SB Nation Denver - 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge: Christian Vande Velde Lays Claim To Yellow Jersey

2012 USA Pro Cycling Results: Christian Vande Velde Ends Race In Yellow Jersey

2012-08-26T22:59:19Z

Christian Vande Velde of Team Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda finished second in Sunday's 2012 USA Pro Challenge Stage 7 time trial through Denver, propelling him to the top of the overall standings lead at the conclusion of the race. Vande Velde beat out Levi Leipheimer, the 2011 winner, who held the yellow jersey entering the final stage. Vande Velde finished at 25:57:34, 21 seconds ahead of Tejay Van Garderen and 24 seconds ahead of Leipheimer.

The 9.5-mile time trial through Denver concluded with BMC Racing's Taylor Phinney (17:25) winning the stage by 10 seconds ahead of Vande Velde, who completed the course in 17:35. Tejay Van Garderen was 19 seconds off the lead. The full stage results can be found here.

RadioShack Nissan Trek won the team time competition by 2:58 ahead of Garmin-Sharp, 77:52:16 to 77:55:14. Jens Voigt of RadioShack took home the King of the Mountain victory.

Here is how the top 10 finished (complete results):

Pos	Rider	Team	Time	Gap
1	Christian Vande Velde	Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda	25:57:34
2	Tejay Van Garderen	BMC Racing Team (USA)	25:57:55	:21
3	Levi Leipheimer	Omega Pharma-Quick-Step	25:57:58	:24
4	Andreas Kloden	RadioShack Nissan Trek	25:58:42	1:08
5	Janez Brajkovic	Astana	25:58:48	1:14
6	Jakob Fuglsang	RadioShack Nissan Trek	25:58:58	1:24
7	Tom Danielson	Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda	25:59:02	1:28
8	Matthew Busche	RadioShack Nissan Trek	25:59:06	1:32
9	Peter Stetina	Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda	25:59:13	1:39
10	Joe Dombrowski	Bontrager-Livestrong	25:59:14	1:40

For more on the race, stick with SB Nation Denver, or head over to Podium Cafe, SB Nation's cycling blog.

2012 USA Pro Challenge: Stage 7 Preview

2012-08-26T11:49:14Z

The 2012 USA Pro Challenge will finish with a 9.5 mile time trial for Sunday's Stage 7, with Levi Leipheimer hoping to hold on to his current lead and ride away with his second-straight USA Pro Challenge victory. Leipheimer holds a nine-second lead over Christian Vande Velde of team Garmin-Sharp, with Peter Stetina sitting 38 seconds behind in seventh place.

After six days of hard racing up and down the mountains of Colorado, starting in Durango for Stage 1, the Pro Challenge will conclude with a 9.5-mile time trial through the streets of Denver. Racers will start at one-minute intervals and endure a grueling individual test in the final stage, ending with a technical run through City Park before concluding the race on Broadway.

NBC will provide coverage of the final round beginning at 11:30 a.m. MT, with racing set to kick off at 12:00 p.m. MT.

The leaders after Stage 6:

Pos	Rider	Team	Time	Gap
1	Levi Leipheimer	Omega Pharma-Quick-Step	25:39:50
2	Christian Vande Velde	Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda	25:39:59	:09
3	Tejay Van Garderen	BMC Racing Team (USA)	25:40:11	:21
4	Joe Dombrowski	Bontrager-Livestrong	25:40:11	:21
5	Ramiro Rincon Diaz	EPM - UNE	25:40:12	:22
6	Andreas Kloden	RadioShack Nissan Trek	25:40:16	:26
7	Peter Stetina	Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda	25:40:28	:38
8	Janez Brajkovic	Astana	25:40:31	:41
9	Ivan Rovny	RusVelo	25:40:31	:41
10	Damiano Caruso	Liquigas-Cannondale (Italy)	25:40:42	:52

For more on the race, stick with SB Nation Denver, or head over to Podium Cafe, SB Nation's cycling blog.

