Posts tagged Clif Bar
Sagan strikes again!
Aug 22nd
Cannondale Pro Cycling’s Peter Sagan Wins Stage 3 of the 2013 USA Pro Challenge
Lachlan David Morton of Team Garmin-Sharp Holds on to Leader Jersey
Steamboat Springs, CO (Aug. 21, 2013) – Stage 3 of the 2013 USA Pro Challenge took the riders on a 105.9-mile route from one iconic ski town to another – Breckenridge to Steamboat Springs. Highlighted by a solo breakaway from veteran rider Jens Voigt (GER) of RadioShack Leopard Trek, the stage came down to an all-out spring to the finish, where 2013 Tour de France Sprint Jersey Winner Peter Sagan took his second stage win of the race. Lachlan David Morton (AUS) of Team Garmin-Sharp crossed the line with the peloton, holding onto the leader jersey heading into day four of the race.
Sagan performs a wheelie for fans
“It’s always amazing to see what these guys are capable of,” said Shawn Hunter, CEO of the USA Pro Challenge. “Between the stellar riding and the enthusiastic fans, this has been an incredible race so far. The crowds at the 2013 USA Pro Challenge continue to be humbling – we don’t get the crowds that we do out of luck, it’s because of the leadership in these communities and the remarkable racing from these world-class athletes.”
Following an exciting and extremely competitive day of racing yesterday, the Pro Challenge began today in Breckenridge at 9,400 ft. After completing three neutral laps around town, the riders began the downhill ride, hitting impressive speeds, to the first Nissan King of the Mountains (KOM) competition at Swan Mountain. Under a blue sky filled with beautiful clouds, the race started with several attacks, but nothing stuck. With fans lining the tight switchbacks, the riders neared the top with attacks flying left and right. Edward King (USA) of Cannondale Pro Cycling pulled ahead and was followed over the top by Matt Cooke (USA) of Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home and Voigt.
Taking advantage of the climb, Joshua Edmonson (GBR) of Sky Procycling, Voigt, Villella, Tyler Wren (USA) of Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home and Serghei Tvetcov (MDA) of Jelly Belly p/b Kenda (USA) created a gap and pulled away from the peloton heading toward the first Clif Bar sprint of the day in Silverthorne.
With a downhill approach to the sprint line, the riders reached speeds of 50 mph as Tvetcov catapulted over the line to take maximum points, followed by Voigt and Wren.
Senior rider Jens Voight led a furious chafe to the finish line
At ages ranging from 21 to 41, the breakaway riders continued to work together through the Feed Zone heading toward the next Clif Bar sprint line of the day in Kremmling. Showing his power and speed, Villella crossed the line first, followed by Tvetcov and Voigt.
On a straight and long road to the finish, the break continued to increase the gap, which got up to five minutes at one point. At just more than three hours into the stage, Voigt pulled away from the other four in an attempt to set himself up for the stage win and after several hard days of racing, they just weren’t able to hang on.
Leading into the final Nissan KOM of the day at Rabbit Ears Pass, a category 2 climb, it was Voigt out front with the four chasers about two minutes behind and the peloton about two minutes behind them. Powering up the five-mile climb filled with fans who had been camping out all day, Voigt reached the top first, followed by his former breakaway companions Edmonson and Wren. Back in the peloton, the Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home riders ensured that current Nissan King of the Mountains Jersey wearer Cooke was set up to reach the top next to hang onto his lead.
On the descent, the chase was caught by the peloton, leaving only veteran rider Voigt out in front. But the final 10K would present a long, flat straight-away, where the peloton would have Voigt in their sight. With different teams taking turns at the front, they quickly brought the gap down and eventually caught Voigt.
“I was disappointed (about being caught), but it could have been worse,” said Voigt. “I gave it a go. I saw it coming a little bit, but I was still disappointed.”
The sprinters set up for the final dash to the line in Steamboat Springs and ultimately Sagan took the win, followed closely by Luka Mezgec (SLO) of Team Argos-Shimano and Ryan Anderson (CAN) of Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies.
“I’m very happy about my stage win today and I want to thank all my teammates because they did great work,” said Sagan. “For now I feel good and I think I can do well on these climbs.”
The jerseys remained almost unchanged with Morton retaining the Smashburger Leader Jersey and the Colorado State University Best Young Rider Jersey; Sagan holding onto the Clif Bar Sprint Jersey; and Cooke keeping the Nissan King of the Mountains Jersey. Voigt was awarded the FirstBank Most Courageous Rider Jersey for his amazing solo effort during the stage.
