August 24, 2013 (Ft. Collins, CO) – After sprinting across the line to take the win in both Aspen and Steamboat Springs earlier in the week, Peter Sagan (SVK) of Cannondale Pro Cycling added a third USA Pro Challenge stage victory to his list after crossing the line first to the cheers of excited fans in Fort Collins.

The 185.4km/115.2-mile stage through Northern Colorado included a Category 2 climb and several breakaways, but ultimately it came down to the final moments where Sagan edged out Luka Mezgec (SLO) of Team Argos-Shimano who came in second and Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) of BMC Racing Team in third. Tejay van Garderen (USA) maintained his overall lead and will wear the Smashburger Leader Jersey for the final day of racing tomorrow in Denver.

“I’m having an amazing time racing here in Colorado on the roads that I used to train on in high school – it’s unbelievable,” said van Garderen. “The crowds here are incredible. Colorado is a cycling-crazy state.”

Stage 6 of the USA Pro Challenge took the riders through challenging terrain on a route through picturesque Northern Colorado from Loveland to Fort Collins.

“Today’s stage of the USA Pro Challenge gave us the chance to showcase another beautiful part of the State of Colorado to the world,” said Shawn Hunter, CEO of the USA Pro Challenge. “We saw impressive crowds cheering on the riders at the start line in Loveland all the way to the packed streets of Fort Collins this afternoon. The number of people that came out to watch the race today was amazing!”

After a short, neutral start heading out of town, the riders kicked it into high gear and punched up the speed to 40 mph. With the first of three Clif Bar Sprints taking place in Windsor, just 5.1 miles into the stage, the riders kept the pace high and powered through the line, with Luis Romero Amaran (CUB) of Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home taking max points, followed by Nic Hamilton (CAN) of Jelly Belly p/b Kenda and David Lozano Riba (ESP) of Team Novo Nordisk.

Several attacks came early in the stage, including one from 2013 Tour de France Champion Chris Froome (GBR) of Sky Procycling, but nothing stuck. After reeling a big group in, the intact peloton reached the second Clif Bar Sprint Line of the day in Loveland, where Christopher Jones (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team crossed the line first, followed by Kirk Carlsen (USA) of Bissell Pro Cycling and Marsh Cooper (CAN) of Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies.

After one more unsuccessful break attempt, Michael Rogers (AUS) of Team Saxo-Tinkoff showed his strength once again and pulled away from the group. He was followed by several riders that would comprise today’s main breakaway, including:

– Thomas Dekker (NED) of Team Garmin-Sharp
– Andrew Talansky (USA) of Team Garmin-Sharp
– Joshua Edmondson (GBR) of Sky Procycling
– Tiago Machado (POR) of RadioShack Leopard Trek
– Bruno Pires (POR) of Team Saxo-Tinkoff
– Timothy Duggan (USA) of Team Saxo-Tinkoff
– Simon Geschke (GER) of Team Argos-Shimano
– Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo (COL) of Columbia
– Javier Megias Leal (ESP) of Team Novo Nordisk
– Christopher Jones (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
– Jeffry Louder (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
– Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA) of Bissell Pro Cycling
– Kirk Carlsen (USA) of Bissell Pro Cycling
– Jesse Anthony (USA) of Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies

With the gap hovering around two minutes, the riders made it through the Feed Zone on the approach to the only Nissan King of the Mountains (KOM) competition of the day at Devil’s Gulch. Lined with enthusiastic, screaming fans at the top, Geschke crossed the line first, followed by Pires and Rogers. From there, it would only be about five, mostly downhill, miles until the third Clif Bar Sprint Line of the day in Estes Park, where Rogers zoomed over the line first to the cheers of waiting crowds, followed by Pires and Duarte.

As several riders tried to pull away from the peloton, but were quickly brought back in, the gap went down to just 1:20. As the race continued though, the gap would build once again. With the wind giving the riders a little help, speeds built back up to around 28 mph.

At about 22 miles until the end of the stage, things started to heat up. Cannondale continued to lead the front of the peloton, ensuring their sprinter Peter Sagan (SVK) would be ready for the final run into Fort Collins, and with that speedy tempo, the gap started to shrink. Seizing the moment, two riders – Carlsen and Machado – attacked the break and were soon joined by Geschke and Duarte. But Geschke didn’t stop there and attacked the newly formed break of four with about 16 miles to the finish. Before long though, he was joined by several other riders, including Dekker, Edmonson, Rogers and Megias Leal.

