Queen of Colorado: Chloe Dygert-Owen’s dominant Colorado Classic

August 26, 2019
2 minute read

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).