Pinch Me, I Must Be Dreaming

"Pinch Me, I Must Be Dreaming" says a random, near-speechless, lady on Main Street Breckenridge as she gawks at the 121 USA Pro Cycling Challenge competitors rushing past her.  If you live in Breckenridge, you soon become numb to the amazement that visitors feel when they travel to this town. (This is not at the fault of the local!) However, I applaud the town for continually hosting and fighting for events such as this.  Not only does it bring tourists from all over the world, but it also secures every locals dream about moving here and reminds them what a truly unique town they reside in.

From a locals point: in the beginning, it's just a reoccurring event that we all try to prepare for as the town becomes inhabited with crazed biking fanatics.  To the tourist: it's usually a once in a lifetime chance to see the worlds most prestigious biking athletes take on the winding passes that climb the seemingly never-ending mountains from one town to the next as they battle to be the best.  This attitude and excitement is what makes the town come alive!  What neither group seems to recognize it that this event unifies a community that is a mix of locals and visitors without effort. There is one goal in mind amongst everyone: cheer on the riders to help boost them to the highest points of their riding careers.  Cheer them into the finish as if they'll never race again, and send them off as if their will be no one else watching them for the remainder of their race.  That is the feeling you get when you experience this event in Breckenridge, Colorado.

There is simply a conglomerate of individuals all cheering for the same riders.  It is an experience EVERY single person takes home with them, whether up the street or across the nation.  They share this experience with everyone they know just to help expand the feeling that they got to be part of it.  This is yet again another successful event that should not be missed by ANYONE! Make sure you stay tuned for next year's schedule with the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and join us as part of the Breck Nation.

Congratulations to every competitor in the race, whether a finalist or not.  You are all amazing riders who inspire individuals every day to push themselves to incomprehensible limits.  A special congratulations to Mathias Frank who won Stage 2 right here in Breck after climbing 12,250 feet in elevation over 126.1 miles!

Stage 2 Standings: (Aspen, CO - Breck, CO)
1. Frank, M. BMC Racing Team (USA)
2. Morton, L. Team Garmin-Sharp
3. Sagan, P.         Cannondale
4. Garderen, T. BMC Racing Team (USA)
5. Craddock, L. Bontrager Cycling Team

Stage 3 Standings: (Breck, CO - Steamboat Springs, CO)
1. Sagan, P.          Cannondale
2. Mezgec, L.  Team Argos-Shimano
3. Anderson, R.  Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
4. Van Avermaet, G. BMC Racing Team (USA)
5. Bazzana, A.  UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA