair.