Men’s bicycle races to be eliminated from Colorado Classic

Organizers say the Colorado Classic will be a stand-alone women’s bicycle race next year, eliminating the need to divide limited resources on separate men’s and women’s races.

The Denver Post reports the races scheduled for Aug. 22-25 are expected to attract 20 teams. The locations have not yet been set.

Gov.-elect Jared Polis says the rearranged event has the potential to become “the premier women’s race in the Western Hemisphere.”

Ken Gart, chairman of RPM Events Group, says the change would allow organizers to set up “one great race instead of two average ones.”

Gart says the prize money next year will be $75,000, $5,000 more than the purse for the men’s races this year. The women’s prize this year was $20,000.