Lake County is once again the place to be during the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge. The seven-day professional cycling event will pass through Twin Lakes on Wed., Aug. 22, then again on Thurs., Aug. 23, as racers travel through downtown Leadville towards Beaver Creek.

LEADVILLE, Colo. (Aug. 17, 2012) — Lake County, Colorado, is once again the place to be during the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. This year’s seven-day professional cycling event will pass through Twin Lakes on Wed., Aug. 22, and up and over Independence Pass and into Aspen in the only stage being repeated from the epic 2011 race. The racers will tackle the pass in the opposite direction on Thurs., Aug. 23, as they travel from Aspen through Twin Lakes and downtown Leadville, and then finish the stage in Beaver Creek.

Leadville, home of some of the world’s toughest endurance races, is the site of the only official sprint during Stage 4 of the event. Racers are expected to hit speeds of up to 50 miles per hour in this exciting half-mile race-within-a-race. To give spectators even more reason to enjoy the race in Leadville, the town is hosting a hometown celebration on Aug. 23 that includes a bike parade and expo, farmers’ market and live music by Leadville Cherokee on the courthouse lawn at 6th and Harrison Avenue. The parade kicks off the celebration at noon, and will be followed by bike sprints with prizes for kids and adults, a spandex fashion show and water balloon toss.

Due to road closures during the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, spectators planning to be in Leadville for the sprint who are coming from the south on U.S. 24 or Highway 82 must have passed Highway 82 by 1 p.m. Those traveling from the north on Highway 91 or U.S. 24 should plan to be in Leadville by 10 a.m. Parking is limited and large crowds are anticipated, so early arrival is advised. More information about road closures, camping and parking can be found on our Leadville blog.

The USA Pro Cycling Challenge begins in Durango on Monday, Aug. 20, and ends in Denver on Sunday, Aug. 26. With one of the most competitive fields ever assembled on American soil for a professional cycling race, the race will include six of the top 13 finishers from this year’s Tour de France. The roster of 126 riders from 24 countries also will include 10 of the top 12 finishers from last year’s USA Pro Cycling Challenge. More information about the event can be found at http://usaprocyclingchallenge.com.

Located in the geographic center of Colorado, Leadville is just 103 miles west of Denver and 129 miles northwest of Colorado Springs, on US Highway 24, part of the Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway. Known for its authentic mountain-town hospitality, the state’s highest Fourteeners and its rich mining and Old West history, Leadville is the highest incorporated city in North America. The downtown district is filled with antique and specialty shops, restaurants, inns, museums and B&Bs. Go to http://www.VisitLeadvilleColorado.com for more information.

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Media Contact: Mandy Gauldin, 970-945-5534

About Leadville and Twin Lakes
Leadville, the highest incorporated city in North America, is located in the geographic center of Colorado, 103 miles west of Denver and 129 miles northwest of Colorado Springs, on US Highway 24, part of the Top of the Rockies Scenic and Historic Byway. Once one of America’s richest, longest-lived and bawdiest mining boomtowns, 70 square blocks of the downtown area has been designated as a National Historic Landmark of Victorian architecture. Activities include skiing, fishing, camping, golfing, hiking, whitewater rafting, four-wheeling, biking, museums, historical tours and train rides. Nearby Twin Lakes, located 15 minutes from Leadville at the eastern entrance to Independence Pass, is also a National Historic District and a popular summer destination for camping, boating, hiking and fishing. For the most up-to-the-minute travel news, follow us on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook. Go to www.VisitLeadvilleColorado.com for more information or to request a free vacation guide.