Highway Impacts begin Monday for USA Pro Challenge

August 14, 2015 - Denver Metro/CDOT Region 1 - DENVER — Colorado’s largest in-person spectator event – the USA Pro Challenge – gets underway in Steamboat Springs on Monday, Aug. 17, and ends in Denver onSunday, Aug. 23.

Every August, the Pro Challenge brings many of the world’s top bicyclists to Colorado, attracting more than one million spectators.  This year’s edition will navigate nearly 620 miles of terrain, visiting numerous towns, cities and ski resorts, including Steamboat Springs, Arapahoe Basin, Copper Mountain, Aspen, Breckenridge, Loveland, Fort Collins, Golden and Denver. 

The Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) website www.cotrip.org will help assist motorists who will be traveling the various state and local roadways that are part of the race route.  It includes information regarding road closure and opening times, anticipated delays, oversize and overweight restrictions, parking and camping information and links to host city websites. Please be aware that delay and closure times are estimates only and subject to change depending on the pace of the race, weather, and other unanticipated conditions. 

For real-time information regarding highway impacts, motorists can sign up for CDOT email and text alerts by visiting www.cotrip.org and clicking on the small envelope icon at the bottom right of the page.  In addition, daily road closure information will be available by calling 511 from anywhere in the state. Following CDOT on Facebook and Twitter (@coloradodot) also provides current updates.

Summary of Highway/Roadway Impacts (Listed times are approximate & subject to change.  In addition, most but not all race route roadways are listed below.  Additional information regarding specific roads and anticipated closure/opening times at specific locations is available at cotrip.org or local area websites)

  • Monday, Aug. 17/Stage 1/Steamboat Springs Circuit

U.S. 40 (Lincoln Avenue) west, County Roads (CRs) 33 and 27 south and west to Oak Creek, State Highway (SH) 131, CR 14 and U.S. 40 north.  PLEASE NOTE:  Riders travel this circuit twice. Road impacts begin at 11:40 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.

  • Tuesday, Aug. 18/Stage 2/Steamboat Springs to Arapahoe Basin

U.S. 40 south over Rabbit Ears Pass and east to Parshall, CR 3 (Ute Pass Rd.) and SH 9 south to Silverthorne, closure of eastbound and westbound I-70 ramps at U.S. 6/SH 9 Interchange – Exit 205.  U.S. 6 east from Dillon to Arapahoe Basin.  Road impacts begin at 8 a.m. and end at 6 p.m.

  • Wednesday, Aug. 19/Stage 3/Copper Mountain to Aspen

SH 91 south to U.S. 24, U.S. 24 west to CRs 99, 9 and east on CR 4, U.S. 24 south to SH 82, SH 82 west over Independence Pass to Aspen.  Road impacts begin at 10:30 a.m. and end at5:30 p.m.

  • Thursday, Aug. 20/Stage 4/Aspen to Breckenridge

SH 82 east over Independence Pass to U.S. 24, U.S. 24 south to the Buena Vista/Johnson Village, U.S. 24/285 east to Antero Junction, U.S. 285 north of Fairplay, SH 9 north over Hoosier Pass to Breckenridge, local roads to finish line.  Road impacts begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. 

  • Friday, Aug. 21/Stage 5/Breckenridge Individual Time Trial

Main St. north to SH 9, SH 9 north to Coyne Valley Rd., SH 9 south to French St., local roads through east Breckenridge back to Main St. finish line.  Road impacts begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE: Stages 5, 6 & 7 include the USA Women’s Pro Challenge.  Stages 5 & 6 will use all or most of the same route as the men’s race.  Stage 7 is a circuit race through downtown Golden. With each women’s race beginning earlier than the men’s, drivers should expect impacts to begin earlier each day.

  • Saturday, Aug. 22/Stage 6/Loveland to Fort Collins

o  WOMEN: Centerra Pkwy. south, CR 20E west, E. 1st St. west, Carter Lake Rd. north, U.S. 34 east, Buckhorn Rd. north to Masonville, Stove Prairie Rd. north, Rist Canyon Rd. east to Bellvue, CR 50E east, CR 21 south, W. Mulberry St. east to finish line.

o  MEN: CR 5 north, SH 392 east to Windsor, CR 17 south, CR 62 west (Crossroads Blvd.), Centerra Pkwy. south, CR 20E west, E. 1st St. west, Loop around Carter Lake, Carter Lake Rd. north, U.S. 34 east, Buckhorn Rd. north to Masonville, Stove Prairie Rd. north, Rist Canyon Rd. east to Bellvue, CR 50E east, CR 21 south, Horsetooth Reservoir loop to Bellvue, CR 50E east, CR 21 south, W. Mulberry St. east to finish line.  Road impacts begin at 11:30 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.

MEN: Washington St. north to SH 93, SH 93 north to 58th Ave., 58th Ave. east to Easley Rd., Easley Rd. south to 44th Ave., 44th Ave. west to Washington St., Washington St. south to 19th St., 19th St. west over Lookout Mountain to U.S. 40, U.S. 40 east to  Heritage Rd. (CR 93), Heritage Rd. north to Johnson Rd., S. Golden Rd., Ford St. and Washington Ave., 32nd Ave. east, closure of westbound I-70 off-ramps at 32nd Ave. Interchange – Exit 264.  Traffic stops as race passes on Kipling St. (SH 391) between 26th and 32nd avenues, Wadsworth Blvd. (SH 121) between 26th and 32nd avenues, Sheridan Blvd. (SH 95) between 29th and 32nd avenues and at Federal Blvd. (U.S. 287).  Closure of I-25 off-ramps at Speer Blvd.  Closure of Colfax Ave. (U.S. 40/287) between Glenarm Pl. and Sherman St.  Street closures east of downtown to City Park.  Road impacts begin at 12:45 p.m. and end at 3 p.m.

CDOT also will distribute race information the morning of each stage, with any necessary updates regarding impacts to the state highway system. 

Additional spectator information is available at the Pro Challenge website at www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com, and on host city and town websites.