Pro Cycling Challenge coming back to Springs

Colorado Springs is among the 12 cities that will host next year’s USA Pro Cycling Challenge, the Denver Post is reporting.

Next year’s race, scheduled for Aug. 20 through Aug. 26, will begin in Durango and end in Denver with the fifth leg of the race ending in Colorado Springs. The Denver Post posted the news Thursday citing anonymous sources.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge officials are expected to make an official announcement Dec. 13.

The Post reported that 25 Colorado cities and towns bid for host status. The paper laid out the race like this: start in Durango to Telluride; Ouray or Montrose, to Mt. Crested Butte; Gunnison to Aspen; back up Independence Pass, down into Leadville and through Minturn to Beaver Creek village; Breckenridge to Colorado Springs; either Golden or Lakewood to Boulder; A final stage will be held in Denver.

This year,  Colorado Springs was host to the race’s timed trials. Cheryl McCullough, sales manager for sports and special events at the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau, put the race’s economic impact on the city at $2 million and said that is a conservative figure.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge officials said the seven-day race had and $83.5 million in economic impact, according to an analysis by race organizer Medalist Sports.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge sposkeswoman Allison McGee Johnson could not be reached Thursday for comment.

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