The Colorado Classic has forged its own path. In a race calendar where women’s racing has often been seen as an afterthought, this four-day celebration of women’s cycling survived the cancellation of the men’s race last year, and thrived. In 2019, it attracted a quality field of almost 100 riders from 16 teams to tackle a mix of Colorado’s urban and mountain landscapes, from street circuits in state capital Denver to gravel roads in Steamboat Springs, cheered on by a supportive local community.
That’s one of the things that the 2019 Colorado Classic will be remembered for. The other is the winning rider – Chloe Dygert-Owen (Sho-Air TWENTY20)– who produced a stunning, dominant victory not just in the GC, but on each of the four stages as well.
Dygert-Owen is an ambitious 22 year old Olympian who’s been a multiple-time world champion on the track and has had a string of impressive showings in the US domestic scene; she’s also a two-time world champion on the road as a junior, taking the road race and ITT at Richmond in 2015. But her Colorado Classic win is arguably the most potent demonstration of her considerable capabilities, netting her a clean sweep of stage wins, along with a wardrobe of jerseys – for the general classification, the points classification, the youth classification and the climber’s classification.
Dygert-Owen has had both a glittering and injury-affected career. She’s a seven-time world champion on the track and road and an Olympic silver medallist, but a string of recent injuries – to the head, to the back, to the hip – have at times stymied her ambitions. Those issues have, evidently, resolved. So, what’s next for the young American? Or perhaps the better question – what isn’t?
Enjoy this gallery of a fantastic four days of racing, through the lenses of Jered and Ashley Gruber.
-
- In sweltering conditions, the emphasis was on keeping cool before the race start in Steamboat Springs.
-
- A classic canine at the Colorado Classic.
-
- Rally UHC Cycling at the team presentation.
-
- Emily Newsom (TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank) was the first rider to make a move, breaking away to win the first QOM before getting a flat. The effort earned her the Most Badass Rider jersey for the day.
-
- The Steamboat Springs stage featured 10km of gravel roads.
-
- A passionate fan runs alongside Chloe Dygert-Owen (Sho-Air TWENTY20) shortly before she took off alone.
-
- “I had some good legs today,” Dygert-Owen said after the race. “I saw everyone suffering. I looked back and saw there was a little bit of a gap. I knew that was my only chance. I just attacked and was able to hold it and keep it.” She crossed the line with a 44 second lead.
-
- Hannah Ludwig (Canyon SRAM) recovers after stage 1.
-
- Dygert-Owen signs on at the start of stage 2.
-
- TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank push the pace at the head of the peloton, trying to set things up for Brodie Chapman, lying in striking distance on GC.
-
- Off the back is a very lonely place to be.
-
- A three-rider break (Erica Clevenger, Lindsay Goldman and Heather Fischer) went clear on the sixth lap, prior to the decisive climb.
-
- As the race went up the steep climb of Bachelor Gulch, the break was absorbed and selective front group formed.
-
- Israeli champ Omer Shapira (Canyon-SRAM) through the trees.
-
- Dygert-Owen on the move up to the leading duo of Shapira and Brodie Chapman (TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank).
-
- On the slopes of Bachelor Gulch, it was each rider for themselves. Chapman leads here, with Shapira going backwards and Dygert-Owen (left) on the way up.
-
- Dygert-Owen attacked her breakaway companion Brodie Chapman with 3km to go, and built a 37 second lead by the finish line. Two stages from two.
-
- The stage 2 podium. 1. Chloe Dygert-Owen (Sho-Air Twenty20)and furry friend, 2. Brodie Chapman (Tibco Silicon Valley Bank), 3. Omer Shapira (Canyon SRAM).
-
- Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon SRAM) in a reflective moment.
-
- When in Colorado, the neutral service bikes are a local delicacy.
-
- Brodie Chapman (Tibco- Silicon Valley Bank)
-
- Into the darkness.
-
- Golden is home to Coors, the largest single-site brewery in the world… and this colourful liquor store.
-
- The stage 3 course took the peloton around seven laps of a nine mile circuit in Golden, including the punchy Washington Street climb.
-
- What goes up must come down.
-
- Chloe Dygert-Owen makes her move on stage 3 of the Colorado Classic.
-
- Australian criterium champ Rebecca Wiasak (Fearless Femme) grits her teeth to follow the acceleration.
-
- Three from three from Chloe Dygert-Owen…
-
- followed in by teammate Jennifer Valente and Rebecca Wiasak.
-
- Tania Erath (Canyon-SRAM) finished just off the podium, fourth on stage 3.
-
- Ayesha McGowan (Alp Cycles), a trailblazing African-American female cyclist, picked up the ‘most inspirational rider’ jersey on stage 3.
-
- Rebecca Wiasak’s Fearless Femme teammates cheer as she’s presented on the podium.
-
- The dramatic landscapes of Colorado.
-
- Signing on/Gramming.
-
- Stage 4’s course was eight laps of a Denver city centre course.
-
- At 11 miles to go, Janelle Cole (Lux-Fluxential) slipped off the front, followed by Dygert-Owen.
-
- The two worked together until 3 miles to go, when Dygert-Owen soloed away.
-
- … and that was four from four for the dominant Dygert-Owen.
-
- The team that helped deliver Dygert-Owen to a dominant win.
-
- Quite a haul!
-
- Canyon-SRAM celebrate a well-earned team classification win.
-
- The champagne-soaked legs and pink shoes of Chloe Dygert-Owen.
-
- The younger generation were out in force at the Colorado Classic.
Please excuse the interruption.
We want to produce the breadth and depth of coverage women’s cycling deserves, and by joining as a VeloClub member you’ll be directly assisting us with that goal. Our target is 1,000 new members.
We’ve already surpassed our 250 new member goal, which means that we’ll be launching a new weekly podcast hosted by Abby Mickey shortly. Our next goal is 700 new members, at which time we’ll be able to produce on-the-ground coverage from the biggest women’s races, including the Spring Classics, Giro Rosa, La Course, and the World Championships. Hitting our target of 1,000 new members will allow us to have year-round editorial coverage by hiring dedicated staff. That means hundreds of content pieces — the best news and reportage, feature writing, behind-the-scenes stories, profile interviews, and more.
Let’s change this together and make a difference.