Flower Bin – Back to Cool Sale – Aug 30-Sept 2 2013
Aug 26th
The Flower Bin is having their big Back to Cool Sale from this upcoming Friday Aug. 30 – Monday Sept. 2 2013. Lots of great bargains on Annual Mixed Pots and Hanging Baskets. Perennials, Water Plants, Nursery Stock, Herbs, Foliage, Cacti, Fountains and much more. Great fun and deals this weekend, so stop on by the Flower Bin in Longmont just in time for the weather to start cooling off!
American Tejay van Garderen of BMC Racing wins the 2013 USA Pro Challenge
Aug 25th
Cannondale’s Peter Sagan Takes Fourth Stage Win of America’s Biggest Professional Cycling Race
Denver (Aug. 25, 2013) – The 2013 USA Pro Challenge came to an exciting conclusion today, as 2013 Tour de France Sprint Champion Peter Sagan (SVK) of Cannondale Pro Cycling took the stage to the roaring cheers of fans lining the route in Downtown Denver (his fourth stage win of the race). And with an overall time of 22 hours 38 minutes and 48 seconds, Tejay van Garderen (USA) of BMC Racing Team took home the overall win.
“I felt like this was a long time coming. I’ve been so close to winning before,” said van Garderen. “Races are difficult to be motivated for after July, but with this race on the calendar, it wasn’t a question on if I was going to stay motivated at all. This is my hometown race, so I wanted it bad. It feels amazing to finally get this win.”
Tejay van Garderen won the Pro Challenge Sunday in Denver
After a tough week of racing over mountains at high altitudes, the riders tackled their first flat stage of the race in Denver. Borrowing from the 2011 route for the ever-popular Denver circuit finish, Stage 7 included eight laps that would showcase LoDo, City Park, Civic Center Park and all the other highlights of downtown. Giving fans a chance to see the riders nine times and the riders plenty of opportunities to familiarize themselves with the course, the stage brought another exciting finish to seven days of fiercely competitive racing.
“The 2013 USA Pro Challenge was our best edition ever and we’ve learned more and more each year,” said Shawn Hunter, CEO of the USA Pro Challenge. “These athletes gave us a great show over the course of the last seven days. Fans from the start in Aspen to the finish in Denver witnessed the world’s best cyclists compete in the biggest race in America. The USA Pro Challenge is definitely coming back next year.”
Under beautiful sunny skies, the race kicked off with a very short neutral section and then officially started at City Park. At only 72.4 miles on a fast, flat circuit, the race would keep a steady tempo for the entire stage. At only five minutes into the stage there was a four-man breakaway, with three chasers following behind. The two groups quickly merged to form a seven-man break that would stick for most of the race. The break included:
- Ben King (USA) of RadioShack Leopard Trek RadioShack
- Christopher Juul Jensen (DEN) of Team Saxo-Tinkoff
- Chun Kai Feng (TPE) of Champion System Pro Cycling Team
- David Lozano Riba (ESP) of Team Novo Nordisk
- Lucas Euser (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
- Tyler Wren (USA) of Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home
- Carson Miller (USA) of Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home
With fans lined along the entire circuit, the riders were motivated to put on a good show. Cannondale Pro Cycling led the chase in the field and the gap fluctuated between 50 seconds to one and a half minutes.
With three intermediate springs included in the stage at 6, 4 and 2 laps to go, the speed continued to stay up, averaging around 45 mph. At the first Clif Bar Sprint, King crossed the line first, followed by Miller and Feng. With the breakaway maintaining its lead, Wren took the next Clif Bar Sprint competition, followed by Feng, then Juul Jensen.
And for the last Sprint Bar competition of the race before the finish in Denver, it was Euser, followed by Feng and Miller. With two laps to go, the race started to heat up, with the field turning on the gas to catch the breakaway. Sensing that the end was drawing near, Euser attacked the break and pulled away. Miller and King caught up to create a new break of three in front of the splintering original group, but it wouldn’t be long before they were caught as well.
