News
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Proponents of a professional bicycling race should learn by the end of November whether the Grand Valley will host a stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in August 2012.
Jim Birrell of Medalist Sports and organizer of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge was in Grand Junction Thursday to check out the terrain and roads here.
A local organizing committee submitted its bid last week hoping to attract the “world class sporting event to Grand Junction,” organizer and former pro-cyclist Scott Mercier said.
Proposed routes include starting in Gateway and riding along Hwy. 147 and through the Grand Valley; or riding from Gateway to Grand Mesa, over Lands End Road, pass Powderhorn, ending in downtown Grand Junction. Another route could loop around the valley, including Palisade and Fruita.
Organizers were unsuccessful in winning approval for their first choice route — through Colorado National Monument — when the National Park Service earlier this year denied a permit allowing the race to go through the monument, citing national park service regulations.
Organizers are still hopeful, however, they can persuade park service officials to allow the race.
Some members of the local organizing committee — Tim Foster, Ken Gart, John Hopkins, and Mercier — met with National Park Service Regional Director John Wessels, and CNM interim superintendent Michelle Wheatley in Denver Monday to talk again about a possible route through the monument.
“John Wessels confirmed the National Park Service would not issue a special use permit to hold a professional race stage in the monument,” Wheatley said. “He did offer a ceremonial lap (a ride across the monument that would not be part of the race).”
Race proponents have indicated they are not interested in a ceremonial lap.
Last month National Park Service officials denied another professional bicycle race to start a leg of its race in Yosemite Valley, citing it would violate regulations against for-profit races in national parks.
Setting a precedent for allowing commercial sporting events in national parks was one reason cited by park officials for denying a permit in Colorado National Monument.
Mercier said a total of $300,000 would be needed to host the race. The LOC asked its members to pitch in $200 each, he said.
“Various agencies have committed resources” expecting long-term economic benefit, Mercier said.
So far, the City of Grand Junction has committed $25,000 in cash and $75,000 in donated resources. The Visitors and Convention Bureau has offered another $15,000 in cash and $30,000 in donated resources.
Mesa County spokeswoman Jessica Peterson said the county is “supportive” and “excited about the concept” of a local leg of the race but has not received a formal request for money or resources.
“There's been no decision yet regarding financial (resources),” Peterson said. “It could be part of budget discussions for 2012.”
Although the bid already submitted for the race did not include a ride though the monument, the LOC hasn't given up on a route through the park. If local organizers win the bid, and later convince the National Park Service to reverse its decision, the route could change to include the monument, Mercier said.
“We're going to try again,” Mercier said. “We're going to continue knocking on that door. We haven't given up.”
Jim Birrell of Medalist Sports and organizer of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge was in Grand Junction Thursday to check out the terrain and roads here.
A local organizing committee submitted its bid last week hoping to attract the “world class sporting event to Grand Junction,” organizer and former pro-cyclist Scott Mercier said.
Proposed routes include starting in Gateway and riding along Hwy. 147 and through the Grand Valley; or riding from Gateway to Grand Mesa, over Lands End Road, pass Powderhorn, ending in downtown Grand Junction. Another route could loop around the valley, including Palisade and Fruita.
Organizers were unsuccessful in winning approval for their first choice route — through Colorado National Monument — when the National Park Service earlier this year denied a permit allowing the race to go through the monument, citing national park service regulations.
Organizers are still hopeful, however, they can persuade park service officials to allow the race.
Some members of the local organizing committee — Tim Foster, Ken Gart, John Hopkins, and Mercier — met with National Park Service Regional Director John Wessels, and CNM interim superintendent Michelle Wheatley in Denver Monday to talk again about a possible route through the monument.
“John Wessels confirmed the National Park Service would not issue a special use permit to hold a professional race stage in the monument,” Wheatley said. “He did offer a ceremonial lap (a ride across the monument that would not be part of the race).”
Race proponents have indicated they are not interested in a ceremonial lap.
Last month National Park Service officials denied another professional bicycle race to start a leg of its race in Yosemite Valley, citing it would violate regulations against for-profit races in national parks.
Setting a precedent for allowing commercial sporting events in national parks was one reason cited by park officials for denying a permit in Colorado National Monument.
Mercier said a total of $300,000 would be needed to host the race. The LOC asked its members to pitch in $200 each, he said.
“Various agencies have committed resources” expecting long-term economic benefit, Mercier said.
So far, the City of Grand Junction has committed $25,000 in cash and $75,000 in donated resources. The Visitors and Convention Bureau has offered another $15,000 in cash and $30,000 in donated resources.
Mesa County spokeswoman Jessica Peterson said the county is “supportive” and “excited about the concept” of a local leg of the race but has not received a formal request for money or resources.
“There's been no decision yet regarding financial (resources),” Peterson said. “It could be part of budget discussions for 2012.”
Although the bid already submitted for the race did not include a ride though the monument, the LOC hasn't given up on a route through the park. If local organizers win the bid, and later convince the National Park Service to reverse its decision, the route could change to include the monument, Mercier said.
“We're going to try again,” Mercier said. “We're going to continue knocking on that door. We haven't given up.”
