USA Pro Challenge

[tenacious1]

Phinney is back. 

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/taylor-phinney-pulls-a-davis-phinney-special-in-steamboat-springs/

[iwuzwilson]

The young woman I'm coaching just got a call and she might be a fill-in this weekend at the USA Pro Challenge! The races would be in Breck, Ft Collins, Golden!

[tenacious1]

Oh that's awesome! I haven't looked at the women's field but these races typically attract the best of the US racers and I think some international pros. This is a great opportunity to learn a ton.

[tenacious1]

I couldn't find the start list but I found the teams here: http://www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/news/9/62/Inaugural-Women-s-USA-Pro-Challenge-2015-Route-Announced/d,upcc

•TWENTY16 p/b Sho-Air
•Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
•UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
•BMW p/b Happy Tooth Dental
•Pepper Palace Pro Cycling p/b The Happy Tooth Team
•TIBCO-SVB
•Visit Dallas p/b Noise4Good
•Colavita/Bianchi p/b Fine Cooking
•DNA Cycling p/b K4
•Colorado Women's Cycling Project p/b Spark

[iwuzwilson]

Went to the Fort Collins stage yesterday and will watch the races in Golden today.

[tenacious1]

How did she do? What did she think of the race?

[iwuzwilson]

How did she do? What did she think of the race?

Had never raced above about 7000 ft, and the TT was at something like 9200-10000, so Day 1 was tough. Day 2 was hot and smoky from western fires. She hung with the peleton for 28 or 29 miles (about half way) but got "spit out" when they hit the 10 or so mile climb up Rist Canyon. She finished but didn't make the time cut for Day 3. Said she learned more in those two days than all summer. 

[tenacious1]

That sounds really rough. But if she learned a ton it's worth it. That's pretty darn cool.