USA Pro Challenge 2013: Stage 7

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January 1 - August 25, Denver, Colorado, USA, Road - 2.HC

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Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Stage 7 at the USA Pro Challenge. The finale will showcase a fast circuit race through the streets of Denver, Colorado.

The riders are rolling to the start line of the final stage of the USA Pro Challenge held in Denver this afternoon. After a neutral zone, the race will officially start at City Park.

The peloton will complete seven laps of a 15 km circuit through downtown Denver, passing LoDo, City Park and Civic Center Park. The race totals 117 km and it should be a very quick and exciting finale on a flat and fast circuit.

The course is in the heart of Denver and the start-finish line is at the Capitol buildings. The crowds are off the hook today, as expected. 

Tom Danielson just rolled to the start line.

This looks like another good race for Cannondale’s Peter Sagan, who has already won three stages during the USA Pro Challenge this week. He sprinted to the victory in stage 1 in Aspen, stage 3 in Steamboat Springs and stage 6 in Ft. Collins yesterday.

The course has a criterium feel to it. There are two long out and back sections. The riders will race out 17th Ave., circle City Park and head back down 17th Ave.

And they're off!

Jens Voigt (RadioShack-Leopard) had something to say about how to beat Peter Sagan today, although he wasn't too optimistic. He told Cyclingnews' Pat Malach that,

Ben King (Radio Shack), Christohper Juul Jensen (Saxo-Tinkoff), David Riba (Novo Nordisk) and Carson Miller (Jamis) are on the move.

They have about 20 seconds on the main field.

This course is not as easy as it looks on paper! There's very rough city pavement, lots of sharp turns and roundabouts. The riders are going to have to pay close attention during ever second of this race today.

There are three chasers, Chun Kai Feng (Champion System), Lucas Euser (UnitedHealthcare) and Tyler Wren (Jamis).

The two lead groups have united and there is now a seven-man breakaway with a 1:30-minute gap.

The breakaway rider are:

The entire lap has fans lining the streets to watch the race today. It's almost impossible to hear through the huge crowds near the Capitol buildings at the start-finish line.

The breakaway is approaching the end of the first lap. There is only one turn in the last kilometre, it's a left-hand turn with 280 metres to go. 

Sky's Chris Froome has stopped racing and has pulled over to the side of the street on course.

UnitedHealthcare's Jeff Louder spoke with Cyclingnews' Peter Hymas this morning. Here is what he had to say,

Tour de France winner Chris Froome has officially abandoned the race. This course is probably his worst nightmare.

The breakaway is working well together. The riders are holding a 50-second gap. 

We are partway through the second lap along the Larimer St sector where there are heavy crowds. There are also lights and small flags strung across the roads above the racers, about two stories up.

The breakaway has increased the gap to a minute.

US road champion, Freddy Rodriguez (Jelly Belly) has a thing or two to say about beating Peter Sagan today.

The race is starting the third lap.

The main field is now starting the third lap, 1:20 minutes behind the seven-man breakaway.

82km remaining from 116km

It's a hot day today, 95 Fahrenheit. It might feel even hotter out on the pavement for the racers.

Mick Rogers (Saxo-Tinkoff) was in a good mood this morning as he stepped onto the stage to sign into the race. He reached out and gave the finish line bell a big ring!

Under 23 US road champion Tanner Putt, who races for the Bontrager team, said this is an emotional race. He told Cyclingnews' Peter Hymas this morning that,

75km remaining from 116km

Saxo-Tinkoff's Timmy Duggan says that the whole peloton will have to do something different in order to win the stage today. He said they can't let Cannondale drag the peloton around and then expect to beat Peter Sagan in a sprint. "I expect a really aggressive race. We aren't just going to hand it to Cannondale"

The breakaway is starting the fourth lap and holding a one-minute gap ahead of the main field.

Cannondale is still leading the peloton with Argos-Shimano and BMC tucked in behind.

