PRO TOUR CHALLENGE--COTTONWOOD PASS -STAGE TWO

We've lived in Colorado 14 years now and everybody knows you start above treeline adventures before 6:00am and finish by 1:00pm to avoid afternoon lightning and thunderstorms.



Everything I own atop Cottonwood  Pass trying to stay dry.



TV coverage of the Pro Tour Cycling Challenge did not consider this in the planning.   The ride up Cottonwood Pass from Buena Vista was 21 miles of predictive grunt work and 4,000 plus feet climbing but provided a challenge the road legs have not seen this year.

Two and a half hours later I was on top. In the first 20 minutes of the 1 hour long wait for the leaders, we were soaking wet, cold and eye level with thunderbolts.

The sky broke, the rain stopped and the breakaway group and -5 minute peleton flew by.  The sun only teased us with a 10 minute warm up.  The following descent was slick, cold and the least of my favorite cycling activities.  High speed road descent in rain with uncountable switchbacks.  Glad to report I am alive and will quit bitch'n soon.

Back at camp, we finished watching the race on the computer and was happy to see Big George land his 33rd pro win.   Break time after another slacker day in Buena Vista and we'll pick up the Pro Challenge later.

Teresa got this photograph of BMC racer Cadel Evans, 2011 Tour de France winner ,  just outside of Buena Vista.