Race organizers are not pursuing the event for this year or 2017 according to the Denver Post.
According to Shawn Hunter, “…the elements were not there for us to put it together for 2017.”
Ken Gart is working on a new pro cycling event for Colorado that will be different than the Pro Challenge. It will be announced once all the details are firmed up. “Thanks to the hard work and vision of Shawn Hunter, the Pro Challenge became an important asset to our state’s economy and international profile – one that we shouldn’t lose. That’s why I’m working with a group of community leaders to keep professional bike racing here in Colorado. We are pursuing a new cycling event that we feel can continue to fill that role while also growing our state’s unique bike culture. We hope to have news to share soon.”
According to the article, pro cycling has typically struggled in the US with brief sponsorships from local governments and private investors. Because there are no ticket sales to offset the costs it’s a challenge to make ends meet. The Pro Challenge lost $10 million the first year and only broke even in 2015.
Despite that, the state pulled in about $120 million from cycling spectators, 1/4 of whom came from out of state.
Hunter still owns the trademark and intellectual property rights to the “USA Pro Challenge” and says no one has approached him to buy it yet.
