Dennis nabs Pro Challenge win

Kreuziger was part of a selection that formed about an hour into the stage, and then was able to sprint past Javier Megias and Leonardo Basso to win the stage.

Dennis was so strong he went on the attack in the concluding mile of the final stage to help a teammate attempt to win.

Dennis managed to open a gap on a select bunch on the downhill into Breckenridge, and wound up holding off Robbie Squire and teammate Brent Bookwalter by 19 seconds.

“The women’s division was an incredible addition”, Pro Challenge CEO Shawn Hunter said at the post-race press conference, attended by Abbott and the men’s winners.

Tayler Wiles of DNA Cycling pulled away from a breakaway group of four riders to win the stage.

“I had a lot of fun this week and hopefully I can come back next year and do it again”, Dennis said.

“From every level it’s gotten so much bigger and I think a lot of people are coming out who are not necessarily cyclists and they’re just enjoying the hubbub”, said volunteer Barb Brown.

“This is the first race I’ve led in the USA”, said Bookwalter, who was third in the opening stage behind Taylor Phinney and Reijnen.

BMC were outstanding in the seven-day Pro Challenge, with Dennis taking out two stages, finishing runner-up on two others and also winning the king of the mountain category.

Reijnen, a frequent top-10 finisher with a stage win at the recent Tour of Utah, mirrored the BMC riders until he hit familiar terrain on Main Street.

Women’s Pro Challenge crowns Stage 2 victor, Armstrong leads overall.

Races are won or lost on time trials, and this one finishes with a limit-pushing descent of Boreas Pass. They’ll finish Stage 3 of their race in Golden.

While the crit wasn’t enough to shake up the overall podium, it gave young sprint specialists a final chance to shine – and make a career statement with classification jerseys.

Boulder professional racer Mara Abbott takes the Queen of the Mountain overall jersey at the inaugural women’s race, August 23, 2015. Alexandr Braico took Best Colorado Rider.