USA Pro Challenge finishes in Denver on Sunday

<p>(Megan Verlee/CPR News)</p>
<p>Cyclists race through Denver, competing in the final stage in 2011, the first year of the event.</p>

The USA Pro Challenge bike race ends later Sunday for a grand finish at Denver’s Civic Center park.

Bikers are expected to enter the city just after 2 p.m. at 29th Avenue in Lakewood.

And then they’ll take laps on a circuit through the city from Cherry Creek, along 17th Avenue, to City Park, and back to the Capitol.

That means many roads downtown will be closed for several hours.

Here's a list from Denver's Department of Public Works of what to expect. Please note, all times are approximate and event goers should allow extra time to arrive at their destinations.

Saturday, August 23rd

Beginning at 6:00 a.m. through 5:00 a.m. Monday, August 25:

· Broadway closed from Colfax to 13th

· 14th closed from Cherokee to Lincoln

· Bannock closed from Colfax to 13th

Sunday, August 24th

Until the riders enter downtown Denver at Colfax and Speer Blvd, the streets will be closed on a rolling basis and monitored by the Denver Police Department.

The following will be closed between 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

· Colfax closed from Speer to Grant

The following streets will be closed between 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

· Lincoln closed from 17th to 13th

· Colfax closed from Bannock to Broadway

The following will be closed between 8:30 a.m. Sunday through 5:00 a.m. Monday:

· Cherokee closed from Colfax to 13th

There will be no interstate closures as a result of the race:

· Traffic accessing downtown from northbound I-25 should use the Auraria Parkway exit which will provide access to downtown via Market Street;

· Rockies fans heading to Sunday’s game at Coors Field can access I-25 and exit at 20th Street and Park Avenue West.

Transportation Options

Use of public transportation to the event is encouraged.

Parking in the Civic Center Park area will be challenging during the race, so please consider alternate means of transportation.

If you drive, there are many garages and surface lots in the downtown area, and all parking meters are free on Sunday.

RTD will be running normal bus and rail services on Race Day, but some bus routes in the area of the race route will be on temporary detours and light rail will be briefly impacted. For more info please go visit http://www.RTD-Denver.com or call their Telephone Information Center at 303.299.6000.

There will be three free bike valet stations at the Wellington Webb Building (201 E. Colfax), at and at 14th Avenue and Bannock.