The USA Pro Cycling Challenge is finally under way!  Mark Johnson writes in to give us a feel for the atmosphere at Colorado’s first international bike race in over two decades…

It’s been way too long since European level pro bike racing has been in Colorado. 23 years to be exact.

That’s when the Coors Classic last blessed Colorado’s nose-bleed height roads with the likes of Greg LeMond, who won it in 1985, and Bernard Hinault, who took the title the following year. Indomitable Frenchwoman Jeannie Longo won the women’s race three times.

Well, the best in the world are back, including the top three from this year’s Tour de France, Cadel Evans and brothers Andy and Franck Schleck. Along with a stacked Garmin-Cervélo team, they are here for the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

In her first-ever attempt at the 100-mile distance, Montrail’s Ellie Greenwood won the Western States 100 on Saturday, setting the second-fastest women’s time in race history, and treeing a bear in the process.
 

The last weekend in June is always a big one in the ultra running world, as the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Trail Run begins Saturday morning at 5am sharp from the base of Squaw Valley. The “Super Bowl” of ultra running follows a 100-mile route over rugged Sierra Nevada footpaths, and generally features over 18,000 feet of cumulative climbing (The course can change slightly in heavy snowfall years) as the race makes its way down to the foothills town of Auburn, CA.  

This is an exciting year for us here in Team Clif Bar land as we have an unprecedented number of TCB athletes starting the race. The Clif and Shot-powered Montrail team brings 2010 winner Geoff Roes, Ellie Greenwood, Joelle Vaught, Amy Sproston, Erik Skaden and a host of others, all of whom will most definitely be looking for podium finishes. TCB running legend Dave Mackey and local wunderkind Eric Johnson will also be in the hunt for top spots.

If you are a snowboarder, you are, no doubt, familiar with Mike Basich and his legendary exploits. After all, the dude helped pioneer the sport in the 80s, riding competitively at the highest level for years, then switching gears and taking snowboarding into the backcountry.

And Mike continues to push the envelope today in just about everything he does. A superb craftsman, Mike no longer relies on others to create things he needs. He built his snowshoes out of old road signs,

Over the years, we've always managed to put together an impressive Team CLIF BAR trail running roster. But, this year we really went above and beyond. While we're hesitant to pat ourselves on the back too much, let's face it: This year's TCB trail running roster is amazing. From internationally-competitive pro athletes to amateurs tearing up the regional scene, these guys will be filling up podiums with abandon in 2011. In fact, it's already begun. One of the things we love best about ultra running is the laid-back scene. Even though the athletes are getting prepared to dish out and endure several hours worth of pain and suffering, many races seem more like big family gatherings than super-competitive events.