| Blazing to the top of Cheyenne Canyon in Colorado
Springs, Colorado in just 13:34, Discovery Channel professional cyclist
Tom Danielson established a new unofficial record for the 3.1-mile ascent
that gains just over 1,200 feet in elevation. The mark shattered the times
held by American cycling greats Lance Armstrong and Tyler Hamilton, who
both took 14 minutes and change to reach the top.
Durango, Colorado-based Danielson and teammate Jason McCartney were
in Colorado Springs to take part in a Motorsports Camp at Carmichael
Training Systems, sponsored by AMD. The computer chip manufacturer had
brought NASCAR drivers Carl Edwards, Bobby Labonte, and David Ragan;
as well as Formula 1 driver Mark Webber, to CTS’s headquarters
and training facility for two days of physiological testing, dietary
analysis, training seminars, and bike rides. AMD, which supports the
Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team and works closely with Formula 1 and
NASCAR teams wanted to show these elite drivers how the same training
methodologies used by cyclists like Danielson could help them become
more resilient racers.
Danielson’s record-breaking ride up Cheyenne Canyon wasn’t
originally part of the camp itinerary, but plans were changed once the
subject came up at dinner on Monday. To give Danielson a chance to claim
the hill-climb record, Tuesday afternoon’s ride was altered to
reach the bottom of the climb after about two and half hours of easy
riding through the prairies and foothills around Colorado Springs.
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| Since Danielson had never seen the climb before,
he decided to ride it at a moderate pace once and then return to the bottom
to go for the record. On his reconnaissance trip, he reached the top in
about 17 minutes while the rest of the group, which included his wife,
McCartney, AMD vice president of global marketing Morris Denton, Gefinor
Ventures Managing Director Greg Carlisle, and CTS Pro Coach Jason Tullous,
followed him, or tried to follow him, to the top.
Carmichael, meanwhile, waited for Danielson to return to the base of
the climb so he could encourage him up the road from a follow vehicle,
just as he had guided Lance Armstrong, Tyler Hamilton, George Hincapie,
Bobby Julich, and innumerable US National Team riders up this climb over
the last 15 years. During Danielson’s record ride, “We could
hear Chris yelling from three switchbacks down the mountain,” said
Tullous, who was waiting at the summit with the rest of the group.
After reaching the summit and learning he had beaten the record, Danielson
commented that he was satisfied to join, and surpass, such elite company. “Riding
this climb is a really good test for me because of the other riders who
have done it,” said Danielson. “It provides a lot of good
information. I’m a good climber, better than most, but I’m
still developing for the distances and caliber of racers in Grand Tours.”
Though Carmichael doesn’t coach Danielson, he was impressed by
what he saw. “I’ve heard a lot of great things about Tom
from many athletes and coaches, and to see him in action at full throttle
was very, very impressive. Tom has enormous potential, and I look forward
to watching his career take off in the coming years.”
Though there are no official records for the Cheyenne Canyon climb,
local lore and several CTS coaches put the previous best times, including
those posted by Lance Armstrong, Tyler Hamilton, and local TIAA-CREF
pro’s Danny Pate and Mike Creed at between 14:27-14:50. Danielson’s
time was nearly a minute faster than any coach at Carmichael Training
Systems, including Chris Carmichael, can remember.
Asked how Cheyenne Canyon compares with some of the climbs encountered
in the European stage races, Danielson said, “It’s similar.
The road is small, with a bit of everything - switchbacks, frequent rhythm
changes, flatter stretches – it’s a challenging climb.”
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