As the remaining riders from the original break of 15 left in the second group got reabsorbed by the field, the situation consisted of the break out front, chased by Machado and Pires, followed by the field. With the break riding through a swarm of fans on the small, rolling, uncategorized hills leading to the slightly downhill finish in Fort Collins, Geschke went back to the field as well.

With about eight miles to go, a crash took down Andy Schleck (LUX) of RadioShack Leopard Trek and Tom Zirbel (USA) of Optum Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies, but they were both able to recover and finish the stage.

With the end of the stage nearing, the peloton chased down the breakaway and began to set up for a fast, final sprint into Downtown Fort Collins. Teams started lining up their sprinters and sending them off the front, but in an all-out, intense sprint to the finish, 2013 Tour de France Green Jersey Winner Peter Sagan won the stage.

“Today I’d like to thank all my teammates, they did great work all day, especially in the front for the breakaway,” said Sagan. “All the riders from my team did their best. I’m very happy to have won this stage.”

Most of the jerseys remain unchanged heading into the final day of racing, including the Smashburger Leader Jersey (van Garderen), Clif Bar Sprint Jersey (Sagan), Nissan King of the Mountains Jersey (Matt Cooke (USA) of Jamis-Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home) and Colorado State University Best Young Rider Jersey (Lachlan David Morton (AUS) of Team Garmin-Sharp). Geschke was awarded the FirstBank Most Courageous Rider Jersey for his performance in the break today.

STAGE 7 TOMORROW:
– Sunday, Aug. 25 – Denver Circuit Race (116.5 km/72.4 mi)
– Start Time: 12:55 p.m. MT
– Estimated Finish Time: 3:50 p.m. MT
– Satellite Feed Time: 4:30-4:45 p.m. MT

The Denver Circuit takes the best parts of the 2011 and 2012 Denver stages and combines them into a new circuit. It still hits all the Denver highlights – LoDo, City Park and Civic Center Park. There isn’t a bad viewing spot. Watch for early breakaways…can they hold off the surging peloton? Watch the teams cue up and try to set up their sprinters…can they get to the front? Watch the last corner and see who has the nerve to take it the fastest and claim the final prize in the shadow of Colorado’s Capitol.

