Lance Armstrong riding Quizno's Pro Challenge in 2011

Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, world champion Thor Hushovd and former world champion Cadel Evans, as well as legendary team directors Johan Bruyneel and Bob Stapleton are among the world renowned cyclists that will compete in the Quiznos Pro Challenge, August 22-28, 2011.

Today the organizers announced the first five teams to join the Quiznos Pro Challenge, including Team Radio Shack whom Lance Armstrong rides for. The tour is being described as the greatest bike race ever to be held on American soil from - and we're so excited to hear that the greatest cyclist of our times, Lance Armstrong will be riding through Steamboat Springs!

About the Quiznos Pro Challenge

The Quiznos Pro Challenge is most demanding professional bike race ever held in America, with racers experiencing breathless altitudes and nearly 600 mountain miles, for seven-straight days. The inaugural 2011 Quiznos Pro Challenge will take place August 22-28, traveling through some of the world’s most famous and

beautiful destinations, including Colorado Springs, Salida, Crested Butte, Gunnison, Aspen, Vail, Avon,Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge, Golden and Denver. 128 of the world’s best professional cyclists from 16 teams, including Team RadioShack, HTC-Highroad, Slipstream Sports/Garmin-Cervelo and Liquigas-Cannondale, will be put to the test like never before.

To keep in touch with the latest news and updates on the Quiznos Pro Challenge, visit

http://www.quiznosprochallenge.com/. 

Where to Stay for the Quiznos Pro Challenge

ResortQuest has lodging in 3 of the of start/finish locations for the Quizno's Pro Challenge: Steamboat, Breckenridge & Aspen.

SteamboatInfo@ResortQuest.com

Tour Schedule and Route

• August 22 – Stage 1, Prologue time trial, Colorado Springs
• August 23 – Stage 2, Salida to Crested Butte, mountain-top finish
• August 24 – Stage 3, Gunnison to Aspen, mountain stage
• August 25 – Stage 4, Vail, time trail, former Coors Classic stage
• August 26 – Stage 5, Avon to Steamboat Springs
• August 27 – Stage 6, Steamboat Springs to Breckenridge
• August 28 – Stage 7, Golden to Denver 

About the 5 Teams

Team RadioShack (USA)

Team RadioShack is led by Sports Team Manager Johan Bruyneel, the most winning sports director in history with nine Tour de France victories, including seven with pro-cycling legend Lance Armstrong. The 2010 team was comprised of riders hailing from 16 countries, including Grand Tour leaders, Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Andres Kloden, Jani Brajkovic (Slovenia) and Tiago Machado (Portugal).

Liquigas-Cannondale (Italy)

Liquigas-Cannondale is an Italian professional cycling team ranked second in the UCI ProTour for the third consecutive year. Sport team manager Roberto Amadio has many returning stars including Vincenzo Nibali, who took the overall victory at the 2010 Vuelta a Espana, and Ivan Basso, who earned his second career Giro d'Italia win in May.

HTC-Highroad (USA)

Led by Bob Stapleton, the HTC-Highroad team has the most victories in professional cycling with 389 wins since 2008, nine national titles and six world champions on its 2011 roster. HTC-Highroad is comprised of top young talent with 19 riders under the age of 26 making it one of the youngest teams in professional cycling. The team represents national champions of Germany, USA, Sweden, Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy and Slovakia.

BMC Racing Team (USA)

BMC Racing Team finished as one of the top 10 teams in the UCI world rankings, helping them earn ProTeam status for 2011. Competing in its fifth season overall, the team is managed by Directeur Sportif John Lelangue and includes former world road race champions Cadel Evans (Australia) and Alessandro Ballan (Italy), and U.S. national road champion George Hincapie. In addition to many 2010 wins, BMC Racing Team led both the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia in its first participation in both events. As a recent addition, Colorado native and multi-time world and U.S. national champion Taylor Phinney will join the team’s roster in 2011.

