Tejay van Garderen of BMC has won the US Pro Tour Challenge for a second successive time.
The American riding in his local race led by 1.32 going into the seventh and final stage from Boulder to Denver and was also the lead in the best rider from Colorado competition.
The BMC rider was on the start with Points leader Kiel Reijnen, King Of The Mountains leader Ben Jaques-Maynes and Best Young Rider Clement Chevrier.
This 78 miles/126kms stage saw twelve riders take an early lead and that included Jens Voigt on the final stage of his last ever race on route 93 along with Tiago Machado of NetApp, Michael Rogers (Tinkoff-Saxo), Caleb Fairly (Garmin-Sharp), Cameron Wurf (Cannondale), Adam Phelan (Drapac), Jonathan Clarke (UnitedHealthcare), Javier Megias (Novo Nordisk), Hugh Carthy (Rapha Condor), Jesse Anthony (Optum), Matt Cooke (Jamis-Hagens Berman), Jonathan Freter (Jelly Belly) and Ruben Zepuntke (Bissell).
Cameron Wurf dropped back towards the peloton as the lead went out to 1.42 on the climb to Lookout Mountain and with 90kms to go, Jonathan Clarke dropped off the front group and was caught by the peloton.
Voigt took the King Of The Mountains points and he was left up front with Michael Rogers (Tinkoff-Saxo) , Tiago Machado (NetApp-Enduray), Javier Megias Leal (Novo Nordisk) and Ruben Zepuntke (Bissell) as the race headed back to Golden for the Lexus Sprint.
Voigt took that sprint as Garmin drove the peloton on towards three and a half laps of downtown Denver.
Reaching that meant that the race was into its final forty kilometres and ten kilometres later, the riders out front were only fify seconds ahead on the streets of the mile high city.
Voigt took that as his cue to attack and went but was soon joined by the rest of the breakers and with 26.5kms, Voigt went again with Megias and this time, their attack allowed them a chance to stay away for a bit longer.
The massive crowds on the route were going mental willing Voigt to win as they took their lead out to thirty seconds with 17.2kms left.
What was left of the peloton did not give up and they moved to within five seconds of Voigt and Meigas who had shaken hands.
Voigt led going into the last lap but he was caught with 9.3kms left and given pats on the back and handshakes by the Garmin Sharp team, who had passed him.
Riccardo Zoidl, Voigt's Trek Factory team mate took over and was quickly five seconds and then ten seconds ahead of the peloton.
Poljanksi of Tinkoff Saxo bridged to Zoldl with 3.5kms to go. BMC then attacked to bring them back going into the final two kilometres.
Under the flam rouge and Tejay van Garderen was in second wheel. He lead out Michael Schar but Alex Howes of Garmin-Sharp went on the left and won the stage just beating Kiel Reijnen in 2.45.20 with Michael Schar in third as Van Garderen celebrated the race victory for the second year in succession with victory in 20.05.42, 1.32 better than Tom Danielson.
Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service.