View source for 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge

{{Infobox cycling race report
| name               = 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge
| image              =USA Pro Cycling Stage6.jpg
| image_caption      = Stage 6 in Denver
| image_size         = 300px
| series             = [[2010–2011 UCI America Tour]]
| race_no            =
| series_no          =
| date               = August 22–28, 2011
| stages             = 7
| distance           = 
| unit               = 
| time               = 20h 00' 24"
| speed              = 
| first              = [[Levi Leipheimer]]
| first_nat          = USA
| first_team         = {{UCI team code|RSH|2011}}
| first_color        = yellow
| second             = [[Christian Vande Velde]]
| second_nat         = USA
| second_team        = {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}
| third              = [[Tejay van Garderen]]
| third_nat          = USA
| third_team         = {{UCI team code|THR|2011}}
| mountains          = [[Rafael Montiel]]
| mountains_nat      = COL
| mountains_team     = Gobernación de Antioquia
| mountains_color    = red
| youth              = [[Tejay van Garderen]]
| youth_nat          = USA
| youth_team         = {{UCI team code|THR|2011}}
| youth_color        = light blue
| sprints            = [[Elia Viviani]]
| sprints_nat        = ITA
| sprints_team       = {{UCI team code|LIQ|2011}}
| sprints_color      = green
| team               = {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}
| previous = 
| next = [[2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge|2012]]
}}
The '''2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge''' was the inaugural edition of the [[USA Pro Cycling Challenge]] stage race.  The race was held from August 22–28, and was rated as a [[UCI race classifications|2.1]] event on the [[2010–2011 UCI America Tour|UCI America Tour]].  The race began with a short prologue time trial in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]], wound its way through the [[Rocky Mountains]] at heights of up to {{convert|12,000|ft}}, and finished in the streets of downtown [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]].

==Participating teams==
Included in the participating team rosters were the top three [[2011 Tour de France]] riders [[Cadel Evans]], [[Andy Schleck]] and [[Fränk Schleck]].  The full team list included:

{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
;UCI ProTeams
* {{UCI team code|BMC|2011}}
* {{UCI team code|RSH|2011}}
* {{UCI team code|LEO|2011}}
* {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}
* {{UCI team code|THR|2011}}
* {{UCI team code|LIQ|2011}}
* {{UCI team code|SBS|2011}}
* {{UCI team code|RAB|2011}}

{{col-3}}
;UCI Professional Continental Teams
* {{UCI team code|UHC|2011}}
* {{UCI team code|TT1|2012}}
* {{UCI team code|SKS|2011}}
* {{UCI team code|SPI|2011}}

{{col-3}}
;UCI Continental Teams
* {{UCI team code|BPC|2011}}
* {{UCI team code|XRG|2011}}
* {{UCI team code|JBC|2011}}
* {{UCI team code|GOB|2011}}
* {{UCI team code|EPM|2011}}
{{col-end}}

==Stages==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Stage results
|-
!Stage
!Date
!Route
!Terrain
!Length
!Winner
|-
|style="align:center;" | P ||22 August || [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]]|| [[Image:Time Trial.svg|alt=|link=Individual time trial|22px]] [[Individual time trial]] || {{convert|8.34|km|abbr=on}} || {{flagathlete|[[Patrick Gretsch]]|GER}}
|-
|style="align:center;" | 1 ||23 August || [[Salida, Colorado|Salida]] - [[Crested Butte, Colorado|Crested Butte]] || [[Image:Mountainstage.svg|alt=|link=|22px]] Mountain stage || {{convert|160|km|abbr=on}} || {{flagathlete|[[Levi Leipheimer]]|USA}}
|-
|style="align:center;" | 2 ||24 August || [[Gunnison, Colorado|Gunnison]] – [[Aspen, Colorado|Aspen]]|| [[Image:Mountainstage.svg|alt=|link=|22px]] Mountain stage || {{convert|211|km|abbr=on}} || {{flagathlete|[[George Hincapie]]|USA}}
|-
|style="align:center;" | 3 ||25 August || [[Vail, Colorado|Vail]] || [[Image:Time Trial.svg|alt=|link=Individual time trial|22px]] [[Individual time trial]] || {{convert|16|km|abbr=on}} || {{flagathlete|[[Levi Leipheimer]]|USA}}
|-
|style="align:center;" | 4 ||26 August || [[Avon, Colorado|Avon]] – [[Steamboat Springs, Colorado|Steamboat Springs]] || [[Image:Mediummountainstage.svg|alt=|link=|22px]] Medium mountain stage || {{convert|133|km|abbr=on}} || {{flagathlete|[[Elia Viviani]]|ITA}}
|-
|style="align:center;" | 5 ||27 August || [[Steamboat Springs, Colorado|Steamboat Springs]] – [[Breckenridge, Colorado|Breckenridge]] || [[Image:Mountainstage.svg|alt=|link=|22px]] Mountain stage || {{convert|169|km|abbr=on}} || {{flagathlete|[[Elia Viviani]]|ITA}}
|-
|style="align:center;" | 6 ||28 August || [[Golden, Colorado|Golden]] – [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]] || [[Image:Mediummountainstage.svg|alt=|link=|22px]] Medium mountain stage || {{convert|118.8|km|abbr=on}} || {{flagathlete|[[Daniel Oss]]|ITA}}
|-
|}