Results

1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale Pro Cycling  4:01:33
2. Luka Mezgec (Slo) Team Argos-Shimano
3. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team
4. Edwin Alcibiades Avila Vanegas (Col) Colombia
5. Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
6. Andrea Peron (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk
7. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
8. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
9. Michael Olsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano
10. Robinson Eduardo Chalapud Gomez (Col) Colombia
11. Michael Schär (Sui) BMC Racing Team
12. Mathias Frank (Sui) BMC Racing Team
13. Serghei Tvetcov (Mda) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
14. Chad Beyer (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
15. Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano
16. Philip Deignan (Irl) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
17. Nikodemus Holler (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano
18. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team
19. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Sky Procycling
20. Carter Jones (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
21. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling
22. Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
23. Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Sharp
24. Lawson Craddock (USA) Bontrager Cycling Team
25. Gregory Brenes Obando (Crc) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
26. Hayden Roulston (Nzl) RadioShack Leopard
27. Joonas Henttala (Fin) Team Novo Nordisk
28. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin-Sharp
29. Ian Burnett (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
30. George Bennett (Nzl) RadioShack Leopard
31. Morgan Schmitt (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
32. Antoine Duchesne (Can) Bontrager Cycling Team
33. Bruno Pires (Por) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
34. Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col) Jamis-Hagens Berman
35. Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (Col) Colombia
36. Lachlan David Morton (Aus) Garmin-Sharp
37. Craig Lewis (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
38. Lucas Euser (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
39. Tiago Machado (Por) RadioShack Leopard
40. Chris Butler (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
41. Jesper Hansen (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
42. James Oram (Nzl) Bontrager Cycling Team
43. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman
44. Nathan Wilson (USA) Bontrager Cycling Team
45. Danny Pate (USA) Sky Procycling
46. Benjamin Day (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
47. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team
48. Javier Megias Leal (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk
49. Joshua Edmondson (Gbr) Sky Procycling
50. Thomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin-Sharp
51. Alex Hagman (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
52. Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
53. Andy Schleck (Lux) RadioShack Leopard
54. Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack Leopard
55. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff   0:15
56. Rohan Dennis (Aus) Garmin-Sharp
57. Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling   0:17
58. Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Colombia   0:20
59. Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano   0:30
60. Marsh Cooper (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies   1:00
61. Thomas Damuseau (Fra) Team Argos-Shimano   1:58
62. Yann Huguet (Fra) Team Argos-Shimano   2:45
63. Tyler Wren (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman   3:15
64. Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
65. Luis Romero Amaran (Cub) Jamis-Hagens Berman
66. Jeffry Louder (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
67. Juan Pablo Suarez Suarez (Col) Colombia
68. David Lozano Riba (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk
69. Nathan Brown (USA) Bontrager Cycling Team
70. Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano
71. Julio Alexis Camacho Bernal (Col) Colombia
72. Phillip Gaimon (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
73. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky Procycling
74. Kirk Carlsen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
75. Lawrence Warbasse (USA) BMC Racing Team
76. Matt Cooke (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman
77. Jens Voigt (Ger) RadioShack Leopard
78. Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Sharp
79. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin-Sharp
80. Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
81. Feng Chun Kai (Tpe) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
82. Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
83. Fabio Calabria (Aus) Team Novo Nordisk   5:33
84. Ryota Nishizono (Jpn) Champion System Pro Cycling Team
85. Edward King (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling
86. Jesse Anthony (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
87. Benjamin King (USA) RadioShack Leopard
88. Luis Enrique Davila (Mex) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
89. Timothy Duggan (USA) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
90. Sean Mazich (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
91. Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo (Col) Colombia
92. Juraj Sagan (Svk) Cannondale Pro Cycling   7:13
93. Julien Taramarcaz (Sui) BMC Racing Team
94. Martijn Verschoor (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk
95. Ian Boswell (USA) Sky Procycling
96. James Driscoll (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman
97. Carson Miller (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman
98. Christopher Froome (Gbr) Sky Procycling
99. Nariyuki Masuda (Jpn) Cannondale Pro Cycling
100. Jason McCartney (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
101. Ryan Eastman (USA) Bontrager Cycling Team
102. Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
103. Connor O’Leary (USA) Bontrager Cycling Team
104. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack Leopard
105. Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling
106. Tom Zirbel (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
107. Nic Hamlton (Can) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda  0:11:50
108. Kevin De Mesmaeker (Bel) Team Novo Nordisk  0:12:08
109. Xu Gang (Chn) Champion System Pro Cycling Team  0:19:57
110. Thomas Soladay (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies  0:21:10
111. Tanner Putt (USA) Bontrager Cycling Team  0:21:14
DNF  David Millar (Gbr) Garmin-Sharp
DNF  Stephen Cummings (Gbr) BMC Racing Team
DNS  Michael Friedman (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies

