by OnSight | Jun 2017 | BIkes, Golden Giddyup, Print Communications
Our little Jeffco bike race is growing up so fast!
Just this past month we were featured in the summer issue of Dirt Rag Mountain Bike Magazine. The article highlights some great photos of the first-ever Golden Giddyup in September of 2016, but also delves into the event’s origin story: a scrappy band of neighborhood mountain bikers taking on the seemingly-impossible challenge of holding a mountain bike even in Jeffco Parks Open Space, and the natural disaster that opened up a window of opportunity for them to make it happen.
The article isn’t online, but you can check it out by picking up your copy of Dirt Rag wherever reputable magazines are sold.
by OnSight | Jun 2017 | BIkes, Colorado Classic
Pro cyclists in the inaugural Colorado Classic men’s race will cover 313 miles (503.5 km) and endure more than 20,000 feet of intense, high-altitude climbing in four stages that showcase the state’s incredible terrain and enhance viewing and entertainment options for fans, race organizers announced today.
The Colorado Classic race routes will test the field and create new and unique experiences for spectators over the race’s four-day run, August 10-13. Courses start and finish from the same location — as opposed to point-to-point races — and stages 1, 2 and 4 are “circuits” featuring multiple laps on challenging courses. As such, the Colorado Classic promises repeated opportunities for fans to see the riders up close over the course of the event.
“Each course will give fans numerous opportunities in a single day to see the sport’s top riders,” said David Koff, CEO of RPM Events Group, the organization formed to put on the race. “And the start-finish areas are being built to be magnets of activity before, during, and after each race. Our goal is to have you come out for one experience, and to stick around for many, many more.”
The Colorado Classic is sanctioned by Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and designated as a 2.HC race, which is the highest category outside of World Tour races.
Stage one will cover a total of 93.5 miles (150.4 km) as riders push the pace for six laps on a 15.58-mile (25.1 km) course in the shadow of Pikes Peak, running between downtown Colorado Springs and the sandstone formations of the city’s iconic Garden of the Gods. Links: Stage 1 Map | Stage 1 Elevation Profile
Stage two will be a test of endurance and willpower over 64 miles (103 km) in the scenic mining town of Breckenridge. During 10 laps on the 6.4-mile (10.3 km) course, riders will face more than 7,000 feet of climbing, including multiple, leg-crushing runs up the notorious Moonstone climb — and the subsequent thrilling descents down Illinois Gulch. Links: Stage 2 Map | Stage 2 Elevation Profile
The action moves to Denver for the stages 3 and 4 of the men’s race, as the Colorado Classic anchors the first-ever Velorama Festival: a 3-day bike, music, and craft festival in the city’s RiNo Art District. From August 11-13, Velorama will feature musical acts; some of the world’s best cyclists competing in the final two stages of the Colorado Classic; and hundreds of vendors in a festival marketplace that includes a Bike and Lifestyle Expo and is anchored by the Denver Flea and the independent craft makers of beer, cider and wine in the Drink RiNo group.
Stage three will be contested on an 81-mile (130 km) out-and-back course that runs from the RiNo race hub to the mountains west of Denver on the Peak to Peak Highway, and then returns to the Mile High City through scenic Golden Gate Canyon State Park and via what is expected to be a finishing sprint through the streets of Denver, with speeds approaching 60 mph. Among the day’s highlights will be race action on Gap Road in the foothills west of Denver. On that stretch, riders will face the toughest part of the course, or King of the Mountain (KOM) section, and dirt roads with steep, rolling hills. Links: Stage 3 Map | Stage 3 Elevation Profile
Stage four will once again highlight the start-and-finish area within the Velorama Festival grounds and send riders on a 7.5-mile (12km) city circuit that stretches from RiNo to City Park and back. Riders will do 10 laps in the final stage, for a total of 74.6 miles (120.1 km) on what is expected to be a thrilling, intense, and colorful final day of racing. Links: Stage 4 Map | Stage 4 Elevation Profile
The four-day race will be televised on NBCSN and live streamed on NBC Sports Gold — NBC Sports Digital’s live streaming direct-to-consumer subscription app. Paul Sherwen will call the action, joined by analyst Christian Vande Velde and reporter Bob Roll.
