Indonesian Digital News Archive

American riders once again claimed the top three positions at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge which concluded yesterday with a short time trial on the streets of Denver, Colorado. The seventh, and final stage, capped a week of racing through the Rocky Mountains on a course that featured 50,000 feet of climbing and plenty of altitude.

The first place finisher was Christian Vande Velde of Team Garmin-Sharp-Baracuda. He finished 21 seconds ahead of Tejay Van Garderen of Team BMC Racing and 24 seconds in front of defending champ Levi Leipheimer of Omega-Pharma-Quickstep.

The 863-mile long race was a fast and furious one all week long with daring breakaways and tough showdowns on Colorado's mountain slopes. Throughout the week Vande Velde and Van Garderen challenged one another for the lead with virtually no difference in their times. Yesterday Vande Velde managed to finish the 9.5 mile (15.2km) time trial ahead of Van Garderen, giving him the victory on the final day.

It seems it was another successful year for the fledgling race, which got off to a great start in 2011 and was viewed as an excellent event again this year. Hopefully the future is bright for this race, which has attracted some great riders from all over the world.

Congrats to Vande Velde on a well deserved win.

It has been an eventful week on the roads of Colorado where the USA Pro Cycling has been a fast and furious affair thus far. After three stages, the top of the leaderboard is dominated by American riders, while 25 cyclists sit less than one minute off the lead.

The race got off to a good start on Monday with a long 126-mile leg. That stage was won by Tyler Farrar of Team Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda, who was happy to ride well following a crash-prone outing in the Tour de France last month. Tuesday's Stage 2 went to Tejay Van Garderen of BMC Racing while yesterday's win went to Tom Danielson, also of Garmin-Sharp. That means during all three days of racing, American riders have crossed the finish line in front.

The overall standings have Christian Vandevelde and Garderen in a virtual tie atop the leaderboard with Ivan Rovny of RusVelo. RusVelo is a new Russian squad that was created last year and are starting to show some promise out on the road. Defending champ Levi Leiphimer, who now rides for Omega Pharma-Quick-Step is sitting in fourth place just eight seconds off the lead.

Today's Stage 4 is a 97.2-mile ride (156.4km) ride from beautiful Aspen to Beaver Creek that includes a climb as high as 12,095 feet (3686 meters) on Independence Pass early on in the race. Over the first three days the pace has been fast, despite plenty of climbing and altitude, and today is likely to be no different. Considering how many riders are within striking distance of the lead, the race remains a wide open affair that will probably be decided in the individual time trial scheduled for Sunday in Denver.

I'm glad to see the race is living up to the legacy that was set down last year. The course is tough, but still allows riders to be aggressive and it remains very competitive as we head into the second half. I'm sure that a number of the American riders are hoping to once again take the win on home soil but we'll have to wait to see how it all plays out.

The second edition of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge will get underway today in Durango, Colorado where some of the top rider in the world will embark on what is becoming America's premiere cycling event. The race will last all week long, culminating with an individual time trial on the streets of Denver next Sunday.

After just one year, the race has already earned itself a reputation for being amongst the tougher short events on the cycling circuit. Riding in Colorado will always present challenges of course, particularly with the higher altitudes – much of the race takes place above 10,000 feet (3048 meters) – and loads of climbing. This year's course is 683 miles in length and features more than 50,000 feet of vertical gain.

The peloton features plenty of big names once again this year. 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans returns once again, as does defending champ Levi Leipheimer. Evan's teammate Tejay Van Garderen, who is coming off a strong showing at last month's Tour, will also be riding, as will Vincenzo Ibali, George Hincapie, Taylor Phinney and a host of others.

Today's opening stage runs from Durango to Telluride and covers some 126 miles. The Riders will face a tough climb above 10,000 feet on Lizard Head Pass before making a screaming descent toward the finish line down the other side.

Look for regular update on the race throughout the week. It looks like it should be another great week for cycling in the U.S.

One of the more unique and challenging footraces in North America gets underway today when participants in the 2012 Transrockies Run hit the trail for the first time. The six day event is a stage race that covers a total of 120 miles (193km) between Buena Vista and Beaver Creek, Colorado through some amazingly scenic backcountry.

The Transrockies is a test of endurance and determination, as each day the runners are tasked with completing a 20-mile (32km) trail run at altitudes ranging from 7400 (2255 meters) to 12,400 (3779 meters) feet in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. The 180 teams of two, plus 100 solo racers, will travel on foot all day and camp together each night as they make their way along the course, which features more than 20,000 feet of accumulative vertical gain.

As much as this is a race it is also billed as a "running vacation" and it looks like it is great fun for participants. Many of those taking part in the event are simply out for a great adventure on the trails in Colorado, but even still, they need to be in great shape to complete the entire course. Good luck to everyone hitting the trail to day and enjoy the next few days in the mountains.

