(Riding into town off of Independence Pass)
(Tour De France winner Cadel Evans, middle, congratulates BMC teammate George Hincapie after Hincapie won the second stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Aspen on Wednesday. Teammate Jeff Louder is at left. (Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post )
As we waited for the racers to finish Stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, we heard that it was cold, rainy and there was lightning on top of the pass. Brutal conditions. The spectators got worried. One accident on that narrow pass could only mean tragedy.
Down in town, it was a light sprinkle. I was glad to be there. I had a media pass and everything. I also had my troop of monkeys by my side that precluded me from riding up Independence Pass with Wade or from seeking out any interviews.
(Lemonade Stand)
The evening prior, Wade and I discussed how amazing it was going to be to watch the race from the summit of Independence Pass. Not knowing whether he would ever make it to some cute, European village to watch the Tour de France he was all pumped up to bike up the Pass in the morning, along with his group of Wednesday “Knight” riders and celebrate up there with the other 3,000+ hard core fans, come hell or high water.
Wade: “The boys want me in costume. I think I’ll wear my orange dress.”
Me: “Actually, that is my orange dress and it’s a Pucci and you’re not wearing it anymore.”
Wade: “Then why is it in the costume bag?”
Me: “You’re stretching it out. What if I need it for some party that calls for a very short, tight, nylon, orange Pucci dress with pink swirls all over it…and fringes?”
In the morning, the boys and I got on the bus from the Snowmass Intercept Lot. I was surprised at how manageable it all was. Maybe we were too early.
I did my best to distract them by thumb wrestling on the bus. I was still traumatized from the last bus ride we took together after our rafting trip. This ride was no better. When the doors opened I pushed the boys out apologizing to the other passengers for their rambunctious behavior. I’m always apologizing.
It was fairly quiet as we walked around Wagner park to check out the booths of the sponsors. I was expecting more of an electric vibe but the crowd seemed to be spread out all over town.
Team Exergy – We need one of these at home where the boys power their TV.
Rumor had it that the real party was up at the Independence Pass Summit, with some guy wearing a blonde wig and a tight orange dress, with fringe.
Photo Credit: Bill Madsen
And Wade verified it all later. How awesome it was to ride to the summit and meet up with everyone gathered together to show their appreciation and support for professional cycling in Colorado. There was “pelt girl”, a woman with whiskers dressed in squirrel pelts who kept dancing wildly in front of him and chicken man who was apparently pushed into a support motorcycle, his costume getting caught up in the chain. As far as Wade could tell there were no injuries, just a few ruffled feathers.
It was a scene not to be missed as reported by The Aspen Times, “I was surprised to see so many people up there, because it’s so far from anything and hard to get up there. I rode it last week and thought there’s no way anybody’s going to be up here. From about a mile to the top it was just wall-to-wall people,” said stage winner George Hincapie. “I was on the limit, totally, but I saw them all and appreciated it very much.”
Being in town when the racers sprinted in was also pretty incredible. To see the look of sheer determination on their faces, their chiseled quads looking as if they might shatter if touched.
As quoted on the USA Pro Cycling Challenge website: “The USA Pro Cycling Challenge is the most demanding bike race ever held on American soil, with racers experiencing breathless altitudes, day after day. The race is on the level of the Tour de France, bringing the high speeds, danger and adrenaline of professional biking to elevations over 2 miles high in some of the most picturesque terrain in the world—the Colorado Rocky Mountains…. At 12,000 feet, every breath brings in only two-thirds of the oxygen that you would get at sea level. If that isn’t enough, you have to factor in the temperature as well. Air temperature drops about 3.5 degrees for every 1000 feet of elevation gain. At 12,000 feet, you’re experiencing temperatures nearly 40 degrees lower than at sea level.”
Hincapie won in a time of 5 hours, 26 seconds and 10 seconds. Van Garderen, Danielson and the next three finishers were credited with the same time because of the small gap at the finish line. The stage covered 131 miles, starting in Gunnison and crossing both Cottonwood and Independence passes, both at more than 12,000 feet in elevation and I was there to see it. Next time I’ll be at the top to watch, come hell or high water.
For more details on the race visit the Aspen Chamber Resort Association. They give a great play by play account of the Stage 2 leg.
OMG… Is that Wade in the wig?
You’ve finally driven him out of his mind too!