 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (May 2023) |
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Region | USA |
| Discipline | Road stage race |
| Race director | Michael Aisner |
| History | |
| First edition | 1980 |
| Editions | 9 as Coors, 14 total |
| Final edition | 1988 |
| First winner |  John Howard (Red Zinger) Jonathan Boyer (Coors Classic) |
| Most wins | Dale Stetina Greg LeMond
|
| Final winner | Davis Phinney |
The Coors International Bicycle Classic (1980–1988) was a stage race sponsored by the Coors Brewing Company. Coors was the race's second sponsor; the first, Celestial Seasonings, named the race after its premium tea Red Zinger, which began in 1975. Over the years, the event became America's national tour, listed as the fourth largest race in the world after the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España. [citation needed] The race grew from 3 days of racing in its first years as the Red Zinger Bicycle Classic to 2 weeks in the later Coors Classic years. Race stages were held in Colorado in the early years, expanding first from Boulder and Denver back to the Keystone ski resort, later adding Estes Park, Vail, Aspen, and Grand Junction, before further expansion that included Wyoming, Nevada, California, and Hawaii. All but the last year the race concluded with a short circuit in North Boulder Park. On August 4, 2010, Colorado governor Bill Ritter and cycling legend Lance Armstrong announced that they would revive stage racing in Colorado with the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. It was a seven-day race held in August 2011.