Breckenridge Stage: USA Pro Cycling Challenge – August 24, 2012 – Stage 5 was a good day for two kinds of riders – sprinters and opportunists. A daunting 10 mile climb up Hoosier Pass to 11,500 feet made for a rude awakening. After the single summit of the day and a fast descent into Fairplay, the high mountains are left behind.
Descending into Woodland Park, the racers hit their fastest speeds of the week at the downhill Sprint Line, then continue downhill to Colorado Springs through the shadow of Pikes Peak. A technical uphill run through Garden of the Gods Park lets the cyclists revisit the roads of last year’s prologue before finishing with high-speed circuits through downtown Colorado Springs. Stage 5 Winner Tyler Farrar, but Tejay van Gardener defends the Yellow Jersey.
Christian Vande Velde Wins The 2012 Pro Challenge!