Blog Posts From Active Expert: Gale Bernhardt Tagged With usa_pro_cycling_challenge

Top road pros Leipheimer and Van Garderen used pre-cooling at USA Pro Cycling Challenge

guest — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:35:04 GMT

A few weeks ago I wrote a column about pre-cooling for improved race performance. Top road racers Levi Leipheimer and Tejay Van Garderen used pre-cooling techniques before the Vail time trial at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge event.

I was near the 300 meter mark on the hill and caught this shot of Leipheimer shortly before he won the time trial and set a course record of 25:47.

When I went home and watched my recorded live coverage, what I noticed is that Leipheimer was wearing a pre-cooling vest during his warm-up.

With a bit of research, I found the vest is made by Game Ready. You can find more information about Radio Shack uses and the various uses of this system at this link.

Tejay Van Garderen appeared to be wearing a pre-cooling system as well, though I can’t find the manufacturer of the apparent gloves.

When preparing for the Olympic Games, I recall a presentation by a company named AvaCore. Though I don’t think Tejay’s glove is manufactured by AvaCore, hand cooling is used due to the heat dissipation characteristics of the human hand (and sole of the foot).

None of this was covered on the one-hour show, so I was glad to have the live version recorded.

Cool! Literally.

Women’s Pro Cycling Comes to Colorado Next Week

guest — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:00:54 GMT

For those of you coming to the Colorado mountains to catch the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, be sure to catch the Aspen/Snowmass Women’s Pro Stage Race going on August 22 to 24. Jessica Phillips (2002 U.S. road champion and 2009 U.S. time trial champion) was instrumental in bringing the race to Aspen.

Though the women’s race doesn’t follow the same course as the men’s race, both races carry title sponsorship from UnitedHealthcare. Kudos to UnitedHealthcare for their support of cycling and, in particular, women’s racing. Additionally, it’s great to see USA Pro Cycling Challenge promoting the event as well.

The stages are:

Stage 1 – Maroon Bells Time Trial
August 22 5:00 p.m.
The eight-mile, uphill time trial opens racing Monday evening southwest of Aspen. The route follows the Maroon Creek Road and gradually rises 1,500 vertical feet. The course is not technical, but the climb and thin air will conspire to put big splits into the field before the race’s first night is out.

Stage 2 – Snowmass Circuit Race
August 23 10:00 a.m.
The 3.5-mile circuit climbs the five-percent Brush Creek Road climb every one of 12 laps. The 1.4-mile climb gives way to a stair-step descent to the start/finish with barely a respite for riders.

Stage 3 – Aspen Crit
August 24 1:00 p.m.
Eleven corners in criterium! There will be no formulaic racing in the downtown Aspen finale. With 49 feet of elevation gain every lap and an uphill finish, the Aspen Crit will be the most challenge criterium on the women’s national circuit. Throw in the altitude and the final stage will be a true test, if for just an hour.

The ever-young Jeannie Longo will be racing alongside U.S. Olympian Kristen Armstrong Savola. You can find complete starting rosters on VeloNews.

Colorado is the place to be in August - perhaps the entire Tour de France podium will be here

guest — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:36:30 GMT

This morning there was a press release that Cadel Evans is confirmed for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, slated for August 22-28.

By next week we should know if the entire Tour de France podium from 2011 will be in Colorado for the week-long race. The team rosters should be complete by August 4^th. The rumor mills are hot and heavy that the Schleck brothers will be racing in Colorado as well – skipping the Vuelta a Espana.

A couple of weeks prior to the Pro Challenge, on August 13^th, the Lifetime Fitness Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race will start their 18^th event. There’s no word yet on when a final start roster will be released for this event.

I’ll keep you posted on both rosters.

Will an arm around Tom Danielson and lunch near TeJay van Garderen make me faster?

guest — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:03:23 GMT

Where I live along Colorado’s northern Front Range, it is not uncommon to see highly talented athletes. In December of 2008, we had a special treat when my Sunday group ride went to Estes Park.

Estes is around a 32-mile climb from Loveland, Colorado. Sitting at the mouth of Rocky Mountain National Park, at about 7,500 feet, Estes can definitely be cold in the winter. Sometimes we get lucky and can cherry-pick a day to ride to Estes in any given month of the year. In fact some silly people make that an annual goal.

On one of the group rides, we happened to run into several of the pro riders doing a training ride. They rode to Estes from Boulder. I’m now hoping that simply standing next to Danielson and near van Garderen will make me faster. Perhaps it already has? Maybe there’s more to come?

It is fun to see these riders currently doing well in the Tour de France. Beyond the next two weeks and the Tour, I’m looking forward to seeing both TeJay, Tom and several of the top Tour de France teams at the USA Pro Challenge in Colorado in August.

Here’s hoping these guys can stay out of crashes and healthy ~

Bike Tour Days 6 and 7 – Dotsero to Frisco via Vail Pass, Frisco to Central City, Colorado

guest — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 23:27:13 GMT

We are now nearing the end of the bike tour. After a rest day for most yesterday, it seems riders are eager to get pedaling again.

Day 6: Due to the bike path being washed out, we went by car to Dotsero. Those without personal sags along went via bus back to Gypsum. Everyone headed toward Vail, Vail Pass and then into Frisco. (80.3 miles, 4095 ft. of climbing)

Meeka and Del, the best sag team ever.

Vail Pass is a tough and rewarding climb. For whatever reason, I like it. I felt good climbing too. Finally.

Scott Ellis, Gale and Bruce Runnels - looking like it should be Rabbit Ears Pass - but no, it's Vail Pass.

I did think about the USA Pro Cycling Challenge riders that will be doing a time trial on part of Vail Pass in a few weeks. We plan to go up and watch some of the stages. Want to see Tour de France riders without traveling to France? Come to Colorado!

After the climb, there’s a descent into Copper Mountain and then Frisco. A few weeks ago, I noted that there was an avalanche covering the bike path between Copper Mountain and Frisco. The bike path was open when we went through, but…it seems there was some extra debris in the avalanche…

Ron Kennedy and Scott Ellis looking happy to be in the avalanche...

Walking the bike path in Frisco, near Dillon Reservoir, I caught a shot of some wild Iris (I think that’s what they are) with Grays and Torreys Peaks in the background. Summer in the mountains is fantastic.

Day 7: From Frisco we headed back toward Central City. (61.3 miles, 2633 ft of climbing) Because a running race was using the bike path between Loveland Basin (after the Loveland Pass climb) and Georgetown, tour organizers worked with Colorado Department of Transportation personnel to allow us to ride on Interstate 70 rather than bussing for about 13 miles. The State Patrol broke us into groups of about 50 riders and sent us on the highway in small groups. For the most part, this went well. There are always a few knuckleheads in every crowd.

Bicycle Tour of Colorado ended in Central City. A great way to spend a week. (383 miles, 17,834 feet of climbing)