August 17 Pre-Race Quotes
Tejay van Garderen (USA)
©Beth Schneider
BMC Racing Team
On Aspen Ties
“It’s pretty cool starting in my hometown. Just this morning I went on a training ride with my boys and my house was on the circuit, so we stopped and had lunch, played with my dog and saw my wife and little girl.”
On Coming off the Tour de France
“The Monday after the Tour de France I was in San Sebastian. I think I needed that mentally to decompress. I’ve been here in Aspen now for two weeks, training and getting back into my rhythm. I feel like myself again and I feel that I have good form and that I’ve prepared well.”
On the 2014 Competition
“All the major GC threats are sitting right here. There are a couple missing, but definitely all these guys here in front of you could win the Pro Challenge.”
On the most decisive days of the race
“There are some obvious GC days, the time trial and mountain finishes, but all the stages are important.”
Looking Toward the 2014 Race and Reflecting on 2013
“After racing in Colorado you realize that you don’t know what’s going to happen. On paper it looked like the stage into Breckenridge last year didn’t look like much, but Sagan attacked and I followed and it made a big difference in the GC. The ‘flat’ stage of this race goes four times around the Garden of the Gods. Last year’s win was incredible. The two previous years I was so close and lost by small margins. To finally get that win was really something special for me.”
Jens Voigt (GER)
RadioShack Leopard TreK
©Beth Schneider
On Retiring from Cycling
“Yep, it’s going to be my last race. I still can’t believe it myself. It’s the last time I’m going to sign a start sheet for the last race of my life. I’ve been a cyclist for 33 years…that’s been the most constant part of my life. It’s going to be a big chunk that’s closing. There are going to be a lot of challenges coming my way. It was a good career. I had some great moments. I met some of the greatest people in the world. I am thankful for the sport of cycling and what it gave to me.”
On Planning Out his Final Season
“I am a big fan of the idea that you are the master of your destiny. I want to stop in good condition and put on a show one more time…finish feeling good and strong, knowing that I squeezed every little bit out of me. My legs told me they would keep it up one more year I think the riders might chip in some money to pay for me to go away finally. We talked about the next season planning at the end of last year. I wanted to do a proper final season.”
On Selecting the Pro Challenge as his Final Race
“I think I have a pretty good fan base in the U.S. and it just felt right to end my career here. Hopefully I have the freedom to go on one of my ‘stupid’ breakaways. The air just feels a little fresher and clearer here. It’s a beautiful state. I wish I could go mountain biking or hiking. Being here gives you a little piece of mind. It’s good for your soul. It makes you happy.”
On the Best Part of the Race
“There isn’t one best part of the race, it’s the whole package. It’s the team together. We room together and we even went fly fishing here in Colorado.”
On his Stage Win Last in 2012
“It just felt right. Winning a stage was great. I worked a long, long time for it. It was a pretty good moment.”
On Race Radio
“During that big break, my director said politely that it was a very long way to go. Generally they encourage you on race radio, about the riders behind you, about the weather/wind, dangerous descents, etc. They are like your little connection to the outside world. They help you or guide you through it. They do play a very important role.”
Tom Danielson (USA)
Team Garmin-Sharp
©Beth Schneider
Thoughts on the Pro Challenge Overall
“Every year I get super excited about this race. Colorado is so true to my heart. My whole cycling career really started here. Every part of Colorado represents a part of cycling to me. Initially when this race was created I got super motivated. In the past three years, we’ve hit everything that represents cycling to Colorado. It’s been really exciting to be a part of that from the beginning.”
On the 2014 Pro Challenge Route
“It’s definitely the hardest course the organizers have made. Some days are downhill finishes, some days are circuits. To win this race overall you have to be a complete cyclist. It’s really exciting to see how far the race has come.”
