“Springs not a sure thing to host Quiznos Pro Challenge”

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Springs not a sure thing to host Quiznos Pro Challenge Posted: 10 Aug 2010 10:36 PM PDT BY MATT WILEY, THE GAZETTE The party atmosphere that surrounded last week's announcement that Colorado landed the Quiznos Pro Challenge cycling race next August has quickly turned into an issue of logistics. Like any good party, there must be plenty of planning beforehand. There's an outside chance Colorado Springs won't host a stage of the eight-day race. One of the major concerns is the Sept. 10 deadline to submit a bid. The deadline, outlined in a document sent Friday to convention and visitor bureaus of potential host cities, was set by Medalist Sports, which will run the event. "There's so many logistical things that must be put into play before you can complete the bid requirement, and few of us will be able to accomplish that prior to" Sept. 10, Experience Colorado Springs president Terry Sullivan said Tuesday. "We hope to meet with the event organizer in the coming weeks to discuss a consensus or agreement to delay that deadline, maybe by a month at least." Sullivan said there isn't enough time to iron out the details and that some city councils won't even meet before the deadline. "It's a matter of what level your city is going to be a participant," he said. "If Colorado Springs is a one-night stay on maybe one of the last legs, it's probably going to cost, with all services – barricades, porta-potties, vendor stations, health fitness stations, free hotel rooms, meals – it's probably got a price tag in excess of $150,000. "But it is too early for me to really put my hat on that and say that's the least amount of money that is required. It is undetermined." Sullivan was part of a conference call Tuesday with other visitor bureau leaders. "This is something we can do," he said. In about two weeks, Sullivan hopes to meet with Medalist Sports and would like a local organizing committee in the Springs. "A local organizing committee would determine the feasibility and the requirements to be able to be a host participant in the event," he said. USA Cycling communications director Andrea Smith said the Springs-based national governing body doesn't back one city over another and there's no official push to have a stage here. "We really just want it to be a successful race," Smith said. "But (Colorado Springs) is our home, and we would love to see it here." Sullivan said he remains optimistic the Springs can host a stage because of the the city's cycling tradition and because USA Cycling is sanctioning the event. "Ultimately, our city, the City Council, will have to make a decision," Sullivan said. "The City Council may determine that we cannot do it." Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

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