The next generation of the world’s top cyclists will energize the fifth USA Pro Challenge with new teams and young, up-and-coming riders gunning for glory in the Aug. 17-23 race across Colorado.
“This year we have some new additions who will make their debut at the USA Pro Challenge in front of millions of people,” said Shawn Hunter, chief executive of the race. Organizers of the seven-stage, 865-mile race announced this year’s 16-team lineup on Wednesday.
The list includes top World Tour teams BMC Racing, Trek Factory Racing and Cannondale-Garmin of the U.S. and Russia’s Tinkoff-Saxo.
With two-time Pro Challenge champion Tejay van Garderen opting for the Vuelta a España, BMC Racing will be led by Rohan Dennis, who won Stage 1 of this year’s Tour de France. Dennis will be joined by Damiano Caruso, a top finisher in this year’s Tour of Italy.
Trek Factory Racing is featuring current U.S. champion Matthew Busche and four-time Tour de France top-10 finisher Haimar Zubeldia. Tinkoff-Saxo will field Roman Kreuziger. Denver-based Cannondale-Garmin is elevating Davide Formolo, a stage winner at this year’s tour of Italy, Germany’s Ruben Zepuntke who finished third at last year’s tour of Alberta and Colombian Janier Acevedo.
Five countries are sending teams, with the U.S. fielding 11 of the 16 teams. Cycling Academy, the first-ever professional team licensed from Israel and Australia’s Team Budget Forklifts also earned an invite to the Pro Challenge.
While detailed team rosters won’t be released until closer to the start, early lists reveal a high number of younger riders. The upstart Hincapie Racing team will be led by 23-year-old Robin Carpenter, who won last year’s second stage in a slippery descent into Crested Butte. Axeon Cycling Team includes 20-year-old Gregory Daniel of Golden and U.S. Under-23 national time trial champion Daniel Eaton, 21.
“The USA Pro Challenge has always been a proving ground for rising young talent and this year will be no different,” said Hunter, in a statement. “We are definitely seeing a changing of the guards in the international level cycling and it’s exhilarating to see it first hand on the roads of Colorado.”
Jason Blevins: jblevins@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jasonblevins
The 16 teams invited to the 2015 USA Pro Challenge
UCI WORLD TEAMS
BMC Racing Team (USA)
Team Cannondale-Garmin (USA)
Trek Factory Racing (USA)
Tinkoff-Saxo (RUS)
UCI PROFESSIONAL CONTINENTAL TEAMS
Caja Rural-Seguros RGA (ESP)
Drapac Professional Cycling (AUS)
Team Novo Nordisk (USA)
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA)
UCA CONTINENTAL TEAMS
Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies (USA)
Team SmartStop (USA)
Hincapie Racing Team (USA)
Jamis-Hagens Berman (USA)
Jelly Belly presented by MAXXIS (USA)
Axeon Cycling Team (USA)
Team Budget Forklifts (AUS)
Cycling Academy (ISR)