Team rosters released for USA Pro Cycling Challenge, including top three Tour de France finishers

The provisional team rosters for the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge, which is set to take place Aug. 22-28, were announced Tuesday, marking one of the best fields ever assembled on American soil for a professional cycling race.

Boosting the already unprecedented lineup of Tour de France podium finishers – Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck and Fränk Schleck – are George Hincapie of BMC Racing Team (USA), Christian Vande Velde of Garmin-Cervélo (USA) and Robert Gesink of Rabobank Cycling Team (NED).

The USA Pro Cycling Challenge, routed through Colorado (with two Vail Valley stages), will also feature two Olympic medalists from the Beijing Games and more than 15 current or former national champions. The elite professional roster of teams, which includes 136 riders, is comprised of eight teams that competed in the Tour de France, four Pro Continental teams and five Continental teams.



“The allure of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and the state of Colorado is undeniable – it hasn't been surprising to see this high caliber competition confirmed as the preliminary rosters rolled in,” said Shawn Hunter, co-chairman of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. “With all the pieces in place, the final countdown has begun and we can't wait to showcase these riders to the world in a just a few short weeks.”

Some of the notable riders planned to start the race include:

Former and Current World Champions
• Cadel Evans (2009, Road)
• Michael Mørkøv (2009, Madison - Track)
• Peter Velits (2007, U23 Road)
• Danny Pate (2001, U23 Time Trial)
• Ivan Basso (1998, U23 Road)

Current National Champions
• Fränk Schleck (Luxembourg, Road)
• Hayden Roulston (New Zealand, Road)
• Stef Clement (Netherlands, Time Trial)
• Gustav Larsson (Sweden, Time Trial)
• David Zabriskie (United States, Time Trial)

2011 Major Race Champions
• Cadel Evans (1st GC and Stage 6, Tirreno–Adriatico; 1st GC, Tour de Romandie)
• David Zabriskie (1st Stage 4 (TT), Tour de Romandie; 1st Stage 6 (ITT), Tour of California)
• Tejay Van Garderen (Best Young Rider, Tour of California)
• Levi Leipheimer (1st GC, Tour de Suisse; 1st Stage 7, Tour of California)
• Jonathan Patrick McCarty (KOM, Tour of California)
• Andy Schleck (KOM, Tour de Suisse)
• Frank Schleck (1st GC and Stage 1, Criterium International)
• Robert Gesink (1st GC, Best Young Rider, 1st Stage 4 and 5 (ITT), Tour of Oman)
• Ivan Basso (1st GP di Lugano)
Tour de France Stage Winners
• George Hincapie (4)
• Jens Voigt (3)
• Andy Schleck (3)
• Levi Leipheimer (2)
• Cadel Evans (2)
• David Zabriskie (1)
• Rubens Bertogliati (1)
• Ivan Basso (1)

Tour de France Overall Podium Finishers (5)
• Cadel Evens (2011, Champion; 2007-2008, 2nd Place)
• Andy Schleck (2009-2011, 2nd Place)
• Frank Schleck (2011, 3rd Place)
• Levi Leipheimer (2007, 2009, 3rd Place)
• Ivan Basso (2004, 3rd Place; 2005, 2nd Place)

Major American Stage Race Champions (6)
• Levi Leipheimer (2007-2009, Tour of California; 2010 Tour of Utah)
• David Zabriskie (2009, Tour of Missouri)
• Jeff Louder (2008, Tour of Utah)
• Christian Vande Velde (2008, Tour of Missouri)
• George Hincapie (2007, Tour of Missouri)
• Tom Danielson (2005, Tour de Georgia)

“This is no doubt one of the best fields ever assembled on American soil,” said Danielson, a Boulder, Colo. resident considered by many as one of the front runners to win the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge. “It's a diverse blend of top professional teams from various continents and the altitude adds an element of unpredictability. No doubt, it is a special field that will put on a great showing.”

*Team rosters are subject to change

1. BMC RACING TEAM
 Cadel Evans
 George Hincapie
 Brent Bookwalter
 Chris Barton
 Jeffry Louder
 Chad Beyer
 Timothy Roe
 Chris Butler

2. TEAM RADIOSHACK (USA)
 Levi Leipheimer
 Dmitriy Muravyev
 George Bennett
 Philip Deignan
 Ben King
 Jason McCartney
 Ivan Rovny
 Bjorn Selander

3. LEOPARD TREK (LUX)
 Andy Schleck
 Fränk Schleck
 Stefan Denifl
 Brice Feillu
 Anders Lund
 Martin Mortensen
 Stuart O'Grady
 Jens Voigt

4. TEAM GARMIN-CERVELO (USA)
 Tom Danielson
 Ryder Hesjedal
 Daniel Lloyd
 Thomas Peterson
 Peter Stetina
 Christian Vande Velde
 Dave Zabriskie
 Danny Summerhill

5. HTC-HIGHROAD (USA)
 Tejay Van Garderen
 Caleb Fairly
 Patrick Gretsch
 Danny Pate
 Frantisek Rabon
 Hayden Roulston
 Peter Velits
 Lachlan Norris

6. LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE (ITA)
 Ivan Basso
 Davide Cimolai
 Timothy Duggan
 Edward King
 Daniel Oss
 Juraj Sagan
 Sylwester Szmyd
 Elia Viviani

7. SAXO BANK SUNGARD (DEN)
 André Steensen
 Brian Vandborg
 Daniel Navarro
 Jesus Hernandez
 Gustav Larsson
 Michael Mørkov
 Laurent Didier
 Richie Porte

8. RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM (NED)
 Robert Gesink
 Stef Clement
 Marc Goos
 Grischa Niermann
 Laurens Ten Dam
 Pieter Weening
 Dennis Van Winden

9. UNITEDHEALTHCARE PRO CYCLING (USA)
 Rory Sutherland
 Jonathan Clarke
 Robert Forster
 Davide Frattini
 Adrian Hegyvary
 Christopher Jones
 Bradley White
 Scott Zwizanski

10. TEAM TYPE 1 - sanofi-aventis (USA)
 Alexandr Efimkin
 Vladimar Efimkin
 Rubens Bertogliati
 Valeriy Kobzarenko
 Javier Megias Leal
 Scott Stewart
 William Dugan
 Fabio Calabria

11. SKIL-SHIMANO (NED)
 Ronan Van Zandbeek
 Kenny Van Hummel
 Thomas Bonnin
 Martin Reimer
 Sander Oostlander
 Tobias Ludvigsson
 Philipp Ries
 Albert Timmer

12. TEAM SPIDERTECH POWERED BY C10 (CAN)
 Lucas Eusar
 Flavio De Luna
 Jonathan Patrick McCarty
 David Boily
 Bruno Langlois
 Francois Parisien
 Andrew Randell
 Ryan Roth

13. BISSELL PRO CYCLING (USA)
 Chris Baldwin
 Frank Pipp
 Jeremy Vennell
 Chase Pinkham
 Rob Britton
 Paul Mach
 Jay Thomson
 Ben Jacques-Maynes

14. TEAM EXERGY (USA)
 Andres Miguel Diaz Corrales
 Carlos Eduardo Alzate Escobar
 Freddie Rodriguez
 Matthew Cooke
 Sam Johnson
 Christopher Hong
 Erik Slack
 Kai Applequis

15. JELLY BELLY CYCLING TEAM p/b KENDA (USA)
 Sergio Hernandez
 Emerson Oronte
 Bernard Van Ulden
 Sean Mazich
 Ken Hanson
 Jeremy Powers
 Alex Hagman
 Nic Hamilton

16. GOBERNACION DE ANTIOQUIA-INDEPORTES ANTIOQUIA (COL)
 Sergio Luis Henao
 Oscar Sevilla Rivera
 Javier Acevedo Calle
 Alejandro Ramirez Calderon
 Rafael Montiel Cuello
 Carlos Ospina Hernandez
 Oscar Alvarez Paniagua
 Cristhian Montoya

17. EPM-UNE (COL)
 Giovanni Manuel Baez
 Juan Pablo Suarez
 Walter Fernando Pedraza
 Edward Stiber Ortiz
 Rafael Infantino Abreu
 Carlos Fernando Piamonte Rodriguez
 Eduard Alexander Beltran
 Robigzon Leandro Oyola

Stages for the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge include:
 Prologue: Colorado Springs – August 22
 Stage 1: Salida to Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte – August 23
 Stage 2: Gunnison to Aspen – August 24
 Stage 3: Vail Time Trial – August 25
 Stage 4: Avon to Steamboat Springs – August 26
 Stage 5: Steamboat Springs to Breckenridge – August 27
 Stage 6: Golden to Denver – August 28

About the USA Pro Cycling Challenge
The USA Pro Cycling Challenge is expected to be the largest spectator event in Colorado history and one of the largest sporting events to ever take place in the United States. For seven consecutive days, 136 of the world's top athletes will race across 518 miles through the majestic Rockies, reaching higher altitudes than they've ever had to endure, more than two miles in elevation. It's the best of the best in professional cycling, competing on a challenging course through some of America's most beautiful scenery, including cities such as Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge and Steamboat Springs.

Referred to as “America's Race” the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge will take place August 22-28, 2011. With more than one million spectators expected at the event, as well as national television exposure on NBC and VERSUS, the USA Pro Cycling Challenge will be one of the largest cycling events in United States history.

Spectators of this race will see Olympians, World Champions and Tour de France competitors. Fans worldwide will have access to the competition and riders like never before with the most advanced, interactive online, smartphone and broadcast television experience presented to date in professional cycling.

More information can be found on the website www.USAprocyclingchallenge.com and Twitter page @USAProChallenge.

	24hr snow	mid dpth	snow cond.
A-Basin	n/a	n/a
Aspen	n/a	n/a	closed
BC	n/a	n/a	closed
Breckenridge	n/a	n/a	closed
Buttermilk	n/a	n/a	closed
Copper	n/a	n/a	closed
Crest. Butte	n/a	n/a	closed
Eldora	n/a	n/a	closed
Heavenly	n/a	n/a	closed
Highlands	n/a	n/a
Howelsen	n/a	n/a	closed
Keystone	n/a	n/a	closed
Kirkwood	n/a	n/a	closed
Loveland	n/a	n/a
Monarch	n/a	n/a	closed
Northstar	n/a	n/a	closed
Powderhorn	n/a	n/a	closed
Purgatory	n/a	n/a	closed
Silverton	n/a	n/a	closed
Ski Cooper	n/a	n/a	closed
Ski Granby	n/a	n/a	closed
Snowmass	n/a	n/a	closed
Steamboat	n/a	n/a	closed
Sunlight	n/a	n/a	closed
Telluride	n/a	n/a	closed
Vail	n/a	n/a	closed
WinterPark	n/a	n/a	closed
Wolf Creek	n/a	n/a	closed
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