===Prologue===
'''August 22, 2011 — [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]], {{convert|5.18|mi}}'''

The opening time trial for the race began in the [[Garden of the Gods]] national monument and followed a short downhill course that finished in downtown Colorado Springs.

{| class="wikitable"
!
!Rider
!Team
!Time
|-
| 1
| {{flagathlete|[[Patrick Gretsch]]|DEU}} [[Image:Jersey yellow.svg|20px|Yellow jersey]]
| {{UCI team code|THR|2011}}
| align="right"| {{nowrap|8' 28"}}
|-
| 2
| {{flagathlete|[[Christian Vande Velde]]|USA}}
| {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}
| align="right"| + 2"
|-
| 3
| {{flagathlete|[[Brent Bookwalter]]|USA}} [[Image:Jersey yellow number.svg|20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey]]
| {{UCI team code|BMC|2011}}
| align="right"| + 4"
|-
| 4
| {{flagathlete|[[Robert Förster]]|DEU}}
| {{UCI team code|UHC|2011}}
| align="right"| + 5"
|-
| 5
| {{flagathlete|[[Jens Voigt]]|DEU}}
| {{UCI team code|LEO|2011}}
| align="right"| + 7"
|}

===Stage 1===
'''August 23, 2011 — [[Salida, Colorado|Salida]] to [[Crested Butte, Colorado|Crested Butte]], {{convert|99.4|mi}}'''

The first stage of the race saw the riders ascending {{convert|11,315|ft}} over [[Monarch Pass]] and ending with a short mountaintop finish up to the resort municipality of [[Mount Crested Butte, Colorado|Mount Crested Butte]].

{| class="wikitable"
!
!Rider
!Team
!Time
|-
| 1
| {{flagathlete|[[Levi Leipheimer]]|USA}} [[Image:Jersey yellow.svg|20px|Yellow jersey]][[Image:Jersey green.svg|20px|Green jersey]]
| {{UCI team code|RSH|2011}}
| align="right"| {{nowrap|4h 29' 22"}}
|-
| 2
| {{flagathlete|[[Sergio Henao]]|COL}}
| {{UCI team code|GOB|2011}}
| align="right"| + 4"
|-
| 3
| {{flagathlete|[[Fränk Schleck]]|LUX}}
| {{UCI team code|LEO|2011}}
| align="right"| + 7"
|-
| 4
| {{flagathlete|[[Cadel Evans]]|AUS}} [[Image:Jersey yellow number.svg|20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey]]
| {{UCI team code|BMC|2011}}
| align="right"| + 7"
|-
| 5
| {{flagathlete|[[Christian Vande Velde]]|USA}}
| {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}
| align="right"| + 7"
|}

===Stage 2===
'''August 24, 2011 — [[Gunnison, Colorado|Gunnison]] to [[Aspen, Colorado|Aspen]], {{convert|131.1|mi}}'''

The [[queen stage]] involved nearly {{convert|10,000|ft}} of climbing, bringing the riders over two of the highest passes in Colorado: the dirt road climb of {{convert|12,126|ft}} [[Cottonwood Pass (Continental Divide)|Cottonwood Pass]], and {{convert|12,095|ft}} to [[Independence Pass (Colorado)|Independence Pass]].

