According to a press item released today, June 20, 2019, the Colorado Classic presented by VF Corporation has received commitments from 16 teams to participate in this year’s race, which is expected to showcase the most competitive field in the race’s history. The commitments include 5 international teams, of which 4 are in the top-20 of the UCI rankings.
In addition, the race has partnered with USA Cycling to bring an all-star collegiate team to the event, helping to showcase America’s up-and-coming talent. Rounding out the field will be several of the USA’s top domestic women’s teams.
Teams committed to attend the 2019 Colorado Classic include:
- ALP Cycles Racing (USA)
- Amy D. Foundation (USA)
- BePink (ITA)*
- Canyon//SRAM (GER)*
- Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling (RUS)*
- DNA Cycling (USA)
- Durango-Specialized-IED (MEX)
- Fearless Femme (USA)
- Hagens Berman / Supermint (USA)*
- LUX/Flexential (USA)
- Point S Auto p/b Nokian Tyres
- Rally/UHC (USA)*
- Sho-Air Twenty20 (USA)*
- Swapit Agolico (MEX)*
- TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank (USA)*
- USA Cycling Collegiate All Star Team (USA)
* Indicates UCI registered women’s team
According to Sean Petty, the Colorado Classic Race Director, “With the race’s move to the UCI calendar, we will see a much more international field. This year’s race will be the most competitive field we’ve had, especially with riders all over the world battling for significant UCI individual and team points and for their country’s Olympic qualification.”
The final field of teams and rosters of female athletes will be released later this summer.
Sara Poidevin of Rally/UHC Cycling and 2017 Colorado Classic overall winner is quoted in the press release as saying, “all of the changes are exciting and it’s really encouraging to have the event increase their support of women’s racing in North America. Having a live stream is a great way to showcase women’s racing and helps provide sustainability for the event. I’m looking forward to seeing the new courses. Any race at altitude adds another level of difficulty and makes for good, hard racing.”
The Colorado Classic has become increasingly important on the women’s world race calendar and demand for team entry into the race was high. Currently carrying a UCI 2.1 category designation, one of only 13 women’s races in the world to do so, the event will enable riders to earn points for team and individual UCI rankings as well as qualification for the upcoming Olympics. The race is also on the USA Cycling Pro Road Tour (PRT), which brings together all of the top domestic road calendar events in the U.S.
Race overview:
- Stage 1: Steamboat Springs presented by Smartwool (Thursday, August 22)
- Stage 2: Avon presented by FirstBank (Friday, August 23)
- Stage 3: Golden (Saturday, August 24)
- Stage 4: Denver presented by Gates Corporation (Sunday, August 25)
