The USA Pro Challenge, also known as America’s Race, is an annual multi-day professional road cycling stage race that first took place in Colorado in 2011. The race is marked especially by the incredible altitudes (over 12,000-feet), spectacular Colorado Rocky Mountain scenery and over one million annual fans onsite. In 2012, the race took place from August 20-26 and was rated as an 2.HC event on the UCI America Tour. The race began in Durango and took riders and fans on a 683-mile journey around the state. Riders from sixteen international, professional teams took place in the race, challenging the course’s 42,000 feet of vertical climbing and technical descents. After Stage 7’s Time Trial, Americans swept the podium with Christian Vande Velde winning the race, Tejay Van Garderen finishing second and Levi Leipheimer finishing third. The 2013 edition of America’s Race will take place August 19-25 and host cities will be announced in December 2012.