{| class="wikitable"
!
!Rider
!Team
!Time
|-
| 1
| {{flagathlete|[[George Hincapie]]|USA}} [[Image:Jersey yellow number.svg|20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey]]
| {{UCI team code|BMC|2011}}
| align="right"| {{nowrap|5h 26' 10"}}
|-
| 2
| {{flagathlete|[[Tejay van Garderen]]|USA}} [[Image:Jersey yellow.svg|20px|Yellow jersey]][[Image:Jersey white.svg|20px|Young rider classification]]
| {{UCI team code|THR|2011}}
| align="right"| s.t.
|-
| 3
| {{flagathlete|[[Tom Danielson]]|USA}}
| {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}
| align="right"| s.t.
|-
| 4
| {{flagathlete|[[Edward Beltran]]|COL}}
| {{UCI team code|EPM|2011}}
| align="right"| s.t.
|-
| 5
| {{flagathlete|[[Janier Acevedo]]|COL}}
| {{UCI team code|GOB|2011}}
| align="right"| s.t.
|}

===Stage 3===
'''August 25, 2011 — [[Vail, Colorado|Vail]], {{convert|10|mi}}'''

Contrasting with the prologue time trial, stage 3 was a steep uphill individual test with {{convert|1,783|ft}} of climbing over only {{convert|10|mi}}.  The route was the same one used during time trials for the [[Coors Classic]] in the 80s.  The record for the course, 25:48, was set in the 2008 Teva Mountain Games by [[Benjamin Day (cyclist)|Ben Day]].<ref>{{cite news|title=USA Pro Cycling Challenge: More than a climber's race|author=Bruce Hildenbrand|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/usa-pro-cycling-challenge-more-than-a-climbers-race|newspaper=Cyclingnews|date=16 August 2011|accessdate=17 August 2011}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
!
!Rider
!Team
!Time
|-
| 1
| {{flagathlete|[[Levi Leipheimer]]|USA}} [[Image:Jersey yellow.svg|20px|Yellow jersey]]
| {{UCI team code|RSH|2011}}
| align="right"| {{nowrap|25' 47"}}
|-
| 2
| {{flagathlete|[[Christian Vande Velde]]|USA}} [[Image:Jersey yellow number.svg|20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey]]
| {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}
| align="right"| + 0"
|-
| 3
| {{flagathlete|[[Rafael Infantino]]|COL}}
| {{UCI team code|EPM|2011}}
| align="right"| + 4"
|-
| 4
| {{flagathlete|[[Tom Danielson]]|USA}} [[Image:Jersey yellow number.svg|20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey]]
| {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}
| align="right"| + 33"
|-
| 5
| {{flagathlete|[[Stef Clement]]|NED}}
| {{UCI team code|RAB|2011}}
| align="right"| + 40"
|}

===Stage 4===
'''August 26, 2011 — [[Avon, Colorado|Avon]] to [[Steamboat Springs, Colorado|Steamboat Springs]], {{convert|82.8|mi}}'''

This stage included one sprint point, 99.1&nbsp;km into the stage.

{| class="wikitable"
!
!Rider
!Team
!Time
|-
| 1
| {{flagathlete|[[Elia Viviani]]|ITA}} [[Image:Jersey green.svg|20px|Green jersey]]
| {{UCI team code|LIQ|2011}}
| align="right"| {{nowrap|2h 58' 14"}}
|-
| 2
| {{flagathlete|[[Michael Mørkøv]]|DEN}}
| {{UCI team code|SAX|2011}}
| align="right"| s.t.
|-
| 3
| {{flagathlete|[[Kenny Van Hummel]]|NED}}
| {{UCI team code|SKS|2011}}
| align="right"| s.t.
|-
| 4
| {{flagathlete|[[Robert Förster]]|GER}}
| {{UCI team code|UHC|2011}}
| align="right"| s.t.
|-
| 5
| {{flagathlete|[[Dennis van Winden]]|NED}}
| {{UCI team code|RAB|2011}}
| align="right"| s.t.
|}

===Stage 5===
'''August 27, 2011 — [[Steamboat Springs, Colorado|Steamboat Springs]] to [[Breckenridge, Colorado|Breckenridge]], {{convert|105.2|mi}}'''

Immediately after leaving Steamboat Springs, the riders ascended [[Rabbit Ears Pass]], a steep pass with about {{convert|15|mi}} of climbing and a false summit.  After the descent, it's a long slow climb through some of Colorado's most popular ski resorts that culminated in a downhill finish into Breckenridge.

