Neoti Partners with the Inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado!

For 8 days in late August, 135 of the world’s best professional cyclists came together for the very first USA Pro Cycling Challenge, hosted by the state of Colorado.  This was a first for America, to get so many of the best cyclist in the world together for a week long tour-style bike race.  There was your Tour de France winner Cadel Evans, the Schleck brothers, George Hincape, and the eventual winner, Levi Leipheimer to name a few.  The riders raced across 518 miles of the majestic Rocky Mountains, with elevation changes unparalleled in any other race in the world.  At one point, over Independance Pass, the riders were at roughly 12,000 feet above sea level!

During the 8 day event, almost 1 Million spectators came out and viewed this race along the roads.  They enjoyed the bicycle racing culture that has never been possible on such a large scale in the U.S. before, and boy did they show up ready.  Fans were excited, loud, dressed in everything from a cycling jersey to a fuzzy mascot and everything in between, and full of enthusiasm and curiosity.  While everyone was having a great time, much of the U.S. doesn’t understand the rules and strategies of racing.  That’s where Neoti’s LED Screen Rentals and the Live broadcast came in.  Around both the start and finish lines, the USA Pro Cycling Challenge staff rented mobile jumbo screens to pump the live broadcast to the fans, complete with audio commentary.  This helped keep the stationary fans informed and the commentary was perfect for a country who’s not as exposed to racing as, say, France.

Here’s what the overall winner had to say -

“It’s hard to put into words and to describe the emotions I’ve felt and experience that I’ve had this week. I was 13 years old when I watched the Tour de France on television and I read magazines about the Coors Classic on these roads here in Colorado. To be here 25 years later and to experience the size and the scope of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge is just beyond my expectations. I didn’t expect this many people to come out. Today has been the biggest crowd that I’ve seen in the U.S. Today really raised the bar for American cycling.”

Levi Leipheimer (USA), Team Radioshack
Quiznos Leader Jersey Overall Winner at the 2011 Inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge

All in all, the event was a rousing success, and it may have just solidified a major cycling race in The United States for years to come.  Bravo, Colorado.