Professional road racing in the United States follows a familiar rhythm of booms and busts. The highs arrive with the success of stars like Greg LeMond and Lance Armstrong, only to fade as the sport’s popularity inevitably recedes.
Yet beneath the peaks and valleys of headline events like the defunct Tour of California or the short-lived Colorado Classic, elite-level racing carries on. Scrappy stage races and long-standing criteriums keep the ecosystem and the dream of the haydays alive. There are even a handful of riders who make a living by touring the country in search of prize money.
