Coors Classic

Coors International Bicycle Classic
Race details
Region USA
Discipline Road stage race
Race director Michael Aisner
History
First edition 1980 (1980)
Editions 9 as Coors, 14 total
Final edition 1988
First winner United States John Howard (Red Zinger) Jonathan Boyer (Coors Classic)
Most wins

United States Dale Stetina
United States Greg LeMond

2 times
Final winner United States Davis Phinney

The Coors International Bicycle Classic (1980–1988) was a stage race sponsored by the Coors Brewing Company. Coors was the race's second sponsor; the first, Celestial Seasonings, named the race after its premium tea Red Zinger, which began in 1975. Over the years, the event became America's national tour, listed as the fourth largest race in the world after the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España. The race grew from 3 days of racing in its first years as the Red Zinger Bicycle Classic to 2 weeks in the later Coors Classic years. Race stages were held in Colorado in the early years expanding first from Boulder and Denver back to the Keystone ski resort, later adding Estes Park, Vail, Aspen and Grand Junction, before further expansion that included Wyoming, Nevada, California and Hawaii. All but the last year the race concluded with a short circuit in North Boulder Park. On August 4, 2010 Colorado governor Bill Ritter and cycling legend Lance Armstrong announced that they would revive stage racing in Colorado with the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. It was a seven-day race held in August 2011.

History

Greg LeMond (w. 1981, 1985) during the 1986 Coors Classic.

In 1975, Mo Siegel and John and Wyck Hay, founders of the Celestial Seasonings herbal tea company, launched the Red Zinger Bicycle Classic race to promote their new Red Zinger tea.

In 1979, Michael Aisner, the race's then PR director, bought the race for one dollar from Siegel, and with his blessing took the idea of a grander event to Peter Coors, the beer impresario.

Over the next eight years, the Coors Classic grew into two weeks of racing in California, Nevada, and Colorado, with stages in some years in Hawaii and Wyoming. The race's legendary merchandise had custom annual graphics, sold in every state (and even Japan and England), generating $1 million in 1987 and $1.5 million in 1988 in sales to help support the race.

The Red Zinger and Coors Classic stage races showcased world-class men and women's cycling throughout the scenic terrain of Colorado, California, Nevada, Wyoming, and Hawaii. The race was considered the fourth biggest race on the world cycling calendar and was ground-breaking as the single biggest women's stage race ever held.

The Coors Classic launched the careers of some of the world's greatest cyclists and paved the way for the sport's growth in the U.S.

Winners

1975John Howard United States Hannah North United States
1976John Howard United States No women's race
1977Wayne Stetina United States Connie Carpenter United States
1978George Mount United States Keetie van Oosten-Hage Netherlands
1979Dale Stetina United States Keetie van Oosten-Hage Netherlands
1980Jonathan Boyer United States Beth Heiden United States
1981Greg LeMond United States Keetie van Oosten-Hage Netherlands
1982Patrocinio Jimenez Colombia Connie Carpenter United States
1983Dale Stetina United States Rebecca Twigg United States
1984Doug Shapiro United States Maria Canins Italy
1985Greg LeMond United States Jeannie Longo France
1986Bernard Hinault France Jeannie Longo France
1987Raúl Alcalá Mexico Jeannie Longo France
1988Davis Phinney United States Inga Thompson United States

Facts

Colorado National Monument, in western Colorado, site of the "Tour of the Moon" road race stages

Coors Classic firsts and noted accomplishments

According to the liner notes from the 2006 DVD Red Zinger/Coors Classic (produced by race director Michael Aisner),[1] the following are some interesting facts about this race:

References

  1. Red Zinger/Coors Classic: Where It All Began, [3 disc DVD] Velo Gear, Inc. (2006)
  2. 2005 (U.S. Bicycling) Hall of Fame Inductees. Retrieved 5-30-2010

External links

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