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wednesday, June 1, 2011
COORS BICYCLE CLASSIC - VAIL 1987
7- Eleven team. Race winner Raul Alcala (Mexico), 3rd
from left 1987
This event in Vail is the
finish of the race which began in Aspen. The men's winning racer
is Raul Alcala (7 - Eleven team). Other riders in photo
are,
from left to right: Davis Phinney, Andy Hamptein,
Raul Alcala, Greg Lemond, Ron Kiefel.
This image brings great combined memories of a magnificent
bicycling event and wonderful towns of Colorado.
Some History of This Event
In 1975 the tea
company, Celestial Seasonings, founded the annual
international race, "The Red Zinger Classic", to promote
world bicycling with the emergence of strong American
competitors into the sport for the first time.
The race sponsorship and name changed to the "Coors
Bicycle Classic" in 1980 - 1988, and became a major race
in the world for each of those years.
The race scheduling and ideas were great, have a race in
the streets of each host city, and the following day race to
another city.
The host cities were Denver, Boulder, Estes Park, Aspen,
Vail, Montrose, and Grand Junction.
The town criteriam events were racing laps on a
prescribed course through the city. The
competition was intense - great for spectators to witness the power and speed
against
the beautiful back drop of a Colorado mountain town or city.
The road races between cities were 50 - 100 miles in
length and varied in geography from the plains to high
mountain passes.
Jeannie Longo of France- center, winning racer in Vail.
On left is Inga Thompson, unknown racer on right
1987
FORNEY MUSEUM
Confluence Park, Denver Tramway
Power Building (Forney Museum)
1986
Some of this image was
literally this way for hundreds, probably thousands, of
years. The water - and people swimming in it - are at the confluence of
the Platte River and Cherry Creek River. Countless
Indians swan in this location. The landscape view
was prairie and
tepees.
Natural grasses grew on the banks of the pristine
rivers at the base of the Rocky Mountains and edge of
the High Plains.
Time brings change in a city, and the Denver Tramway Power
Company was built in 1901 to provide power for Denver's
large trolley car system.
The Forney Museum became popular for the viewing of
transportation relics such as train cars, horse drawn
carriages, cars and motorcycles, even a wax museum.
The Forney Museum has relocated to 4303 Brighton Blvd.,
Denver, CO. Their number is 303-297-1113.
The exciting business of REI is now located here, and has
been a great company for the Denver community.
The area now is smashed all together of bridges, a pitiful
river front of beach on the east and concrete on the west.
Power lines loom above, the rivers below sad from poor
planning. The park and river should be completely
redesigned, the area could be something special.
It is a huge challenge, a small space and a lot of
activity. Unfortunately, nothing short of a major and
complete renovation of this special place will revive
its beauty.
My wife Candice and I still go there with our God son,
Cullen and his dog "Wattie"; it is close, mostly fun.
For additional images and
commentary, please
refer to the MCA Denver section.
- Kim Allen |
