USA Pro Cycling Challenge Stage 6 Golden-Denver August 28, 2011

After seven challenging days of racing through the Colorado Rockies, Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Team RadioShack was crowned the first-ever champion of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in front of a monumental crowd in downtown Denver. Daniel Oss (ITA) of Liquigas-Cannondale outsprinted teammate Elia Viviani (ITA) and took the final stage after an exciting battle for the lead on the route from Golden to Denver, which had an estimated crowd of 250,000 spectators. In the final stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge the riders took a challenging route from Golden to Denver, where the race came to an end after six finishing circuits around the Colorado State Capitol and the first-ever winner of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge – Levi Leipheimer – was crowned. Crowds up on Lookout Mtn. were epic as they were on all of the Mtn. Stages. At the finish in Denver the crowds were as big as any we've seen this week along the routes. The second best thing to donning the yellow jersey for the final time in Denver, is winning the final stage in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans. Todays winner was Daniel Oss (Italy) of Team Liquigas Cannondale edging out teammate Elia Viviani (Italy) who was second and "Fast" Freddie Rodriguez (USA) of team Exergy who was third.

Levi had this to say about the race and his victory “It’s hard to put into words and to describe the emotion and experience that I’ve had this week. “Today has been the biggest crowd that I’ve seen in the U.S. and that is really saying something. This race really raised the bar for American cycling. This victory means so much to me because of the way we raced this week. It took every ounce of energy and motivation we had to pull it off.”

In addition Garmin-Cervelo took the Overall Team Title and Eli Viviani (Italy) won the Smashburger Sprint Jersey, Tejay Van Garderen (USA) won Sheet's best young rider jersey, the Nissan King of the Mountain (KOM) jersey was awarded to Rafael Montiel (Colombia), and Tmothy Duggan (USA) won the most aggressive jersey.

The breakaway and the peloton following on a switchback on Lookout Mountain.
All Photos © 2011 Lissy Brenner Photography

The crowds were big on Lookout today.
All Photos © 2011 Lissy Brenner Photography

Lookout crowds streamed up the mountain on bikes and foot to see the racers.
All Photos © 2011 Lissy Brenner Photography

Tom Danielson and Andy Schleck making the climb on Lookout.
All Photos © 2011 Lissy Brenner Photography

Lucas Euser of Spidertech leads out a group on Lookout.
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Team Liquigas Cannondale leading the Peloton up Lookout.
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The Schlecks and Cadel Evans on the final laps around Denver
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Levi Leipheimer being escorted by Team RadioShack on the final laps around Denver.
All Photos © 2011 Lissy Brenner Photography

Levi Leipheimer wins the first yellow jersey of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.
All Photos © 2011 Lissy Brenner Photography

Daniel Oss and Elia Viviani of team Liquigas Cannondale celebrate a 1-2 finish on the final stage in Denver.
All Photos © 2011 Lissy Brenner Photography

Levi celebrating winning the yellow jersey.
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Daniel Oss celebrates his stage win today.
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Today's stage winners were "Fast" Freddy Rodriguez, Daniel Oss, and Elia Viviani.
All Photos © 2011 Lissy Brenner Photography

The overall jersey winners were Levi Leipheimer, yellow, Rafael Montiel, Nissan King of the Mountain Jersey, Elia Viviani, the Smashburger green sprint jerssey, Tejay Van Garderen won Sheet's best young rider jersey, and Timothy Duggan won the most aggressive jersey.
All Photos © 2011 Lissy Brenner Photography

Team Garmin Cervelo celebrates winning the overall team catagory, just like they did at the Tour de France.
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Richard Schaden, Rick Schaden, Levi Leipheimer, and Governor John Hickenlooper, celebrate Levi's win and a successful week of bicycle racing in Colorado.
All Photos © 2011 Lissy Brenner Photography

The three overall winners were Tejay Van Garderen, Levi Leipheimer, and Christian Vande Velde, all from the USA.
All Photos © 2011 Lissy Brenner Photography

Levi pops the cork on his victory.
All Photos © 2011 Lissy Brenner Photography

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All Photos © 2011 Lissy Brenner Photography