The Colorado Classic

Professional bike racing is returning to Colorado, Aug. 16-19, 2018.

The Colorado Classic is a four-day pro bicycle road race that brings together the top men and women pro cyclists from around the world, including former Olympians and World Tour champions.

Denver and Colorado will be well represented. Team EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale includes Taylor Phinney—son of Colorado cycling royalty Davis Phinney and Connie Carpenter Phinney—and teammate Alex Howes of Golden (third place overall in the Colorado Classic in 2017). Sepp Kuss of Durango is one of two Americans on LottoNL-Jumbo, and Trek-Segafredo includes 2016 national champion Greg Daniel of Denver. Team Rwanda Cycling will also be returning this year.

On the women's side, at least 14 teams will be competing, five of which are Colorado-based. Headlining the field are Colorado Classic defending champion Sara Poidevin (CAN), along with Abigail Mickey (USA) of Boulder, who finished third overall last year, both racing for Rally Cycling; Katie Hall (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, a three-time stage winner and overall champion of the 2018 AMGEN Tour of California Women's Race, which is on the UCI Women’s WorldTour; and rising star and 2015 UCI Junior World Road Championships winner and Olympic silver medalist Chloe Dygert Owen (USA) of TWENTY20 presented by Sho-Air.

Races are scheduled for August 16-19 with the final two stages in Denver, which start and finish each day at the Velorama Festival in the River North Art District (RiNo).

The men's race on Aug. 18 will be a 100-mile out-and-back course up Lookout Mountain and through Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre while the women will race a timed criterium in town. The fourth and final stage on Aug. 19 will feature men's and women's circuit racing through RiNo, downtown and City Park with eight laps for the men and four laps for the women.

The Denver stages of the race will have their start and finish inside Velorama, a huge street party in RiNo, featuring live music, an interactive bike expo, local food trucks, craft beer; a Kids Zone and various cycling events.

Fans can watch the race in Denver on Saturday at Velorama (a ticketed event) and on Sunday at Velorama, City Park, along 17th Avenue, and other locations downtown and in RiNo.

Please visit the www.ColoradoClassic.com for latest viewing locations and more information.

LIVE STREAM (COVERAGE STARTS THURSDAY, AUG. 16)

Velorama Festival

Velorama (Aug. 17-19) is a three-day celebration of cycling and music set in the heart of the RiNo.

Velorama features headliner and local bands; experiential cycling events; amateur criterium bike races; an interactive Bike Expo with test tracks for road, mountain and e-bikes; Kids Zone; craft beer, wine and hard cider from local breweries; cuisine from 25 local food trucks; a chance to “Race the Train” on a bike when it runs by the Festival; and the Colorado Classic start/finish and criterium on Saturday and Sunday. And new this year is the Velorama Rhythm Rumble, a timed competition between two cyclists on a built-from-scratch 300-foot straight rhythm course (a combination of dual slalom and dirt jumping), with a bonus awarded to the riders who throw the best tricks on the final booter.

MUSIC LINE-UP

The following bands will be performing Aug. 17-19 on the main stage. Additional performers will be announced soon.

Cold War Kids
Matt And Kim
Modest Mouse
Rainbow Kitten Surprise
The Kills
Lo Moon
Cults
Hop Along
Slow Caves
Wildermiss
Brent Cowles

Velorama is a ticketed event, with kids 10 and under free. Please visit the website www.VeloramaFestival.com for the latest information on tickets, music and events.