Lance Armstrong Announces New Race – Quiznos Pro Challenge

Top-level international bicycle racing will return to Colorado next summer after a 23-year hiatus.

Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong of Team Radioshack announced Wednesday that a seven-day race, called the Quiznos Pro Challenge, will happen Aug. 22-28, 2011.

“I can tell you the European riders – the best European riders – will be lined up to come to this event,” Armstrong said.

Colorado has not hosted a major professional bike tour since the Red Zinger Bicycle Classic/Coors Classic, which ran from 1976 to 1988.

Armstrong, who lives part-time in Aspen, said he got the “wacky idea” to revive the race on a training ride last year. He pitched the idea to Gov. Bill Ritter, who is an avid cyclist.

Ritter and Armstrong made the announcement Wednesday at the state Capitol to a crowd of hundreds, many who wore bike jerseys and took a ride with Lance Armstrong after the announcement.

Organizers have not chosen a race course yet. It will likely begin or end in Denver. The remaining host cities will be announced in the coming months, said Joe Moller, general manager of the race.

Southwest Colorado would be a perfect place to take the tour, said Ed Zink, organizer of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic.

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