Reflecting on the 2012 Pro Challenge
”Aspen is a really magical place for me. Winning that stage after spending the day out in front was awesome. Originally when I bridged across the break I thought I was crazy and that it wouldn’t work. Then going on in Independent Pass, I got really excited and I had three minutes over the gap. Then on the downhill I was losing time and ended with only a 15 second gap. I felt the people in Aspen screaming and it helped me make it to the finish. So many great memories.”
On 2014 Mountaintop Finish
“It’s really cool that the race organizers have put a massive mountain like Monarch on the route. They used to have mountain bike races up there. It will be really special to have a road race finish on top of that.
On the Competition
“You have to look at this race as seven single-day races. The guy that wins this race will have to be able to do everything. I can’t put my finger on one stage that will win you the race. Anyone of those seven you can lose the race. I think the route suits me better this year. It also suits Tejay really well. I have a good shot, but I have to respect that Tejay is a favorite.”
On the 2014 Start in Aspen & Colorado Fans
“On this Aspen stage you see some high heart rates. The fans are going to get a phenomenal show. Training in Colorado is awesome. The road, weather and clean air, it really also comes down to the community. Whether you’re in Aspen, Crested Butte or even Salida, it’s all the same people. Everybody is G’d up on life. Everyone is focused on living life and being happy.”
Ivan Basso (ITA)
Cannondale Pro Cycling
©Beth Schneider
On Preparing for the 2014 Pro Challenge
“I’ve already spent three weeks here so the altitude is ok for me, but the problem is the speed of the bunch. When you go full gas, you can’t really recover. I hope this week I can get back the form from Utah. I have invested all of my effort and time after the Giro to be in top form for the Pro Challenge. I think it’s a really hard week, but when the race is special the riders can give more than 100 percent. We hope for sunshine and normal weather conditions. We will do our best.”
Thoughts on the 2014 Pro Challenge
“I love this race, I’ve done it twice and it’s an extremely hard and tough week. I’m really confident and plan to give it 100 percent.”
Rafał Majka (POL)
Team Tinkoff-Saxo
On His Season and Racing in Colorado
“I’m really happy I’m here in Colorado. I won two stages in the Tour de France and I was so happy. Afterwards I did the Tour of Poland and now I’m here and for sure we’re doing something in this race. We have a strong team here. I have some ambitions, but it’s a bit difficult since we came here only four days ago.”
Michael Rogers (AUS)
Team Tinkoff-Saxo
On the Pro Challenge Course
“Just listening to some of the stories, I don’t know what I’ve gotten myself into here. I know there’s a lot of uphill. We did a lot of climbing last year and it looks like we’re going to do a lot more this year. It’s obviously really beautiful here. We’re looking forward to the race this year and we’re going to have a lot of fun.”
On His Season thus Far
“It’s been a fantastic year for me so far…a dream come true. Every cyclist when they start out dreams of winning a stage in a Grand Tour and it’s only taken me 14 years to accomplish that.
On His Form
“I’m coming into this race after a bit of a recovery period. I’m looking to get things going again for the later part of the season. I hope I can ride like last year. It took me a few days to find my rhythm. I wouldn’t expect to be up there in the GC, but certainly a stage win is possible.”
On Long Stages vs. Short Ones
“We want more dynamic races. Long stages are in our history, but shorter stages often bring on better racing. That barrier of being scared about the distance falls away and the pure racing comes out. We can only go so hard for so long.”
Fränk Schleck (LUX)
Trek Factory Racing
©Beth Schneider
Outlook on the 2014 Pro Challenge
“It is exciting, but it comes with a lot of pain and suffering. It’s going to be a really hard and tough race. I like climbing, I prefer it and I think I have an advantage there, but the altitude is what’s really killer. You have to take care of how your body reacts.”
Thoughts on the Pro Challenge Overall
“This race is special to me, it demonstrates a great passion for cycling in the states and that’s what cycling needs – I’m very happy to be here.”