{| class="wikitable"
!
!Rider
!Team
!Time
|-
| 1
| {{flagathlete|[[Elia Viviani]]|ITA}} [[Image:Jersey green.svg|20px|Green jersey]]
| {{UCI team code|LIQ|2011}}
| align="right"| {{nowrap|4h 04' 31"}}
|-
| 2
| {{flagathlete|[[Jaime Castañeda]]|COL}}
| {{UCI team code|EPM|2011}}
| align="right"| s.t.
|-
| 3
| {{flagathlete|[[Daniel Oss]]|ITA}}
| {{UCI team code|LIQ|2011}}
| align="right"| s.t.
|-
| 4
| {{flagathlete|[[Dennis van Winden]]|NED}}
| {{UCI team code|RAB|2011}}
| align="right"| s.t.
|-
| 5
| {{flagathlete|[[Jeff Louder]]|USA}}
| {{UCI team code|BMC|2011}}
| align="right"| s.t.
|}

===Stage 6===
'''August 28, 2011 — [[Golden, Colorado|Golden]] to [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]], {{convert|73.79|mi}}'''

The final stage of the race began under the "Howdy Folks!" sign on Golden's Main Street, as featured in the film [[American Flyers]].  Riders climbed [[Lookout Mountain (Colorado)|Lookout Mountain]], a short but steep climb in the foothills near Golden, and then descended into Denver.  Once in the city, they completed six laps through downtown Denver, finishing on Broadway in front of the state capital building.  The final day of the race was broadcast live on NBC.

{| class="wikitable"
!
!Rider
!Team
!Time
|-
| 1
| {{flagathlete|[[Daniel Oss]]|ITA}}
| {{UCI team code|LIQ|2011}}
| align="right"| {{nowrap|2h 27' 08"}}
|-
| 2
| {{flagathlete|[[Elia Viviani]]|ITA}}  [[Image:Jersey green.svg|20px|Green jersey]]
| {{UCI team code|LIQ|2011}}
| align="right"| s.t.
|-
| 3
| {{flagathlete|[[Fred Rodriguez]]|USA}}
| {{UCI team code|XRG|2011}}
| align="right"| s.t.
|-
| 4
| {{flagathlete|[[Daniel Summerhill]]|USA}} [[Image:Jersey yellow number.svg|20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey]]
| {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}
| align="right"| s.t.
|-
| 5
| {{flagathlete|[[Frank Pipp]]|USA}}
| {{UCI team code|BPC|2011}}
| align="right"| + 2"
|}

