With an impressive lineup of the top professional cyclists in the world, the provisionary team rosters* for the 2014 USA Pro Challenge have been confirmed and are headlined by Pro Challenge defending champion and fifth-place finisher in last month’s Tour de France Tejay van Garderen, as well as 2014 Tour de France KOM Jersey winner Rafał Majka and teammate and Tour de France stage winner Michael Rogers. With a history of attracting the world’s top professional cyclists to Colorado, the USA Pro Challenge will take place August 18-24 and will travel through ten official host cities on a scenic tour of the Colorado Rockies.
“I’m really looking forward to defending my race title in Colorado this year,” said van Garderen, an Aspen, Colo., resident. “Because it starts in my hometown, it’s different and more relaxed. To race in front of my family and friends is always special. We are bringing a really motivated team and with a summit finish this year, it promises to be another hard race.”
Fresh on the heels of the Tour de France, many of the riders are in their top form and will be strong competitors in the Pro Challenge. Three riders competing in the 2014 Pro Challenge finished in the top-12 places at the 2014 Tour de France, including van Garderen in fifth, Leopold König in seventh and Frank Schleck in 12th. Majka, who took the KOM Jersey at this year’s Tour de France and also won two stages, will be racing in Colorado. Additionally, the race also will feature two riders that finished on the podium in previous years of the Tour de France – Ivan Basso, who also is a two-time Giro d’Italia winner, and Schleck – and multiple riders who captured a stage win – Jens Voigt, Basso, Schleck, Rogers and Majka.
“In less than two weeks the USA Pro Challenge will kick off in Aspen and the best of the best in professional cycling will charge the streets of Colorado,” said Shawn Hunter, CEO of the USA Pro Challenge. “The race features riders from all over the world and a diverse roster of talent ranging from established veterans to the new generation of incredibly talented young guys. The competition this year will be tough and it’s going to be a great show for fans around the world.”
Emphasizing the competitive level of the field, the current and former USPRO National Champions in road race will line up in Colorado (Eric Marcotte – 2014, Fred Rodriguez– 2013). In addition to Marcotte, the race will include three other current national champions – Schleck (LUX), Hayden Roulsten (NZL) and Riccardo Zoidl (AUT).Other international stars competing in the 2014 Pro Challenge include current junior world champion Matej Mohorič, Tour of Slovania winner Tiago Machado, Columbian climbing sensation Janier Acevedo, and Michael Markov and Matthew Lloyd, who both won stages in the Giro d’Italia.
The 2014 USA Pro Challenge will include five of the top-six finishers from last year, including van Garderen, Gregory Brenes, Tom Danielson, Janier Acevedo and Lachlan Morton. Almost all of the jersey winners from 2013 will be back to defend their titles this year as well – Leader Jersey winner van Garderen, Denver resident and KOM Champion Matt Cooke, Best Young Rider Morton and overall Most Aggressive Rider Ben King.
“I’m super excited to be coming back to race the USA Pro Challenge with my Garmin-Sharp teammates,” said Danielson. “Personally, it’s the one event every year I really look forward to because of the huge and crazy crowds and the general vibe of the race. It’s like no other race. Plus, our team is headquartered in Denver, so we have extra motivation.”
In what is being dubbed as his “Farewell Tour,” fan favorite Voigt will compete in his last professional race during the 2014 Pro Challenge. Best known for his attacking skills and positive, fun-loving attitude, Voigt’s professional cycling career has spanned 17 years and has been punctuated by many incredible performances and victories.
“I chose the Pro Challenge as my final race because of the fans,” said Voigt. “All the fans in Colorado love outdoor activities, so they are all experts…they know exactly how hard it is to go up those crazy-long climbs. It’s a beautiful state and I just always love the warm welcome and the support I get from the fans.”
The elite professional roster of teams, which includes 128 riders from 30 countries, is comprised of six teams that competed in the Tour de France. Following is the preliminary complete list of riders that are currently confirmed to compete in the 2014 USA Pro Challenge.
