Aspen, Colo. – A passion for cycling, food and an active lifestyle is what led chefs and and restaurateurs Eric and Bruce Bromberg to sponsor the former Aspen Snowmass Women’s Pro Challenge in Aspen, Colo.
The newly-renamed “Blue Ribbon Alpine Challenge” will take place Aug. 20-22, at the same time as the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, also in Colorado. Blue Ribbon Restaurants are the creation of the Bromberg brothers and the Blue Ribbon Team.
Race organizer and two-time U.S. elite national road champion Jessica Phillips said the Bromberg brothers are teaming up with other like-minded supporters – such as Exergy Development Group and T. Edwards Wines – to heighten overall awareness for women in the sport of cycling. A new initiative for the second-year race is the creation of a non-profit organization that will help will support young womens athletic programs in Colorado.
“We have a fantastic title sponsor with Blue Ribbon Restaurants, and we also have some truly amazing companies such as Exergy Development Group, Primal Wear – which is our new clothing sponsor – and the Ajax Tavern at The Little Nell, who have also stepped up to support this event,” Phillips said. “We also wanted to give back to the sport and women’s cycling, so we’ve started a non-profit organization to help aspiring female athletes in the Aspen/Snowmass area.”
Phillips said she and Aspen Cycling Club board member Jan Koorn, along with fellow race organizer Justin Todd, have worked tirelessly for months to make sure some of the top professional women cyclists have an event to showcase their talent. Making this year’s event even better will be havbing many racers coming from the Olympic Games in London, she said.
The National Racing Calendar event will consist of three stages, with the final downtown criterium taking place just before the professional men arrive in Aspen for the conclusion of Stage 4 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. The opening stage of the Blue Ribbon Alpine Challenge is a nine-mile time trial to Maroon Bells, considered to be the most photographed peaks in Colorado. Stage 2 is a hilly circuit race in Snowmass, followed by the fast criterium in downtown Aspen.