==Classification leadership==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:1%;"| Stage
! style="width:14%;"| Winner
! style="width:12%;"| [[General classification]]<br>[[Image:Jersey yellow.svg|25px|link=General classification in the Pro Cycling Challengee|alt=Yellow jersey]]
! style="width:12%;"| [[Points classification|Sprints classification]]<br>[[Image:Jersey green.svg|25px]]
! style="width:12%;"| [[Mountains classification]]<br>[[Image:Jersey white dots on red.svg|25px|link=Mountains classification in the Pro Cycling Challenge|alt=Polkadot jersey]]
! style="width:12%;"| [[Young rider classification]]<br>[[Image:Jersey light blue.svg|25px|link=Young rider classification|alt=Light blue jersey]]
! style="width:12%;"| [[Combativity award|Most Aggressive]]<br>[[Image:Jersey orange.svg|25px|link=Combativity award|alt=Orange Jersey]]
! style="width:12%;"| [[Team classification]]
|-
!P
| [[Patrick Gretsch]]
| style="background:yellow;" | [[Patrick Gretsch]]
| style="background:#EFEFEF;"| ''no award''
| style="background:#EFEFEF;"| ''no award''
| style="background:lightblue;" rowspan=7| [[Tejay van Garderen]]
| style="background:DarkOrange;"| [[Danny Pate]]
| style="background:Khaki;" rowspan=3| {{UCI team code|BMC|2011}}
|-
!1
| [[Levi Leipheimer]]
| style="background:yellow;"| {{nowrap|[[Levi Leipheimer]]}}
| style="background:lightgreen;" rowspan=3| [[Levi Leipheimer]]
| style="background:salmon;"| [[Eduard Beltran Suarez]]
| style="background:DarkOrange;"| [[Bradley White]]
|-
!2
| [[George Hincapie]]
| style="background:yellow;" | {{nowrap|[[Tejay van Garderen]]}}
| style="background:salmon;"  rowspan=4|[[Walter Pedraza]]
| style="background:DarkOrange;"  rowspan=2| [[André Steensen]]
|-
!3
| [[Levi Leipheimer]]
| style="background:yellow;" rowspan=4|[[Levi Leipheimer]]
| style="background:Khaki;"  rowspan=4| {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}
|-
!4
|[[Elia Viviani]]
| style="background:lightgreen;" rowspan=3| [[Elia Viviani]]
| style="background:DarkOrange;" | [[Vladimir Efimkin]]
|-
!5
|[[Elia Viviani]]
| style="background:DarkOrange;" | [[Andy Schleck]]
|-
!6
|[[Daniel Oss]]
| style="background:salmon;"|[[Rafael Montiel]]
| style="background:DarkOrange;" | [[Timmy Duggan]]
|-
! colspan=2| '''Final'''
! style="background:gold;"| [[Levi Leipheimer]]
! style="background:#50c878;"| [[Elia Viviani]]
! style="background:#cc4e5c;"| [[Rafael Montiel]]
! style="background:DarkCyan;"| [[Tejay van Garderen]]
! style="background:#FF4500;"| [[Timmy Duggan]]
! style="background:DarkKhaki;"| {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}
|}

==General classification==
{| class="wikitable"
!
!Rider
!Team
!Time
|-
| 1
| {{flagathlete|[[Levi Leipheimer]]|USA}} [[Image:Jersey yellow.svg|20px]]
| {{UCI team code|RSH|2011}}
| align="right"| {{nowrap|20h 00' 24"}}
|-
| 2
| {{flagathlete|[[Christian Vande Velde]]|USA}} [[Image:Jersey yellow number.svg|20px]]
| {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}
| align="right"| + 11"
|-
| 3
| {{flagathlete|[[Tejay van Garderen]]|USA}} [[Image:Jersey white.svg|20px]]
| {{UCI team code|THR|2011}}
| align="right"| + 17"
|-
| 4
| {{flagathlete|[[Tom Danielson]]|USA}} [[Image:Jersey yellow number.svg|20px]]
| {{UCI team code|GRM|2011}}
| align="right"| + 21"
|-
| 5
| {{flagathlete|[[George Hincapie]]|USA}}
| {{UCI team code|BMC|2011}}
| align="right"| + 53"
|-
| 6
| {{flagathlete|[[Rafael Infantino]]|COL}}
| {{UCI team code|EPM|2011}}
| align="right"| + 1' 14"
|-
| 7
| {{flagathlete|[[Cadel Evans]]|AUS}}
| {{UCI team code|BMC|2011}}
| align="right"| + 1' 18"
|-
| 8
| {{flagathlete|[[Stef Clement]]|NED}}
| {{UCI team code|RAB|2011}}
| align="right"| + 1' 42"
|-
| 9
| {{flagathlete|[[Bruno Pires (cyclist)|Bruno Pires]]|POR}}
| {{UCI team code|LEO|2011}}
| align="right"| + 1' 49"
|-
| 10
| {{flagathlete|[[Rory Sutherland (cyclist)|Rory Sutherland]]|AUS}}
| {{UCI team code|UHC|2011}}
| align="right"| + 1' 50"
|}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{official website|http://www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/}}

{{USA Pro Cycling Challenge}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge}}
[[Category:USA Pro Cycling Challenge]]
[[Category:2011 in road cycling|USA Pro Cycling Challenge]]
[[Category:2011 in American sports|USA Pro Cycling Challenge]]
[[Category:2011 in sports in Colorado|USA Pro Cycling Challenge]]
[[Category:August 2011 sports events in the United States]]