GC after Stage 6

1. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team  20:11:33
2. Mathias Frank (Sui) BMC Racing Team   1:30
3. Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Sharp   1:42
4. Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col) Jamis-Hagens Berman   2:10
5. Lachlan David Morton (Aus) Garmin-Sharp   2:34
6. Gregory Brenes Obando (Crc) Champion System Pro Cycling Team   3:25
7. Lawson Craddock (USA) Bontrager Cycling Team   3:42
8. George Bennett (Nzl) RadioShack Leopard   3:58
9. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff   4:11
10. Philip Deignan (Irl) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team   4:12
11. Carter Jones (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling   4:13
12. Michael Schär (Sui) BMC Racing Team   4:19
13. Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (Col) Colombia   4:24
14. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling   4:32
15. Lucas Euser (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team   4:55
16. Nathan Wilson (USA) Bontrager Cycling Team   5:00
17. James Oram (Nzl) Bontrager Cycling Team   5:45
18. Tiago Machado (Por) RadioShack Leopard   6:21
19. Bruno Pires (Por) Team Saxo-Tinkoff   6:31
20. Robinson Eduardo Chalapud Gomez (Col) Colombia   6:40
21. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin-Sharp   6:52
22. Chris Butler (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team   7:31
23. Javier Megias Leal (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk   7:52
24. Chad Beyer (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team   8:56
25. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  0:10:18
26. Jesper Hansen (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  0:10:30
27. Lawrence Warbasse (USA) BMC Racing Team  0:10:53
28. Serghei Tvetcov (Mda) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda  0:12:04
29. Andreas Klöden (Ger) RadioShack Leopard  0:12:47
30. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team  0:12:59
31. Andy Schleck (Lux) RadioShack Leopard  0:13:22
32. Jesse Anthony (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies  0:14:04
33. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team  0:15:01
34. Edwin Alcibiades Avila Vanegas (Col) Colombia  0:15:27
35. Juan Pablo Suarez Suarez (Col) Colombia  0:16:41
36. Thomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin-Sharp  0:17:45
37. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack Leopard  0:19:01
38. Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano  0:19:11
39. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale Pro Cycling  0:19:46
40. Alex Hagman (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda  0:19:49
41. Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Sharp  0:20:44
42. Tom Zirbel (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies  0:21:08
43. Morgan Schmitt (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda  0:21:29
44. Benjamin Day (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team  0:22:10
45. Joshua Edmondson (Gbr) Sky Procycling  0:22:14
46. Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling  0:23:46
47. Kirk Carlsen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling  0:24:24
48. Jeffry Louder (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team  0:24:49
49. Tyler Wren (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman  0:25:09
50. Joonas Henttala (Fin) Team Novo Nordisk  0:25:38
51. Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  0:27:48
52. Luis Romero Amaran (Cub) Jamis-Hagens Berman  0:28:16
53. Ian Boswell (USA) Sky Procycling  0:28:25
54. Nikodemus Holler (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano  0:29:00
55. Phillip Gaimon (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling  0:29:21
56. Christopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team  0:29:50
57. Antoine Duchesne (Can) Bontrager Cycling Team  0:30:19
58. Michael Olsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano  0:30:41
59. Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo (Col) Colombia  0:32:19
60. Hayden Roulston (Nzl) RadioShack Leopard  0:32:34
61. Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano  0:33:04
62. Jens Voigt (Ger) RadioShack Leopard  0:33:22
63. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin-Sharp  0:33:42
64. Danny Pate (USA) Sky Procycling  0:34:35
65. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman  0:36:17
66. Marsh Cooper (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies  0:36:20
67. Sean Mazich (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda  0:36:23
68. Edward King (USA) Cannondale Pro Cycling  0:36:40
69. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Sky Procycling  0:36:50
70. Craig Lewis (USA) Champion System Pro Cycling Team  0:36:54
71. David Lozano Riba (Esp) Team Novo Nordisk  0:37:30
72. Benjamin King (USA) RadioShack Leopard  0:37:33
73. Luis Enrique Davila (Mex) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda  0:37:53
74. James Driscoll (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman  0:38:09
75. Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team  0:38:10
76. Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Colombia  0:38:17
77. Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano  0:38:48
78. Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling  0:39:15
79. Fred Rodriguez (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda  0:39:30
80. Ryan Eastman (USA) Bontrager Cycling Team  0:40:20
81. Rohan Dennis (Aus) Garmin-Sharp  0:41:04
82. Feng Chun Kai (Tpe) Champion System Pro Cycling Team  0:41:22
83. Tanner Putt (USA) Bontrager Cycling Team  0:41:25
84. Matt Cooke (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman  0:41:55
85. Thomas Damuseau (Fra) Team Argos-Shimano  0:42:06
86. Juraj Sagan (Svk) Cannondale Pro Cycling  0:42:18
87. Nariyuki Masuda (Jpn) Cannondale Pro Cycling
88. Ryan Anderson (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies  0:42:36
89. Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team  0:43:04
90. Ian Burnett (USA) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda  0:43:11
91. Julio Alexis Camacho Bernal (Col) Colombia  0:43:49
92. Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  0:44:19
93. Timothy Duggan (USA) Team Saxo-Tinkoff  0:44:51
94. Christopher Froome (Gbr) Sky Procycling  0:45:12
95. Ryota Nishizono (Jpn) Champion System Pro Cycling Team  0:45:14
96. Luka Mezgec (Slo) Team Argos-Shimano  0:45:59
97. Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling  0:46:44
98. Fabio Calabria (Aus) Team Novo Nordisk  0:47:02
99. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky Procycling  0:47:09
100. Nathan Brown (USA) Bontrager Cycling Team  0:47:13
101. Connor O’Leary (USA) Bontrager Cycling Team  0:48:43
102. Andrea Peron (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk  0:49:18
103. Julien Taramarcaz (Sui) BMC Racing Team  0:51:44
104. Carson Miller (USA) Jamis-Hagens Berman  0:52:50
105. Jason McCartney (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling  0:53:39
106. Yann Huguet (Fra) Team Argos-Shimano  0:54:24
107. Nic Hamlton (Can) Jelly Belly p/b Kenda  0:55:30
108. Martijn Verschoor (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk  1:03:25
109. Kevin De Mesmaeker (Bel) Team Novo Nordisk  1:06:52
110. Xu Gang (Chn) Champion System Pro Cycling Team  1:07:57
111. Thomas Soladay (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies  1:19:38