According to the Denver Post today, Ken Gart and the Walton family will be collaborating on a replacement race for the Pro Challenge. They will also be joined by a group of investors that includes Gart’s RPM Events, David Koff of InterMedia Partners investment fund, and Denver philanthropist Ben Walton, a grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton. Tim Miller will be CEO. He was instrumental in the 2010 bid in Virginia to land the 2015 Road World Championships.
The race format will change. There will be four day races in both Denver and Richmond hubs. There will be national musical acts, athlete interaction, a festival, mass participant events and “spoke” events such as a long mountain stage or a one day hill climb apart from the main event.
“We have assembled a group of community-minded investors as well as a strong leadership team whose sole mission is to broadednt he enthusiasm for cycling. This new bike series will provide communities with sustainable, engaging cycling events for particpants and fans to enjoy,” said Gart.
They are still awaiting USA Cycling and UCI sanctioning as well as a spot on the international calendar. Medalist Sports is expected to manage the event, which will most likely assume the August time frame of the Pro Challenge.
“We are shifting our thinking away from week-long stage races to a hub-and-series concept to contain costs, open up new revenue streams and create exciting and engaging community events” said RPM CEO Koff.
