Coors Classic - Gone and forgotten?!

by Ocana on Feb 9, 2010 3:19 PM EST

Hey guys,

for me cycling is linked to its tradition, to his past and legends. So I'm really interested in this stuff. Races from the past and the associated competitors. Finding out that there was a big stage stage race in the US got me really curious. Unfortunately most of the information I found was common. I'm looking for stage winners, for route information, like cities or even profiles. Hopefully somebody can help me out with this.

Maybe you can also state your opinion concerning a return of the race. Is it possible or just a pipe dream.

Greetings,

Ties

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The WHAT?! would be too easy..

"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H

by Frinking on Feb 9, 2010 4:21 PM EST reply actions

My best shot stays

Wiki! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coors_Classic With a reference to this article http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/default.asp?pg=fullstory&id=4570

"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H

by Frinking on Feb 9, 2010 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

Dark Helmet has stated several times he wants this race back

…and I would love to see it. Not sure where it would fit in on the Pro calendar but we’ve got some great climbs in Colorado. At the end of the “Race Across the Sky” film on the Leadville 100 mtn bike race he thought it could become a reality within 2-3 years. Our Governor is a cyclist but our state budget it not, unfortunately.

by Spot of Bother on Feb 9, 2010 4:41 PM EST reply actions

How much of a cycling interested state do you think this is?

I see plenty of cyclists on the road but do not myself so I can’t know. I think the Coors classic would be a pretty big hit here and I would definitely attend, what do you think though?

March 14, 2010: The great one returns!

by Phil H. on Feb 9, 2010 5:54 PM EST up reply actions

I think Coors would like to know

what Michelob has gotten out of its push into race sponsorship. Tough market, I think.

by Sui Juris on Feb 9, 2010 6:13 PM EST up reply actions

Belgians own Michelob now, it's a passion.

He who is, is. He who is not, seeks.

by flying dog on Feb 10, 2010 12:10 AM EST up reply actions

Michelob was moving to sponsor bike races

before that, but I’m sure it helps keep it going. My thought, though, is that the sort of folks that go to bike races? Aren’t going to be drinking Michelob (or Coors). Ever.

by Sui Juris on Feb 10, 2010 6:33 AM EST up reply actions

Phil, I guess I wasn't aware you lived in Colorado too.

I think Colorado has a very significant cycling community that would turn out for a pro race. The question of where/when on the pro calendar would affect what teams and what riders show up, obviously. And the title sponsor with deep pockets.

by Spot of Bother on Feb 10, 2010 1:27 PM EST up reply actions

August 2011 is supposed to be the date of a modified "Coors Classic"

The Gov and LA have been in meetings about how to fund it and I heard Medalist Sports has signed on. Lots of talk about it in the Boulder cycling community but with the state’s budget crisis I cannot see how it could happen without a major title sponsor. But with Lance pushing it maybe…..I used to be an employee of the company that put on the Coors Classic. It is a huge, expensive undertaking to put on a race of that size. One year we started the race in Hilo Hawaii and then flew the racers and staff to San Francisco and then had another transfer to Colorado where the final stages were. Jim Birrell who is head of medalist sports (who puts on ToC and also did ToGeorgia) used to be an assistant technical director of the Coors Classic. I wonder if the ToC is using some of the old race routes that the Coors used? Jim helped map those routes back in the old days.

by gard_19 on Feb 9, 2010 5:13 PM EST reply actions

I saw a couple of those San Francisco stages...

Very cool. First pro bike races I ever saw. One was a short TT up Telegraph Hill, the other was a circuit race that went through the Presidio. I think this was the year Raul Alcala won it. I still have a 7-11 water bottle that one of the racers discarded at the top of the Presidio hill.

Would be great to see the race come back.

Cycling will always be a beautiful sport no matter how many people disgrace it.--Christian Vande Velde

by tgartner on Feb 10, 2010 6:49 AM EST up reply actions

For this info

I think you need to find a stash of Winning Magazines from the mid 80s. I don’t see their content online.

"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen

by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 9, 2010 5:23 PM EST reply actions

Hmm, I might have some of those...

by Jen See on Feb 9, 2010 6:27 PM EST up reply actions

The key

is the October issue. That’s when their Coors Classic preview usually hit the streets.

"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen

by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 9, 2010 6:29 PM EST up reply actions

Well it could be coming back

Morgul/Bismark has been resurrected… http://www.townofsuperior.com/Community/ParksRecreation/SuperiorMorgulClassic/tabid/542/Default.aspx
and
http://www.facebook.com/SuperiorMorgulClassic if you’re on the Book.
Not much info out there yet, other than the date weekend of May 28.

by Christopher See on Feb 9, 2010 9:27 PM EST reply actions

I think they need to dump "Coors"

an go with something like “The MicroBrew Classic”. Coors is some piss beer anyway. But I’ve spent enough time in Colorado, and there’s some good microbrewing going on. Sell it as a microbrewing beer tasting festival with a bike race on the side.

"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton

by sminer on Feb 9, 2010 10:53 PM EST reply actions

Fat Tire FTW

March 14, 2010: The great one returns!

by Phil H. on Feb 9, 2010 11:28 PM EST up reply actions

Or

as DS Little Bear says, the bicycle beer. I let him make the call in the beer section of the PCC. He always goes with Fat Tire.

"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen

by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 10, 2010 12:49 AM EST up reply actions

found a DVD on EBay.

This one is in the UK but there is some available from time to time in USA

He who is, is. He who is not, seeks.

by flying dog on Feb 10, 2010 12:24 AM EST reply actions

More info on DVD

Here

He who is, is. He who is not, seeks.

by flying dog on Feb 10, 2010 12:27 AM EST up reply actions

Hmmm... I have that 3-DVD set.

My mother-in-law is a saint, she got me that for my birthday. If I must, I could be persuaded to watch them all again and take notes this time…

Maybe I could get that done in the next 17 days.

What? What happens when you meet a stranger in the Alps?

by FaustoCoppock on Feb 10, 2010 11:24 PM EST up reply actions

Estes Park

I watched Hinault and Lemond jam through Estes Park, just below Rocky Mtn. Natl. Park as a kid (and already a huge fan)- what a thrill. By comparison, I was at the Palomar Mt. stage of the ToC last year – cool but absolutely no comparison. The Coors Classic was a special race indeed. Having the Worlds in Co. Springs in ‘86 really brought thebest of Europe to Colorado in fine fashion. I can remember the headline reading "Argentin Moreno Crowned World Cycling’s Title in Colorado Springs". Pretty funny, the American press almost got it right.

"He looked pretty good until he went over the side of that cliff." PdC's own thevaro, on why he's betting on Oscar Periero's "BIG COMEBACK" in 2010

by Koppenberg34 on Feb 10, 2010 3:29 PM EST reply actions