Earlier today USA Pro Cycling Challenge race organizers unveiled the twelve cities which will host the starts or finishes of the various stages of the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge stage race. After attracting what race organizers have estimated to be more than one million fans in the inaugural year, the 2012 race will return to several cities and also visit new locations, showcasing the beauty of the state of Colorado.

The 2012 edition of the seven-day race takes place from August 20-26, 2012 and race organizers say that nearly 40 cities across the state have expressed initial interest in hosting the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

The host cities and stages of the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge include:
Monday, Aug. 20: Stage 1: Durango - Telluride
Tuesday, Aug. 21: Stage 2: Montrose - Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte
Wednesday, Aug. 22: Stage 3: Gunnison - Aspen
Thursday, Aug. 23: Stage 4: Aspen - Beaver Creek/Vail Valley
Friday, Aug. 24: Stage 5: Breckenridge - Colorado Springs
Saturday, Aug. 25: Stage 6: Golden - Boulder
Sunday, Aug. 26: Stage 7: Denver (Individual Time Trial)

"The host cities selected for the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge will enable us to showcase the beauty and hospitality of Colorado to a worldwide audience," CEO of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge Shawn Hunter told Roadcycling.com and Roadcycling.mobi and added "These cities are valued partners who will work with us, hand in hand, as we continue to raise the bar for professional cycling here in America."

Overall winner of the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Levi Leipheimer stated "What makes Colorado uniquely challenging is the Rocky Mountains. Knowing that in 2012 we will start in one corner of the state and suffer through more mountain passes than any other race of this caliber in North America is exciting. Add in the altitude factor and you've got one beast of a race."

The four new cities joining the 2012 race - Durango, Telluride, Montrose and Boulder - each offer breathtaking scenery, as well as a unique cycling history, that will add to the overall impact of the race.

The "Four Corners" area is home to Bob Roll, one of professional cycling's most iconic commentators, as well as the Iron Horse Classic Bicycle Race. Durango is home to more professional cyclists, national champions and Olympians per capita than any other town in the United States. Often referred to as the birthplace of American cycling, Boulder is consistently ranked one of the best cycling cities in the country.

According to Hunter "By incorporating iconic cycling cities like Boulder and Durango in our second-year race we will further build the virtual postcard for the state of Colorado that we established in our inaugural year." Many pro cycling analysts, however, have considered it a big mistake of the race organizers to fail to incorporate iconic cities such as Boulder and Durango.

Also new in 2012 is the placement of the individual time trial on the final day of racing in Denver, which the race organizers hope will make it possible for cycling fans to keep holding their breath to the very end of the week-long race to find out who will be awarded the trophy for the overall victory of the 7-day pro race.

According to the race organizers, further details in regards to the start and finish line locations as well as - more importantly - the detailed route of each stage will be announced in the spring of next year.