Colorado Classic's prize money will rise to $75,000, after the women's purse this year was only $20,000GETTY IMAGES
The Colorado Classic announced that the third edition of the four-day cycling race would "not include men and would focus solely on women" next year, according to Nathan Van Dyne of the Colorado Springs GAZETTE. In deciding to bypass male competitors in '19, RPM Events Group Chair Ken Gart expressed his team’s desire to create "one great race instead of two average ones." Growing costs "likely also contributed to the move." The Colorado Classic has "featured men and women both years, though women raced only two stages to the men’s four" in '17 (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 12/12). In Denver, John Meyer notes organizers see the opportunity to "create a women’s race with international impact." In the past, the women were "overshadowed by the men in races that were run the same day." Gart said that next year’s "prize money of $75,000 would be $5,000 more than the purse for the men’s races this year." The women’s purse this year was "only $20,000." Races will be "live streamed online for free viewing, a boon for the women because their races often are not televised" (DENVER POST, 12/12).
