Races that aren't the Tour de France

With the upcoming super-amazing USA Pro Cycling Challenge (thankfully shortened to USA Pro Challenge, though if they could just go ahead and buy the rights to Tour of Colorado we'd all be just a little better for it), I thought I'd take a second to look at the other races happening now and another excellent highlight of cycling in the US of A.

Tour de Pologne, Tour of Denmark, Arctic Race of Norway (?)
I highlighted Poland briefly last time, because of Taylor Phinney's amazing solo to victory.  Pieter Weening won the overall in this race, but perhaps more notable was that last year's TdF winner Bradley Wiggins (ok, fine, it always come back to TdF) won the final stage TT, showing for the first time since his injury that he's back in bicycle shape.  Also, Taylor Phinney got 3rd in that TT... but assuming his time wasn't good enough after he finished, he was back in hotel and missed the podium presentation.  Woops.

There's no one on Sir Bradley's left side...

Tour of Denmark saw a Mark Cavendish win on the final sprint, and the newly newly reformed Team Belkin get their first GC win with the young rider Wilco Kelderman.  The kid's 22!  He snatched victory as so many do on the time trial.

I only point out the Arctic Race of Norway because it's an inaugural event, and the scenery is pretty darn cool.  Check out letour.com/arctic-race-of-norway/2013/us/

Cycling back in the US

The Tour of Utah kicks off Tuesday.  This has been kind of a lead-in event to the Pro Challenge.  Which isn't to say anything bad about Utah, but Colorado usurped them and pros use this as a chance to acclimate.  That said, it goes through some pretty good terrain and brings in some big names.  Any chance for American cyclists to race on home soil will be hard fought.  One of the most interesting stages is Stage 4 on Friday.  It is only 33.8 miles long (yeah, no more metric system when it's in 'Merica), and is 5 laps going through downtown SLC.  This is a great stage for fans, and a very different race for riders.  They're usually barely warmed up at 33 miles.

What's also fun about these races (Tour of Cali and USAPCC included) is the chance to see some of the smaller class American teams and riders, like Lucas Euser and United Healthcare, as well as the young development squads of Bontrager (formerly Livestrong) and Hincapie.  Why Bontrager had to drop the Livestrong from its name, but Hincapie goes ahead and uses the name of a man who less famously but no more gracefully exited cycling, I don't know.

And then...

The US Pro Challenge, back here in CO on August 19 for the 3rd running!  TdF winner Chris Froome has (tentatively) confirmed his appearance.  Also Jens Voigt should be back (he will be racing Utah).

Parting Thought: Wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle, yeah