*Team rosters are subject to change
UCI ProTeams
BMC Racing Team (USA) @BMCProTeam
Ben Hermans (BEL)
Brent Bookwalter (USA)
Martin Kohler (SUI)
Michael Schar (SUI)
Peter Stetina (USA)
Rick Zabel (GER)
Tejay Van Garderen (USA)
Yannick Eijssen (BEL)
Cannondale Pro Cycling (ITA) @cannondalePro
Alan Marangoni (ITA)
Cristiano Salerno (ITA)
Davide Formolo (ITA)
Edward King (USA)
Elia Viviani (ITA)
Ivan Basso (ITA)
Matej Mohorič (SLO)
Michel Koch (GER)
Team Garmin-Sharp (USA) @Ride_Argyle
Alex Howes (USA)
Ben King (USA)
Gavin Mannion (stagiare) (USA)
Janier Acevedo (COL)
Lachlan Morton (AUS)
Phil Gaimon (USA)
Thomas Dekker (NED)
Tom Danielson (USA)
Tinkoff-Saxo (RUS) @tinkoff_saxo
Bruno Pires (POR)
Edward Beltran (COL)
Jesper Hansen (DEN)
Michael Mørkøv (RUS)
Michael Rogers (AUS)
Pawel Poljanski (POL)
Rafał Majka (POL)
Rasmus Guldhammer (NOR) (stagiare)
Trek Factory Racing (USA) @TrekFactory
Calvin Watson (AUS)
Fränk Schleck (LUX)
Hayden Roulston (NZL)
Jens Voigt (GER)
Markel Irizar (ESP)
Matthew Busche (USA)
Riccardo Zoidl (AUT)
Robert Kiserlovski (CRO)
UCI Professional Continental Teams
Drapac Professional Cycling (AUS) @DrapacCycling
Adam Phelan (AUS)
Bernard Sulzberger (AUS)
Darren Lapthorne (AUS)
Jai Crawford (AUS)
Jonathan Cantwell (AUS)
Lachlan Norris (AUS)
Robbie Hucker (AUS)
Wesley Sulzberger (AUS)
Team NetApp – Endura (GER) @NetAppEndura
Bartosz Huzarski (POL)
David De La Cruz (ESP)
Gregor Muhlberger (AUT)
Jose Mendes (POR)
Leopold König (CZE)
Michael Schwarzmann (GER)
Patrick Konrad (AUT)
Tiago Machado (POR)
Team Novo Nordisk (USA) @TeamNovoNordisk
Andrea Peron (ITA)
Charles Planet (FRA)
David Lozano (ESP)
Javier Megias (ESP)
Joonas Henttala (FIN)
Kevin De Mesmaeker (BEL)
Martijn Verschoor (NED)
Scott Ambrose (NZL)
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA) @UHCprocycling
Ben Day (AUS)
Danny Summerhill (USA)
Isaac Bolivar Hernandez (COL)
Jeff Louder (USA)
Jonny Clarke (AUS)
Kiel Reijnen (USA)
Lucas Euser (USA)
Marc De Maar (CAR)
UCI Continental Teams
Bissell Development Team (USA) @BissellDT
Chris Putt (USA)
Daniel Eaton (USA)
Gregory Daniel (USA)
James Oram (NZL)
Keegan Swirbul (USA)
Nathan Van Hooydonck (BEL)
Nicholai Brøchner (DEN)
Tanner Putt (USA)
Hincapie Sportswear Development Team (USA) @HincapieDevo
Chris Butler (USA)
Dion Smith (NZL)
Joe Lewis (AUS)
Joey Rosskopf (USA)
Oscar Clark (USA)
Robin Carpenter (USA)
Toms Skujiņš (LAT)
Ty Magner (USA)
Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home (USA) @TeamJamisHB
Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA)
Carson Miller (USA)
Daniel Jaramillo (COL)
Gregory Brenes (CRC)
Ian Crane (USA)
Luis Amaran (CUB)
Matt Cooke (USA)
Rob Squire (USA)
Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis (USA) @JellyBellyTeam
Freddie Rodriguez (USA)
Ian Burnett (USA)
Jacob Rathe (USA)
Kirk Carlsen (USA)
Luis Davila (MEX)
Matthew Lloyd (AUS)
Serghei Tvetcov (ROM)
Steve Fisher (USA)
Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies (USA) @OPTUMpbKBS
Alex Candelario (USA)
Bjorn Selander (USA)
Carter Jones (USA)
Jesse Anthony (USA)
Ryan Anderson (CAN)
Scott Zwizanski (USA)
Thomas Zirbel (USA)
William Routley (CAN)
Rapha Condor JLT (GBR) @raphacondorjlt
Daniel Whitehouse (GBR)
Elliott Porter (GBR)
Graham Briggs (GBR)
Hugh Carthy (GBR)
Kristian House (GBR)
Michael Cuming (GBR)
Richard Handley (GBR)
Tom Moses (GBR)
Team SmartStop (USA) @TeamSmartStop
Eric Marcotte (USA)
Flavio De Luna (MEX)
Julian Kyer (USA)
Jure Kocjan (SLO)
Michael Torckler (NZL)
Rob Britton (CAN)
Travis McCabe (USA)
Zach Bell (CAN)
On Saturday, Aug. 16, the teams will be introduced to fans at the opening ceremonies and official team presentation, taking place at Base Village Plaza in Snowmass. Celebrity hosts Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen will introduce the teams and riders, giving people a chance to check out the best of the best in cycling before the start of the race. The presentation is free and open to the public, with parking available in the lower lots and parking garage at Snowmass Village.
Photos © Christy Nicholson / EchelonDesignPhoto.com