Leading into the final lap, 2012 USA Pro Challenge Champion Christian Vande Velde (USA) of Team Garmin-Sharp was out front as the peloton started the last nine miles. All the teams got set up to put their sprinters in position for the final dash to the finish line, and ultimately it was Sagan who pulled out the win, his fourth of the race. He was followed by Ryan Anderson (CAN) of Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies who took second in the stage and Alessandro Bazzana (ITA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team who took third.
In the overall, van Garderen took first. With Mathias Frank (SUI) of BMC Racing Team taking second and Tom Danielson (USA) of Team Garmin-Sharp coming in third.
“The USA Pro Challenge has been a great addition for us. You always go in wanting to win,” said Danielson. “This was a strong course with stiff competition. I’m really happy and the team is really happy that we gave it our all and made the race. For me to finally stand on the podium in Denver was great.”
The 2013 USA Pro Challenge marked the final U.S. race for 2012 Champion Vande Velde, who finished in 22nd place today. Becoming a professional cyclist in 1998, Vande Velde has had a long and incredibly successful career.
“It was more emotional than I thought it would be, but I didn’t want to think about it too much,” said Vande Velde. “During the last lap, I just thought about so many things throughout my career up until this point. I’m really fortunate to have had this opportunity and to see three editions of this race. I’m glad I got to close it out here in Colorado.”
The final jerseys of the 2013 race were awarded this afternoon under blue skies in Downtown Denver. The Smashburger Leader Jersey went to van Garderen. Sagan kept his hold on the Clif Bar Sprint Jersey. Matt Cooke (USA) of Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Homes hung on to the Nissan King of the Mountains Jersey (no points were awarded today). Lachlan David Morton (AUS) of Team Garmin-Sharp kept the Colorado State University Best Young Rider Jersey. And King was awarded the FirstBank Most Courageous Rider Jersey for his overall effort throughout the week.
For full results, archived footage, GPS data, course information, race play-by-play and more, please visit the official race website www.prochallenge.com.
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, 599-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.
CU Shuts Out Colorado College 1-0 In Final Game of Colorado Cup
Aug 25th
BOULDER – The University of Colorado soccer team recorded back-to-back shutouts in its opening weekend, taking down Colorado College 1-0 in the final game of Colorado Cup.
Through six games in the three years of the Cup, CU has remained undefeated. For the third year running, CU defeated Northern Colorado 3-0, and this season marked the Buffaloes’ third straight shutout of the CC Tigers in as many Cups. The Buffs have not lost to the Tigers since 1997.
Through six games in the three years of the Cup, CU has remained undefeated. For the third year running, CU defeated Northern Colorado 3-0, and this season marked the Buffaloes’ third straight shutout of the CC Tigers in as many Cups. The Buffs have not lost to the Tigers since 1997.
In the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader at Prentup Field, Denver defeated UNC 3-0. Denver beat CC 2-1 on Friday, making the Pioneers and Buffs tied in the weekend win column. Since both teams won two games, and had an equal goal differential (five goals forced and one allowed for Denver, four goals scored and zero allowed for Colorado), goals scored worked as the tiebreaker, giving the Pioneers their first Cup trophy.
“We’ll take the win any day of the week,” CU head coach Danny Sanchez said. “I’m really pleased with how the players battled today. They got the result at the end of the day, so it was a good win for us for sure.”
Freshman sensation Brie Hooks scored the game winning goal
Freshman Brie Hooks continued her stellar debut weekend, scoring off an Anne Stuller assist in the 53rd minute to lead the Buffs to victory. In the Buffs’ first two games of the season, Hooks has already scored three goals.
“It’s exciting,” Hooks said. “It’s not really something I expected, I guess, but to go out there and get three goals in the first two games is a good way to show that I can do what I can out there on the field. It was a good feeling.”
The Buffs dominated the offense from the opening minutes, outshooting the Tigers 21-5, though only sending five more on goal (8-3).
