On Sunday I drove down to Golden, Colo. to watch the final stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. I got there early and hiked up the mountain with my cousin, two cameras, a 300 mm lens, a couple chairs and a cooler. We staked out a spot above on the of the switchbacks to watch the riders. I’m a fan of cycling after growing up watching Lance Armstrong. It was very cool to see some of the riders I recognized from the Tour de France as they spend by climbing Lookout Mountain. I was hoping the riders would be a bit more spread out as is the case with most of the mountain stages of the TdF. However, the riders were staying together in a peloton for the most part, making it difficult to identify and shoot the contenders as they sped by. I saw Frank Schleck at one point and had him in my viewfinder until a crazed fan ran in front of me.
![USA Pro Cycling Challenge American rider Frank Pipp from Bissell Pro Cycling grits his teeth as he climbs Lookout Mountain during stage 6 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, near Golden, Colo. Pipp finished the stage in fifth place.](https://www.brosher.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/20110828USAProCycling0190-jb.jpg)
![USA Pro Cycling Challenge Fans cheer on a rider as he breaks away from the peloton a few kilometers before the King of the Mountains line during stage 6 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, near Golden, Colo.](https://www.brosher.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/20110828USAProCycling0085-jb.jpg)
![USA Pro Cycling Challenge A man dressed as a cow rides up Lookout Mountain before the start of stage 6 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, near Golden, Colo.](https://www.brosher.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/20110828USAProCycling0247-jb.jpg)
![USA Pro Cycling Challenge A couple survey the view from atop a rock overlooking several switchbacks on Lookout Mountain before the start of stage 6 in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, near Golden, Colo.](https://www.brosher.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/20110828USAProCycling0272-jb.jpg)
![USA Pro Cycling Challenge Danish rider Martin Mortenson from team Leopard Trek makes a turn on a switchback as he rides in the peloton during stage 6 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, near Golden, Colo.](https://www.brosher.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/20110828USAProCycling0165-jb.jpg)
![USA Pro Cycling Challenge A man holds a flag as he waits for the peloton to make it's way up Lookout Mountain during stage 6 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, near Golden, Colo.](https://www.brosher.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/20110828USAProCycling0078-jb.jpg)
![USA Pro Cycling Challenge Danish rider André Steensen of team Saxo Bank rides up Lookout Mountain during stage 6 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, near Golden, Colo.](https://www.brosher.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/20110828USAProCycling0145-jb.jpg)
![USA Pro Cycling Challenge Peter Stetina, an American rider for Garmin-Cervelo, climbs through a switchback on Lookout Mountain during stage 6 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, near Golden, Colo. Stetina finished 20th overall in the race.](https://www.brosher.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/20110828USAProCycling0123-jb.jpg)
![USA Pro Cycling Challenge Riders including the overall race leader Levi Leipheimer, fourth rider in line, make their way around a switchback as they climb Lookout Mountain during stage 6 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, near Golden, Colo.](https://www.brosher.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/20110828USAProCycling0368-jb.jpg)
georgia says
As always James these are some awesome pictures. These are some great shots especially of the crowd.