One of the largest and most challenging professional cycling events in the U.S. is underway in Colorado.
Though for the first time since it began in 2011, the 2015 USA Pro Cycling Challenge features something new to its history 鈥� a three-day international-level 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 stage race. That鈥檚 prompting a lot of excitement among male and female cycling fans alike.
"It鈥檚 definitely overdue," says professional cyclist Whitney Schultz, who rides for team Colavita/Bianchi. "At the same time I think it鈥檚 really important for women to be so grateful and to show up and do their best at these events that are offered to us. I think the motto for women should be 'Thank you, more please.' We definitely want to keep getting these longer stage races that are more comparable to the men's."
In 2013, noting the scarcity of opportunity for pro women cyclists, the Fort Collins resident helped organize a 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 criterion at the finishing area of the men鈥檚 race in Old Town. Schultz says friends who were putting on the men鈥檚 stage helped facilitate the race, and businesses stepped up to support it financially.
"We were able to have a criterion at the men鈥檚 finish, so there were tons of people watching, which was really great," Schultz recalls. "But it鈥檚 a lot better to have the Pro Challenge putting on this race instead of a racer having to do that as a really huge volunteer project, on top of racing and a job."
There are 12 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 teams and 16 men鈥檚 teams competing in the 2015 USA Pro Challenge and Schultz says the 3-day 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 event promises lots of excitement. It begins Friday, Aug. 21, with a time trial in Breckenridge, where riders essentially race the clock rather than each other.
Stage 2 is a demanding road race that begins in Loveland and finishes in Fort Collins.
"That鈥檚 where you鈥檙e with the whole group," Schultz says. "It has over 7,000 feet of climbing 鈥� which is a lot for a race."
Stage 3 wraps up the Pro Challenge Sunday 鈥� the same day as the men鈥檚 race 鈥� with a criterion in Golden.
The 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 race follows basically the same routes as the final three stages of the men鈥檚 - but observers will note it is notably shorter, not only in the number of days but also in the number of miles ridden. So would female cyclists welcome more 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 races that are the same as men鈥檚, rather than shorter versions? At least for Schultz the answer is "yes."
"A lot of the resources are already there for putting on the men鈥檚 race, [so] adding a women's is, you know, only marginally extra in expenses," she says. "And quite frankly, I don鈥檛 think as many people care if they鈥檙e watching men or women 鈥� it鈥檚 still something that鈥檚 so unique to them, and so exciting."