Regarding the Last Race for Jens Voigt
“I don’t like to step too far forward, but I think it’s Jens’ last race. He never changes. He stays the same guy with his feet on the ground. He comes to every single race with his big willing-to-win attitude and he always motivates the whole team. The whole team is going to miss him a lot.”
On Professional Cycling in Colorado
“I love cycling and I love this passion. I grew up in a cycling family. Colorado is a great race. I did the Pro Challenge in 2011 and I did quite ok. I have these memories of doing things with the team. I was looking forward to this race. It’s beautiful…a really nice race. I was sick earlier and all I could think of is that I needed to get better for Colorado. It’s the last race with Jens together. I wouldn’t want to miss that for anything.”
On the 2014 Pro Challenge Stages & Organization
“Shorter stages and hard stages make up for harder racing. We like this better. Long stages are harder and more boring. The commentators don’t have anything to say. It makes for more exciting racing. The organizers have shown that they are thinking with the rider, which is what we want to see.”
Shawn Hunter
CEO, USA Pro Challenge
©Beth Schneider
On Coming Back to Aspen
“The Pro Challenge has brought a lot of excitement to the cities Snowmass and Aspen over the past couple of years. We found an anchor here in Aspen and we’ll work our tails off to come back every year. I will go on the record today that you can pretty much count on Aspen being in every potential iteration of the route for 2015.”
On the 2014 Race Overall
“We’re sitting around some of the best cyclists in the entire world and will have a record amount of broadcast coverage in the U.S., with almost 30 hours of coverage from NBC Sports Network and Universal Sports. The race also will be broadcast in 180 countries around the world…it’s really exciting. We’re looking forward to having a fun and safe week.”
On the Teams
“We stay in constant contact with the teams. For those that follow the Tour de France, with the number of injuries and crashes, some teams didn’t feel they could put together a competitive roster of eight healthy riders to compete at this elevation. They’ll return in future years, but the teams we do have are giving it their all for the win.”
On the Future of the USA Pro Challenge
“This sport is not for the weak of heart, it takes patience, vision and a pretty big heart. I see an amazing long term future here. The model we’re building is one that’s built to last. If you take a look at other business models, there is normally one primary sponsor. If that sponsor goes away, the event could end. What we’ve tried to do is build a long-term business plan with what we call founding partners. If one sponsor pulls away from cycling, it doesn’t affect our business model. The Tour de France has 100 years on us. We’re on pace and we’ll definitely get there. I’ve been to most races in the world and other than the Tour, it’s hard to find any other race in the world with the crowds and passion that we draw.”
Jim Birrell
Race Director, USA Pro Challenge
©Beth Schneider
On the 2014 Route
“Every year we are given a blank canvas and we’re the artists – when we go out and design these courses, there is just so much that goes into the criteria. The easiest thing here is the backdrop, it’s beautiful here.”
On Participating Pro Cyclists
“In terms of competition, we’ve got the brightest stars in the world in front of you today.”
On the 2014 Pro Challenge Route
“We’re blessed to be back here in Aspen and Snowmass. Stage 1 is a 60-mile course of three laps. What we like about this stage are the dynamic climbs. One of our new stages, Stage 2, while the host cities are not new, the route is very different and will provide a lot of excitement. We have about 40K of dirt roads. We answered our critics with Stage 3, with a true mountain finish at Monarch. We’ll move on entering the Front Range with a start in Colorado Springs before working our way downtown and highlighting the Garden of the Gods. We’ll bring them back out to Woodland Park for the start of Stage 5, which is a first time host city for the Pro Challenge, before racing through the high plains of Colorado leading to the ascent of Hoosier Pass and into Breckenridge. Saturday, we’ll go back to the infamous Vail Time Trial and the drama that unfolds there on that uphill climb to the summit of Vail Pass. We’ll finish with a beautiful stage with a start in Boulder, heading towards Golden and over Lookout Mountain to the finish in Downtown Denver, where the fourth annual Smashburger Leader Jersey winner will be crowned.”
