As USA Pro Challenge Broadcaster, Pro Cyclist Lucas Euser's Mind Is Still In The Race
DENVER (CBS4) - Professional cyclist and current Boulder resident Lucas Euser had to miss this year's USA Pro Challenge because of health issues, but his mind is still on the race as he's turned broadcaster to cover the event for CBS4.
"This is hands-down one of my favorite races of the year and it pains me to watch these guys out there when I know I could be right there with them," Euser told CBS4's Vic Lombardi. "I'm healthy now but I've been dealing with some health issues this entire year."
Euser said he had a mild blood infection that was slowing him down.
"Unfortunately I just didn't make the roster for the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team," he said.
PHOTO GALLERY: USA Pro Challenge
But he believes his friend and fellow Boulder resident Taylor Phinney has a good chance to win, or at least one of his teammates on Team BMC Racing does. Phinney won the opening stage and his teammate Brent Bookwalter won Stage 2.
"Taylor will never back down. He is here to win stages, he is here to win that Lexus Sprint Competition jersey. Keep an eye out for him in that green jersey for the rest of the race. I don't see many people challenging him."
But Euser said Phinney now has a dynamic because he has to support his team leader Bookwalter.
"So he's going to be balancing another stage win with the overall victory at the end of the race."
Although Team BMC has dominated the first two stages of the race, Euser says the race is still wide open.
"We clearly saw Team BMC dominate the climb to A-Basin, however it's five more days of racing … at altitude. You don't recover the same. Day in and day out it's just harder than at sea level, and we're going to see some changes in the overall standings. Whether the other teams can tackle this performance by Team BMC, that's for them to lay out there on the road."
As seen in all cycling races, fans are very close to the race and can pose a problem as was the case when Bookwalter made his move towards the finish during Stage 2 when a spectator running around with a floatation device nearly toppled him over. Euser said the cyclists just have to trust that the spectators will not interfere with the race.
"As a pro cyclist you have to have 100 percent confidence that everybody out there is going to be looking out for your well-being and safety. When spectators get in the way it's a very dangerous situation," he said. "We're going faster than people think, we're going harder than people think; and when you go that hard it's hard to navigate through extra obstacles like spectators. So please, please be careful, be respectful, recognize that we're going to be going a lot faster than you're used to seeing cyclists on the road."
Watch Euser's USA Pro Challenge daily recaps on CBS4 News at 10 and an extended recap on CBSDenver.com.
LINK: USA Pro Challenge
- By Matthew J. Buettner, CBSDenver.com
