Organizers of the USA Pro Challenge, one of the most prestigious and fastest-growing road cycling races in the United States, have announced that they will add a multistage race for women during the August 2015 event.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited about it,鈥 CEO Shawn Hunter told Colorado community radio station on Wednesday. 鈥淪ome of the great riders, not only just in the U.S. but from Europe, probably will be racing here in Colorado next August.鈥
While the men鈥檚 event, which the UCI classifies as a 2.HC race (only the World Tour races are rated higher), will take place August 17 to 23, 2015, the women鈥檚 race will take place on many of the same roads, a decision Hunter made after reading feedback from fans on social media.聽
鈥淲e鈥檙e the first race in the world to ever involve our fans in selecting part of the route,鈥 he told KUNC. 鈥淭he feedback was phenomenal.鈥
Many have taken the announcement by the USA Pro Challenge as another sign of progress in the development of world-class women鈥檚 cycling races. In mid-October, Tour of Spain director Javier Gull茅n that the September 2015 race would include a one-day women鈥檚 competition prior to the last stage in Madrid. A day earlier, that they will be expanding the length of their women鈥檚 competition.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have a much stronger world cup calendar and international calendar,鈥 UCI president Brian Cookson a few days later, when asked about the expanded schedule for UCI women鈥檚 races in 2015. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e moving in the right direction.鈥