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Mathias Frank takes Stage 2 of the Pro-Am circuit
Aug 20th
Mathias Fränk of BMC Racing Team Claims Stage 2 of the 2013 USA Pro Challenge After Rigorous Day in the Mountains
Lachlan David Morton of Colorado-Based Team Garmin-Sharp Takes the Overall Lead Heading into Third Day of Racing
Breckenridge, CO (Aug. 20, 2013) – Stage 2 of the 2013 USA Pro Challenge professional cycling race took riders to extraordinary heights on the route from Aspen to Breckenridge. At 126.1 miles, the stage, which was punctuated by three Nissan King of the Mountains (KOM) competitions and two Clif Bar sprint lines, tested the riders’ strength and endurance in the mountains of Colorado. An impressive turnout of fans welcomed and cheered on the cyclists as they hit the streets of Breckenridge, where Mathias Fränk (SUI) of BMC Racing Team ultimately took home the win.
“The level of racing that we saw during today’s stage of the 2013 USA Pro Challenge shows that these guys are here to win,” said Shawn Hunter, CEO of the USA Pro Challenge. “The crowds lining the route from Aspen to Breckenridge were amazing, and the enthusiasm and support up on the mountain passes is truly a sight to see.”
Following two neutral laps around the City of Aspen under bright blue skies, the riders were off for Stage 2 of the 2013 USA Pro Challenge, which would provide a harsh introduction to the mountainous terrain of Colorado with three big Nissan King of the Mountains (KOM) competitions. After a series of unsuccessful initial attacks, Michael Schär (SUI) of BMC Racing Team finally launched one that stuck. He was soon joined by Matt Cooke (USA) of Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home and Luis Lemus (MEX) of Jelly Belly p/b Kenda.
The gap continued to grow as the riders climbed the familiar battleground of Independence Pass, which at 12,000 ft. is the highest point reached in any professional cycling race. The well-known, epic climb drew fans from all around the world to cheer on the riders as they suffered to the top. With enthusiastic costumed fans running alongside, Schär crested the pass first, followed by Cooke and Lemus.
Leading into the approach to the Feed Zone, hitting speeds of more than 35 mph, David Millar (GBR) of Team Garmin-Sharp and Kanstantin Siutsou (BLR) of Sky Procycling pulled away from the peloton to start the chase and eventually reached the three out front to form a break of five riders. As they zoomed through Buena Vista and crossed the first Clif Bar sprint line of the day, Lemus hit the line first, then Schär and Millar.
David Morton is the overall leader
A little more than three hours into the race, as the course prepared to turn back uphill, the peloton hit the gas and with RadioShack Nissan Trek and Cannondale Pro Cycling leading the way, they began to close the gap, eventually swallowing up the break. Soon after though a new break was formed with 13 riders pulling away.
“We just had to have representation in the breakaway because it’s always better to be in front than to be chasing,” said Morton. “We put two in it, which took the pressure off the other guys.”
As the break approached the second and final sprint of the day in Fairplay, Van Avermaet attacked and crossed the line first, followed by Schleck and Beyer. With two more climbs and 26 miles to go to the finish in Breckenridge, it was still anybody’s stage.
On the climb up to the next Nissan KOM competition of the day at Hoosier Pass, riders began to drop off the break. Morton however saw an opportunity and started pulling away to take the maximum KOM points, followed by Fränk and Craddock. Taking the descent at speeds around 50 mph, the three riders grouped together with a few members of the original break following behind and the peloton still on the chase.
Reaching the final Nissan KOM of the day at Boreas Pass, Fränk rode through the sea of fans to crest the summit first, followed by Morton and Craddock. Now, with only 2.5 miles to go, the pressure was really on. Knowing it was now or never, Peter Sagan (SVK) of Cannondale Pro Cycling, Tejay van Garderen (USA) of BMC Racing Team, Tom Danielson (USA) of Team Garmin-Sharp and Darwin Atapuma (COL) of COLOMBIA made a move out of the peloton to catch the break. And in a sprint through Breckenridge, Fränk took the stage win, followed close behind by Morton and Sagan.
“I really had one shot, and today I knew that I could make it there on the short, steep climb,” said Fränk. “I definitely had the plan to go for the stage win today. The altitude here really got to me. I really had to go super deep there at the finish. Now I have a stage win here and I’m really happy with that.”