2012 USA Pro Challenge, Stage 6: Rory Sutherland Takes Stage Victory, Levi Leipheimer Wears Yellow

2012-08-26T01:39:50Z

The 2012 USA Pro Challenge rode from Golden to Boulder on Saturday and Rory Sutherland of UHC won Stage 6 on the penultimate day of the race. Sutherland finished 20 seconds ahead of runner up Fabio Aru of Astana. Jens Voight finished 26 behind Sutherland.

Levi Leipheimer, the 2011 Pro Challenge winner, took the yellow jersey lead from Tejay Van Garderen at the completion of the stage, finishing fourth (+0:0:45) behind Leipheimer. Leipheimer holds a nine-second lead over Christian Vande Velde and a 21-second lead over Van Garderen and Joe Dombrowski. Vande Velde is a member of Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda, the Boulder-based cycling team. Teammate Peter Stetina is in seventh, with a 38-second gap to overcome.

Sunday concludes this year's Pro Challenge and will feature a 9.5-mile time trial around Denver.

Here is a look at the top 10 of the standings:

Pos	Rider	Team	Time	Gap
1	Levi Leipheimer	Omega Pharma-Quick-Step	25:39:50
2	Christian Vande Velde	Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda	25:39:59	:09
3	Tejay Van Garderen	BMC Racing Team (USA)	25:40:11	:21
4	Joe Dombrowski	Bontrager-Livestrong	25:40:11	:21
5	Ramiro Rincon Diaz	EPM - UNE	25:40:12	:22
6	Andreas Kloden	RadioShack Nissan Trek	25:40:16	:26
7	Peter Stetina	Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda	25:40:28	:38
8	Janez Brajkovic	Astana	25:40:31	:41
9	Ivan Rovny	RusVelo	25:40:31	:41
10	Damiano Caruso	Liquigas-Cannondale (Italy)	25:40:42	:52

For more on the race, stick with SB Nation Denver, or head over to Podium Cafe, SB Nation's cycling blog.

USA Pro Challenge Will Impact Traffic To Broncos Vs. 49ers Game On Sunday

2012-08-25T19:59:05Z

The Denver Broncos sent out a traffic advisory on Saturday through the team's official blog, encouraging fans to allow for extra time and to follow the posted signage in downtown Denver before Sunday's preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Several streets will be closed on Sunday, beginning at 6:00 a.m. MT due to the conclusion of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge taking place in Denver.

Fans are encouraged to get to Sports Authority Stadium at Mile High by using these alternate routes:

Traveling Colfax Avenue from the east
Use Colorado Boulevard to access westbound 8th Avenue and northbound I-25

Traveling Speer Boulevard from the south
Use westbound 8th Avenue

Traveling Broadway from the south
Use northbound I-25 and westbound 8th Avenue

Public transportation via light rail or bus is also highly encouraged.

More detailed information on street closures and alternative routes to the stadium can be found on the Broncos' official website.

For more news and analysis on the Denver Broncos be sure to check out Mile High Report.

2012 USA Pro Challenge: Stage 6 Preview

2012-08-25T12:00:32Z

The sixth stage of the USA Pro Challenge is a 103.3 mile trek that begins in Golden and ends up in Boulder. The race is set to begin at 11:10 a.m. MT with an expected finish time just before 4 p.m.

The race begins with two laps around the town of Golden before the first of two sprints in the sixth stage. After that first sprint is a steep 15-mile climb that ascends to 10,030 feet up Boulder Canyon. The second sprint section of the race comes after the climb, and then the final 3.5 miles, which is another climb, leads to the finish line.

The NBC Sports Network will have a recap of the sixth stage at 9 p.m. MT.