Colorado got a shot off early, with Darcy Jerman getting blocked in the fifth minute. Less than four minutes later, Anne Stuller, who led the Buffs with six shots, sent one wide. It took until the 10th minute for CC to take their first shot, sending one right at Annie Brunner.
The Buffs looked set to score in the 12th minute when Brooke Rice got the ball to Hayley Hughes who found Olivia Pappalardo at the net to drive one in, but the goal was called off due to an offsides ruling.
In just over a minute span, Stuller took two more shots, first forcing CC keeper Kate Scheele to come up with her first of seven saves, and then being stopped short by a block. Hayley Hughes kept the momentum going, sending one high in the 18th minute. Five minutes later, she came up big defensively, forcing a turnover, then taking it to the other side where she slammed one towards the net before being blocked.
From the 24th minute to the 34th, CU took five more shots, coming from Madison Krauser, Brie Hooks, Jerman and Bianca Jones. The Buffs were strong on the attack, but CC remained strong on defense, keeping the game scoreless at the half.
It took just two minutes into the second half for the Tigers to shoot, but the ball went high. Colorado responded by quickly taking over on an offensive drive. At the 52:50 mark, Hooks was hungry for more, sending one to the back of the net off a Stuller assist.
“Well we were going out, and the ball got wide, and honestly I wasn’t trying to shoot at all,” Hooks said. “I was trying to keep it in. I got my hips around it and it happened to go in. It worked out in my favor I guess … Everyone has the goals that they’re not trying to score, but in tight games like that it’s good to get an early one. It felt good.”
The Buffs continued to make Scheele work at the net. In the 58th minute, Emily Paxton sent one towards the goal. CU didn’t get its first corner kick until the 62nd minute, with Carly Bolyard shooting it towards the net. After several touches by the Buffs, Pappalardo made Scheele dive for the save. Less than a minute later, Paxton was at it again, making Scheele grab her third save in just five minutes.
Sarah Scheweiss was a force for the Tigers, leading the squad with three shots. In the 69th minute, she went on the run from the midfield, and approached the net with only a few defenders in her way, but Brunner was ready to claim the save.
In the final twenty minutes, Colorado remained strong at both ends of the ball. Krauser took two more of her three total shots, sending one wide, then high. Stuller kept the pressure, sending one at the keeper with under 10 remaining.
Colorado had a close call with just over six minutes remaining, with CC taking a free kick that got the ball to the net. After a few quick touches, Jessie Ayers got the ball, but fumbled and couldn’t get the shot. The Buffs reclaimed possession, playing tough until the closing seconds, with Stuller leading a drive in the 88th minute.
After 90 minutes, Hooks’ “dangerous,” but “fortunate” ball and the Buffs’ experienced backline were the determining factors in the win.
“Our defense – led by Lizzy (Herzl) and Heather (Ward) and Bianca (Jones), and Hayley (Hughes) also – all four of them were rock solid all day,” Sanchez said. “I’m pleased with that. We need to be better on the attack; we talked about that on Friday as well, but at the end of it, a good result for us.”
The Buffs continue their home-stand with more in-state competition, hosting Air Force on Friday.
“Air Force went out to a tournament this weekend and had a draw and then lost to a Big 12 team 2-1, so they’re much improved,” Sanchez said. “We know that when teams come to Prentup, they’re going to bring their ‘A’ game. Last year we won 2-0, but it didn’t feel like a 2-0 game. It was a bit scrappy. We need better quality. And obviously, St. Mary’s out of the West Coast Conference is a very good team. It’s a big weekend for us, but we’re glad to be home.”
Make a healthy and environmentally friendly trip to Prentup Field on Friday, Aug. 30 to watch CU soccer take on Air Force at 5 p.m. The first 200 fans who bike to Prentup will receive a free CU T-shirt. Admission is free, though fans can make a $5 donation to the Buff Club to show their support for the team, so grab your family and friends for a bike ride to Prentup Field.
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Marlee Horn Graduate Assistant SID University of Colorado
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