Durango was the host for the 2012 USA Pro challenge bicycle race from Durango to Denver in seven individual stages. The town has been preparing for the race over the last six months and especially the last week. Every volunteer possible was setting up for the race.

The town was expecting 20,000 visitors but the realists were only expecting 10 to 12,000. I was a volunteer on two different days. The first date bagging parking meters and the second day I was a Course Marshall (Word Press sucks).  Some anxiety rose in the days leading up to the race as there just weren’t the crowds checking into motels and crowding the the merchants.  However on race day all was right, the crowds swarmed the starting line 5 to 10 people deep.According to the race coordinator, “the best overall start to any stage race in the US that he’s ever seen”.  The enthusiasm has lasted thru the week as many Durango folks (including some that never ever watched a bicycle race before) are glued to their computers and mobile devices watching the remaining stages of the USA Pro Challenge. http://radioshacktourtracker.usaprocyclingchallenge.com is the URL to watch for yourselves.  And if you just want to see a uTube video of the start, check out this URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ-kQ5g3bLM