Here are the leaders after stage five:

1. Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing Team)
2. Christian VandeVelde (Garmin-Sharp-Barricuda)
3. Ivan Rovny (RusVelo)
4. Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step)
5. Janez Brajkovic (Astana)
6. Joseph Dombrowski (Bontrager-Livestrong)
7. Ramiro Rincon Diaz (EPM-UNE)
8. Tom Danielson (Garmin-Sharp-Barricuda)
9. Damiano Caruso (Liquigas-Cannondale)
10. Andreas Klöden (RadioShack Nissan Trek)

Stay tuned to this StoryStream for more coverage of the Pro Cycling Challenge, or visit SB Nation's cycling blog Podium Cafe.

2012 USA Pro Challenge Results: Tyler Farrar Wins Stage 5

2012-08-24T23:18:17Z

Tyler Farrar of Boulder, Colo.-based Team Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda won Stage 5 of the 2012 USA Pro Challenge on Friday afternoon in Colorado Springs.

GSB had another cyclist in the top-10 as well, as Alex Howes placed seventh. Meanwhile, teammate Christian Vande Velde trails only fellow American Tejay van Garderen of BMC Racing in the quest for the yellow jersey. Vande Velde finished 29th on Friday. Stage 4 winner Jens Voigt (RadioShack-Nissan-Trek) dropped to 64th.

Tom Danielson also represented GSB well, finishing two spots ahead of Vande Velde. He is currently in eighth place overall.

The tour will resume on Saturday with Stage 6, which starts in Golden and ends in Boulder. If you missed any of Friday's events, a recap can be seen at 9:00 p.m. MT on NBC Sports Network.

Stay tuned to this StoryStream for more coverage of the Pro Cycling Challenge, or visit SB Nation's cycling blog Podium Cafe.

2012 USA Pro Challenge: Stage 5 Preview

2012-08-24T12:01:06Z

Jens Voigt of Team Radioshack easily won the fourth stage of the USA Pro Challenge, but even with the wide margin of victory, he is 11:50 behind the leader and is tied for 43th heading into the fifth stage.

The fifth stage is a 117.9-mile course that begins in Breckingridge and ends in Colorado Springs. This stage features a brutal 10-mile climb up Hoosier Pass to 11,500 feet, and if the sprinters can handle that climb, then they have a chance to win the stage.

The stage beings at 10:30 a.m. MT time with the expected finish time being 3:50 p.m., and to catch the action there will be a recap on the NBC Sports Network at 9 p.m.

Here are the overall standings after the fourth stage:

1. Christian VandeVelde (Garmin-Sharp-Barricuda)
2. Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing Team)
3. Ivan Rovny (RusVelo)
4. Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step)
5. Ramiro Rincon Diaz (EPM-UNE)
6. Tom Danielson (Garmin-Sharp-Barricuda)
7. Damiano Caruso (Liquigas-Cannondale)
8. Janez Brajkovic (Astana)
9. Chris Horner (RadioShack Nissan Trek)
10. Lucas Euser (Team SpiderTech - C10)

Stay tuned to this StoryStream for more coverage of the Pro Cycling Challenge, or visit SB Nation's cycling blog Podium Cafe.

USA Pro Challenge Results: Jens Voigt Wins Stage 4

2012-08-23T23:09:05Z

Jens Voigt of Team Radioshack took home the top spot in Stage four of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge on Thursday, the first win of the race so far by Radioshack team member. He took enough of a lead by the end of the race that the USA Pro Challenge twitter account said there was 'nobody else in the picture' with him by the time it finished.

And Jens Voigt of @rsnt wins stage 4 of the 2012 #USAPro with "nobody else in the picture" !!
— USA Pro Challenge (@USAProChallenge) August 23, 2012

Tejay van Garderen took back the Yellow Jersey from Christian Vande Velde with a late rush near the end of the race.

Stage 5, a 119 mile overall downhill trek from Breckenridge to Colorado Springs, will take place on Friday at 10:50 a.m. with an expected finishing time somewhere around 3:50 p.m.

Stay tuned to this StoryStream for more coverage of the Pro Cycling Challenge, or visit SB Nation's cycling blog Podium Cafe.