'It Gets Your Adrenaline Going' Says USA Pro Challenge Fan On Final Day
DENVER (CBS4) - Thousands of people in Denver celebrated the grand finale of a 7-day race through Colorado as cyclists in the USA Pro Challenge crossed the finish line near Civic Center Park Sunday afternoon.
The eyes of the cycling world have been on Colorado this week and there was a lot of excitement leading up to the finish. Fans lined the streets in Golden for an exciting finale in the women's race. USA Pro Challenge race director Sean Petty says the first year of the women's race showcasing some of the best cyclists in the world drew thousands.
"That crowd came out early for the women and we're so grateful that they supported this race and i know the women are too," Petty said.
"I love seeing this because it's like seeing someone from a different planet do something that you try to do," spectator Tyler Bauer said.
Bauer brought the whole family.
"It's just exciting to see that they worked so hard and they're so good at what they do," Nicole Bauer said.
Life-long cyclist Joe Lushinski came from Washington, D.C. to cheer them on.
PHOTO GALLERY: USA Pro Challenge
"It gets your adrenaline going just to see one person just cheering for you, but when you hear a mass of people cheering for you, it really gets you pumped up," Lushinski said.
"I've just been itching to come out here to see the USA Pro Challenge on the same roads that I've been learning myself … and seeing the pros suffer just as much as I do," cycling fan Michael Carrol.
Carrol is amazed by the athletes' endurance.
"The Tour de France is the pinnacle of cycling, but as far as elevation goes, they don't have anything on Colorado," he said.
The race stretched more than 600 miles from Steamboat Springs to Denver.