The two stages of the women’s Colorado Classic will be conducted on similar courses to stages 1 & 2 of the men’s course.
Stage one of the women’s race will cover 38.36 miles (61.7 km) over multiple laps in Colorado Springs, and will send a field of the best women cyclists through the Garden of the Gods. Links: Stage 1 Women’s Map | Stage 1 Women’s Elevation Profile
The second and final stage will cover 32 miles (51.5 km) over five laps on the Breckenridge course, with riders conquering Moonstone hill over and over again. Links: Stage 2 Women’s Map | Stage 2 Women’s Elevation Profile
The Denver start-finish area is within the ticketed Velorama Festival grounds and will provide incredible vantage points for catching the race action. Wilco, Death Cab for Cutie, Old 97’s and the Jayhawks will headline three rockin’ days of music with tickets, which also provide access to the race start-finish line and the festival marketplace, available online at VeloramaColorado.com.
No admission is being charged to the start-finish areas in Colorado Springs and Breckenridge, and cycling fans will find countless areas to cheer on racers for free from alongside the courses in all four stages. For additional information, visit: ColoradoClassic.com
by OnSight | May 2017 | BIkes, Colorado Classic
Men’s stages planned Aug. 10-13 in Colorado Springs, Breckenridge and Denver
DENVER — The return of men’s pro cycling to Colorado will feature more than 14 of the sport’s top international and domestic pro teams, officials with the Colorado Classic announced today.
Additional squads will be added in coming weeks to bring the field to between 16 and 18 teams, organizers said.
“‘We are excited to have such a competitive field — including four World Tour teams — for the inaugural Colorado Classic,” said David Koff, CEO of RPM Events Group, the organization formed to put on the race. “With increased demands on teams dictated by a crowded international calendar, we are extremely grateful to the committed teams. The quality of the field once again validates Colorado as a world-class cycling destination.”
The August 10-13 Colorado Classic will feature some of the sport’s top squads. To date, invitations have been accepted by:
UCI World Teams
BMC Racing Team USA
Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team USA
Trek-Segafredo USA
UAE Team Emirates UAE
UCI Professional Continental Teams
Caja Rural-Seguros RGA ESP
Israel Cycling Academy ISR
Nippo-Vini Fantini ITA
Team Novo Nordisk USA
UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team USA
UCI Continental Teams
Axeon Hagens Berman USA
Elevate – KHS USA
Holowesko/Citadel Racing p/b Hincapie Sportswear USA
Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis USA
Rally Cycling USA
The Colorado Classic is sanctioned by Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and designated as a 2.HC race, which is the highest category outside of World Tour races.
The Colorado Classic is also part of the USA Cycling Pro Road Tour, which showcases the premier domestic road events in the United States.
The men’s race will cover roughly 300 miles over 4 stages:
Stage 1: Colorado Springs (Thursday, August 10)
Stage 2: Breckenridge (Friday, August 11)
Stage 3: Denver / Peak to Peak Hwy out-and-back: (Saturday, August 12)
Stage 4: Denver city circuit (Sunday, August 13)
“Drawing a high-caliber field to Colorado is helped by the state’s deep history with bike racing, the quality of courses and the passion of cycling fans,” said Race Director Jim Birrell. “The Colorado Classic is building on that to create a race that will be memorable for spectators and teams alike.”
Women’s stages of the Colorado Classic will be held Aug. 10-11 in Colorado Springs and Breckenridge, respectively. Teams for that event were announcedlast month. (Separate women’s criterium races featuring pro, amateur and collegiate riders will be held Aug. 11 and 12 in Denver).
The race will be televised on NBCSN and live streamed on NBC Sports Gold — NBC Sports Digital’s live streaming direct-to-consumer subscription app. Paul Sherwen will call the action on NBCSN and NBC Sports Gold, joined by analyst Christian Vande Velde and reporter Bob Roll.
Details on course routes, additional teams and men’s and women’s riders will be provided later this spring.
For additional information, visit: www.ColoradoClassic.com
by OnSight | May 2017 | GOCO
Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) will show Coloradans that “Kids grow better outside” with the launch today of its multi-year “Generation Wild” campaign.