These three teams have arguably the fastest sprinters with Peter Sagan on Cannondale, Luka Mazgec on Argos-Shimano and Greg van Avermaet on BMC.

63km remaining from 116km

The breakaway is rolling very well together around the circuit. The riders are holding 1:10-minute gap.

Some of the riders might be pleased that there are no king of the mountain ascents on course today. Matt Cooke (Jamis-Hagens Berman) wrapped up that competition. All he needs to do is finish today’s stage to officially win it.

The breakaway just rolled through to start the fifth lap.

We are halfway through the final stage at the USA Pro Challenge. The crowds are getting bigger as the race progresses.

Bissell, BMC and Cannondale are doing the bulk of the work at the front of the main field.

52km remaining from 116km

Cannondale is still chasing with help from Argos-Shimano and Colombia.

The average speed so far has been 47.2 km/h.

The breakaway is approaching the end of the fifth lap. They will have three laps to go.

The races is running about two minutes faster than the fastest estimated time of arrival to the finish line.

41km remaining from 116km

Sky's Richie Porte is working is way back up to the main field through the caravan.

Cannondale is driving the pace of the peloton around the circuit. The field is single file as they approach two laps to go.

The breakaway is losing time as they approach two laps to go. The gap has dropped to 35 seconds.

Miller is attacking the breakaway.

Lucas Euser is now attacking and he is alone in front starting two laps to go.

Feng is trying to bridge across to Euser.

Euser is still alone and gaining time.

There is one BMC rider pulling the main field followed by the Cannondale team and several Colombia riders.

Euser is still alone, he has dropped his previous breakaway companions. He is holding a six-second gap.

Euser is leading the race with less than two laps to go. The rest of the original breakaway has exploded and they are riding in ones and twos ahead of the main field.

Miller and King have caught back up to Euser and the three riders are holding 30 seconds on the main field.

One BMC rider is pulling the main field followed by the Cannondale squad.

Euser, Miller and King are desperately trying to hold onto their small lead.

Cannondale is now dominating the front of the main field. They're looking very organized coming into the final lap. 

Euser, Miller and King are losing time and the gap is down to 15 seconds.

Lucas Euser, Carson Miller and Ben King are about to get caught by the main field.

There was a crash at the back of the main field.

Saxo-Tinkoff's Jensen and Sky's Edmondson are the two who crashed at the back of the main field.

Jensen is getting back on his bike and he is determined to finish this race today.

1 lap to go!

Garmin-Sharp's Christian Vande Velde is leading the race through the bell lap.

Vande Velde is leading the way as the peloton begins the last lap of the race. Cannondale is lined up behind him with its sprinter Peter Sagan comfortably tucked in behind.

UnitedHealthcare is now leading the race and organizing their team at the front of the field. They have sprinter Alessandro Bazzana for the finale.

Jelly Belly is sending rider to the front. 

Jelly Belly has US national champion Freddy Rodriguez for the sprint today.

This is the last chance for the other sprinters to steal a stage win from Cannondale's Peter Sagan.

Christian Vande Velde is back at the front of the field followed by the UnitedHealthcare team.

UnitedHealthcare is leading the field in single file through the last kilometres of the race.

There are only 4 km to go. UnitedHealthcare has two riders left at the front. Argos-Shimano is moving forward.

BMC's Tejay van Garderen is sitting near the front of the peloton with his teammates all around him. 

Teams are vying for position with Argos-Shimano, Cannondale and BMC looking the strongest.

1 km to go

Rodriguez is pushing is way to the front of the field

Peter Sagan wins the race!

And Tejay van Garderen (BMC) officially wins the USA Pro Challenge.

Ryan Anderson (Optum presented/by Kelly Benefit Strategies) takes second place on the stage today.

The unofficial top three in the stage:

Unofficial top 10 in the stage:

Final general classification:

Thank you for following our coverage of the USA Pro Challenge. 

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