One of the most challenging mountain bike races on the planet took place this past weekend in Colorado, where the Leadville 100 MTB tested riders from around the globe. The event, which is now in its 19th year, features a 100 mile long (160km ), out-and-back, course that includes more than 14,000 feet (4267 meters) of climbing at altitude.

The winner of this year's race was Austrian Alban Lakata who finished with a time of 6 hours, 32 minutes and 24 seconds. That put him two minutes ahead of second place finisher Christoph Sauser of Switzerland. The two men battled back and fourth much of the race, with Lakata taking it in the home stretch. American Jeremiah Bishop finished third approximately nine and a half minutes off the pace.

On the woman's side of leaderboard it was a familiar name taking top honors. Rebecca Rusch, the Queen of Pain herself, won the race for a fourth time. She also set a new course record, finishing in 7 hours, 28 minutes, 6 seconds. U.K. rider Sally Bigham (7:34:33) took second with Pua Mata (7:38:03) claiming third.

The course, which begins in downtown Leadville at an altitude of 10,200 feet (3109 meters), climbs as high as 12,424 feet (3787 meters) over the length of the ride. Apparently there was some confusion this year over the correct route to follow which cost several riders, including Bigham and Mata, extra minutes. Flags that typically denote which direction to go were placed in odd locations that caused some of the competitors to ride in the wrong direction. Hopefully that won't be an issue next year.

Congrats to not only to those that stood on the podium but everyone who rode in the race. Leadville is a tough event to say the least and simply completing it is quite an accomplishment.

Next up, the Leadville 100 Trail Run this coming weekend.

The Leadville Trail Run is one of the toughest races in North America. Covering more than 100 miles (160km) and ranging in elevation between 9200 and 12,600 feet (2804 - 3840 meters) it is a pure test of endurance and determination.

This year, two-time Olympian Michael Aish will test his mettle in the legendary "Race Across the Sky." After spending much of his career competing at the 5000 and 10,000 meter distances, this will be his first ultra-run and he plans on winning it. GoDu Productions, the same folks that brought us the awesome Ski The Himalayas series, are documenting Aish's preparation and Leadville run. They're producing a series entitled Crushing Hope which will consist of eight half hour long episodes for broadcast television. You'll find a fantastic trailer for the show below.

Incidentally, the title refers to Hope Pass, the highpoint of the Leadville 100, which the runners must pass through at both the 45 and 55 mile point in the run.

Can't wait to see this!

Crushing Hope Trailer from Godu Productions on Vimeo.

The 2012 Teva Mountain Games are set to get underway this Thursday, May 31 in Vail, Colorado. The annual event plays host to some of the best outdoor/adventure athletes in the world in sports ranging from trail running and mountain biking to kayaking and slacklining.

The full schedule of events can be found online and as usual there is plenty to see and do for both competitors and spectators alike. In addition to each of the athletic events, each day also features live music, parties, demonstrations and seminars. The Adventure Village also returns, giving visitors a chance to climb an outdoor wall, try slacklining for themselves or take part in a number of other activities, while Gear Town will be packed with all kinds of great outdoor equipment to try out and purchase.

Due to the unusually low snowfall this past winter, there is less than normal whitewater in many of the western states his spring. As a result, some of the paddling and rafting events could be moved or canceled.  If you're taking part in any of those events or plan on attending, you'll definitely want to check in with the Teva Mountain Games staff to be sure everything is still operating as expected.

This is always a great event and if you're in the area you'll definitely want to drop by and check it out.

Update: I received word this afternoon that the SUP competitions have been cancelled due to the low water conditions, but that the kayaking and rafting events will take place as planned. Find out more here.

One of the most inspiring events on the annual adventure racing calendar is scheduled to take place this coming weekend in Fruita, Colorado. It's called the Adventure TEAM Challenge and it stands out from all the other adventure racing events in that each team of five is required to have two disabled athletes as part of group, and one of those must be in a wheelchair.

The three-day event is entering its fifth year and will once again send the teams into the Colorado wilderness where they'll hike, raft, mountain bike, climb and more. The athletes will be racing against the clock to complete various stages of the course as quickly as possible, with the fastest team being crowned this year's champion. It is a mentally and physically demanding event, but one that is very rewarding on a number of levels.

Typically the race has been held in and around the Leadville area of Colorado, but this year the course will wind through the red rock canyons near Fruita. This change of venue will introduce the high desert environment to the event for the first time which will offer new challenges for the teams.

I think that this is simply an amazing event with some very inspiring athletes – both able bodied and disabled. In order to complete the race, let alone win it, they'll all need to work together in a very efficient manner. Team work has always been an important aspect of adventure racing, but this event takes it to an entirely new level.

Good luck to all the athletes taking part in the Adventure TEAM Challenge this weekend.