In the race for the jerseys, Morton claimed the Smashburger Leader Jersey and the Colorado State University Best Young Rider Jersey. Sagan held onto the Clif Bar Sprint Jersey, as did Cooke to the Nissan King of the Mountains Jersey. TheFirstBank Most Courageous Rider Jersey went to Fränk for his impressive racing.
Award jerseys awarded for USA Pro Challenge
Aug 9th
Smashburger, Clif Bar, Nissan, Colorado State University and FirstBank to Serve as Presenting Partners
DENVER (Aug. 9, 2013) – As the professional riders participating in the 2013 USA Pro Challenge battle it out on the mountainous roads of Colorado, they will be competing for several coveted honors – the jerseys awarded to the overall leader, sprinter, climber, best young rider and most courageous rider. This year, the newly unveiled jerseys include updated, eye-catching designs that will help fans identify the current leaders during the race, set to take place Aug. 19-25.
In 2013, the official award jerseys are presented by a combination of returning and new partners. Colorado State University, Colorado-based FirstBank and Clif Bar join returning partners Smashburger and Nissan, who have been with the race since the inaugural year in 2011.
“These jerseys, and the partners presenting them, are a critical component to the USA Pro Challenge,” said Rick Schaden, owner of the race. “Bringing on partners of this caliber really show the growing interest in the race and helps us to create an unforgettable week.”
Sports apparel company Pearl Izumi, which has been the official technical apparel partner since the inaugural year, will produce the jerseys to be presented to riders who display exceptional skill in each stage of the race in the following categories:
Smashburger Leader Jersey
The Smashburger Leader Jersey is awarded to the rider with the lowest cumulative elapsed time over the duration of the race. Depending on each day’s results, the rider wearing the yellow leader jersey can change from stage to stage. Because the overall winner is based on lowest cumulative time, it is possible for a rider to win the Smashburger Leader Jersey without winning a daily stage.
Clif Bar Sprint Jersey
The Clif Bar Sprint Jersey is awarded to the rider that accumulates the most bonus points, which are given based on sprint line performances, as well as finishing the stage in the top 15 places. Cyclists who specialize in bursts of power and speed, or consistently finish near the top of each stage, will have the best chance to wear this respected green jersey.
Nissan King of the Mountains Jersey
The USA Pro Challenge features the most demanding mountain terrain in professional cycling, reaching higher elevations than any other race. The cyclist who proves to be the strongest climber through steep grades at designated Nissan King of the Mountain (KOM) locations will ultimately win this jersey. The first three cyclists to reach the top on rated climbs receive points toward this award.
FirstBank Most Courageous Rider Jersey
Each stage of the competition will present countless obstacles for the cyclists. The rider who best tackles the challenges of the day and exemplifies the spirit of the sport – courage, sacrifice, inspiration, determination and perseverance – will be awarded the FirstBank Most Courageous Rider jersey.
Colorado State University Best Young Rider Jersey
A plethora of young talent will take to the roads to tackle the USA Pro Challenge. These up-and-comers will compete for the distinction of wearing the Best Young Rider Jersey, which will be awarded to the rider under 23 years old that has the lowest cumulative elapsed time over the duration of the race. New to the race, Colorado State University is the official higher education partner and as such, will present the award to this emerging talent.
“Like the USA Pro Challenge, Colorado State University’s high-quality academic and research programs touch every corner of our beautiful state and have a global reach,” said Tom Milligan, CSU vice president for external relations. “Just as the wearer of this CSU Best Young Rider Jersey represents the future of cycling, our students represent the next generation of statewide, national and international leaders in business, science, the arts and more.”
“The jerseys are a time-honored tradition in professional cycling,” said Shawn Hunter, CEO of the USA Pro Challenge. “Each jersey carries a special meaning and each partner presenting it at the USA Pro Challenge plays a critical role in celebrating these amazing athletes for their incredible effort on the road.”
About the USA Pro Challenge
Referred to as “America’s Race,” the USA Pro Challenge will take place August 19-25, 2013 and travel through eight host cities from Aspen to Denver. For seven consecutive days, the world’s top athletes race through the majestic Colorado Rockies, reaching higher altitudes than they’ve ever had to endure. After attracting more than 1 million spectators in 2012, making it one of the largest cycling events in U.S. history and the largest spectator event in the history of the state, the USA Pro Challenge is back for 2013. Featuring a challenging, 600-mile course, the third annual race will spotlight the best of the best in professional cycling and some of America’s most beautiful scenery.
More information can be found online at www.USAProChallenge.com and on Twitter at @USAProChallenge.
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Contact:
Nicole Okoneski
Rogers & Cowan
310-854-8189
