The USA Pro Cycling Challenge is coming to Northern Colorado in 2013. The route announced Wednesday shows Stage 6 starting in Loveland and finishing in Fort Collins August 24, 2013.
Right now Eric Thompson with Northern Colorado’s organizing committee says the vision is to have the race starting at The Ranch in Loveland, make a lap around Windsor, then head back through Loveland up the Big Thompson Canyon to Estes Park. The race will then head back down the canyon through Masonville, Loveland, with a final finish in Fort Collins.
Thompson says Stage 6 will be on a Saturday, which means millions will be watching the race on NBC.
“We think the economic benefit will be long term. It’s not just about that one day. It’s about the great PR and marketing that all these communities will get by having close to 200 countries watching this race live,” he says.
Now the hard work really begins for race organizers in Northern Colorado. The estimated price tag is $600,000 to host Stage 6. Thompson says about two-thirds of that money has already been raised from pledges by local governments and businesses. Loveland and Fort Collins have reportedly promised $100,000 each.
The entire USA Pro Cycling Challenge route unveiled today will start in Aspen on August 19. The stages are:
Stage 1: Aspen
Stage 2: Aspen to Breckenridge
Stage 3: Breckenridge to Steamboat Springs
Stage 4: Steamboat Springs to Beaver Creek
Stage 5: Vail
Stage 6: Loveland to Fort Collins
Stage 7: Denver