The integrated, statewide effort aims to address the issue of kids spending too little time in unstructured, outdoor play—as few as 4-7 minutes per day—and reconnect kids with nature. It features television spots, digital ads and outdoor media, and promises exciting surprises to inspire kids (and their parents) to get outside, letting their imaginations and curiosity run wild.
“For GOCO, Generation Wild is a mission-driven movement, tightly connected to the work of our organization and countless partners across the state of Colorado. We see an opportunity to transform how often an entire generation of Colorado kids gets outside,” Great Outdoors Colorado Executive Director Chris Castilian said. “Together we can reduce barriers to outdoor experiences and make getting Colorado kids outside a priority.”
Campaign content offers parents and their children inspiration for getting outdoors with easy-to-do tips and tricks. Ads and collateral feature “100 things to do before you’re 12,” a list of activities like rolling down a hill or making a mud pie, and more involved adventures like riding a horse or hiking a 14er.
“Many of today’s kids are over-scheduled, over-screened, and over-protected, and we’re going to show how easy it is to get outside and have fun. Letting kids explore the outdoors doesn’t have to be time-consuming or costly. It starts in the backyard,” said Castilian.
Seven 15-second videos have been produced for the campaign’s initial phase under the creative direction of Sukle Advertising. Each of the spots relies on a different creative medium to stand out and to distinguish the numerous ways “Kids grow better outside.”
Grow from Generation Wild on Vimeo.
Creative materials for the campaign are dual-language to reach both English and Spanish speakers.
Generation Wild has garnered widespread support from dozens of community groups, youth-and outdoors-focused nonprofits, arts and cultural organizations, and private sector businesses, which are helping spread the word about Generation Wild.
Lists of “100 things to do before you’re 12” will be distributed statewide by Colorado State Libraries, and more than 40 Boys and Girls Clubs of Colorado sites will introduce kids to the program this summer. The lists will also be available at nine Colorado state parks through a partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Denver Parks and Recreation will distribute copies at its recreation centers.
Getting kids to spend more time outdoors is important and beneficial for numerous reasons, including:
American kids, on average, spend less than 10 minutes outside in unstructured play, which is half as much time as their parents did;
Outdoor physical activity is not just fun, it offers many health benefits, including strengthening the immune system, improving cognitive abilities and lowering stress. It makes kids healthier and happier;
Colorado may boast the nation’s healthiest adult population, but its youth obesity rate is rising rapidly.
The Generation Wild campaign builds on the work of GOCO’s $25 million Inspire Initiative, which aims to connect youth and their families with the outdoors through the work of collaborative coalitions working in communities across Colorado.
“Coloradans need to know about easy and close-to-home opportunities to connect to outdoor resources because it improves their lives,” said Jackie Miller, GOCO’s director of youth initiatives. “We know that when people experience the outdoors they begin to appreciate the outdoors, which has long-term implications for our state.”
To view the list of “100 things to do before you’re 12,” or for additional information, visit GenerationWild.com.
by OnSight | Apr 2017 | BIkes, Colorado Classic
Officials with the Colorado Classic announced today that women’s stages of pro cycling’s return to the Centennial State will feature at least a dozen of the sport’s top teams.
“Our goal is to build one of the sport’s premier events for pro women and men, and the caliber of these teams puts us well on our way,” said David Koff, CEO or RPM Events Group, the organization formed to put on the Colorado Classic.
Sanctioned by USA Cycling, the Colorado Classic will feature some of the sport’s top squads. To date, officials have secured 12 women’s teams — (*) indicates UCI registered women’s team:
The men’s Colorado Classic will be held Aug. 10-13, while the two stages of the women’s Colorado Classic will be Thursday, Aug. 10 in Colorado Springs and Friday, Aug. 11 in Breckenridge (separate women’s criterium races featuring pro, amateur, and collegiate riders will be held Aug. 11 and 12 in Denver).
“Colorado has a tremendous legacy for hosting world-class women’s cycling that dates back to the ‘80s,” said Women’s Race Director Sean Petty and UCI Road Commission member. “The strong response we’ve received from the top U.S. women’s teams honors that legacy and we expect great racing from some of the best riders in the world.”
The men’s and women’s stages of the Colorado Classic are part of the USA Cycling Pro Road Tour, which showcases the premier domestic road events in the United States.
Details on individual riders, men’s teams and courses will be provided later this spring.