Slipstream Sports/Team Garmin-Cervelo (USA)

Headquartered in Boulder, Colo., Slipstream Sports and Team Garmin-Cervelo are managed by CEO and Director Sportif Jonathan Vaughters, a Denver resident who had a 10-year career as a professional cyclist. The 2011 team – a powerhouse in the peloton – includes Ryder Hesjedal, who earned seventh place overall at the 2010 Tour de France; sprint sensation Tyler Farrar; world champion Thor Hushovd and Christian Vande Velde.

We look forward to seeing you in Steamboat for the Quiznos Pro Challenge!

This weekend: High Country Garden Tour in Steamboat Springs

Steamboat Springs most popular summer home and garden tour, organized by the Guide of Strings Music Festival, will feature eight houses with amazing high country kitchens and gardens on Saturday, July 18.

Book your Steamboat lodging with ResortQuest and get your 3rd night free or 20% off 2 nights, call 866-634-9616, or book online!

Kitchen styles from contemporary to country with gorgeous personal touches including Murano glass globe fixtures, antique furnishings, and the latest technology kitchen appliances will inspire the chef in all of us. Garden highlights include colorful perennial beds, extensive outdoor entertainment areas, water features, sculptural centerpieces, and woodland trails.

The High Country Kitchen & Garden Tour kicks off at the Strings Park with a continental breakfast from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Tour participants’ ticket includes a map and descriptions of these beautiful locations across Steamboat. The Strings Guild Silent Auction also closes at 10:00 a.m. with opportunities to bid on fantastic items including a hand-painted trunk, high-end cookware, and original artwork as well as unique opportunities including Master Music Lessons from Strings professional musicians, personalized road signs and premier reserved concert parking spots.

Ticket buyers of the High Country Kitchen & Garden Tour can take advantage of the ‘VIP Tour’ and enjoy an air-conditioned journey to the locations alongside a Master Gardener providing details and insight on the beautiful gardens as well as a boxed lunch and VIP goodie bag. ResortQuest Steamboat Vacation Rentals will be donating 3 shuttles to the event! Tickets are available for purchase at the Strings Box Office, by phone at 970.879.5056 x 105, or at http://www.stringsmusicfestival.com/. Tickets are priced at $25 in advance, $30 day of tour, and $65 for the VIP Tour. This fundraising event benefits Strings Music Festival and is generously sponsored by Millennium Bank and Steamboat magazine.

Steamboat Summer packed with FREE Events

The summer travel season has officially started. This year, just about everyone is facing greater financial challenges than ever before and naturally we are all reviewing our vacation options to make sure we get greater value for money. So let's see what Steamboat Springs has to offer to ensure a memorable, affordable summer vacation.

Here is a taste of Steamboat's FREE Summer events and activities:

Ongoing Events:

• FREE! June 27 - August 20, 2009: Free Steamboat Summer Concerts
  - July 17: Greyboy Allstars
  - July 31: Freddy Jones Band
  - August 13: Susan Tedeschi
  - August 20: Avett Brothers


• FREE! Strings In The Mountains Presents Music on the Green, Every Thursday starting June 25 at the Botanic Gardens

June - September Events:

• FREE! May 22-25, 2009: Yampa River Festival
• FREE! June 6, 2009: Touch-A-Truck - 10:00am-1:00pm
• FREE! June 18-21, 2009: Annual Rocky Mountain Ford Mustang Roundup
• FREE! June 20, 2009: Free Steamboat Family Fun Festival
• FREE! July 4th, 2009: 106th Annual Cowboys Roundup Days and 4th of July: Community All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast, Children's Activities and Concerts, 4th of July Parade down Lincoln Avenue, Block Party at the Tread of Pioneers Museum (Free Concert, Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series, 4th of July Fireworks - after the rodeo.
• FREE! July 11-12, 2009 - Annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo and 35th Annual Art in the Park
• FREE! October 31st, 2009: Downtown Halloween Stroll

Other Family Friendly Affordable Events and Activities:

• $10 FOR KIDS! July 5th, July 9th, July 16th, and July 23, 2009: Cow Town Ranch Tours - 1:00-4:30pm Visit local working ranches and tour our cultural countryside with local historians. Transportation will be provided by Alpine Taxi. $50 for adults, $10 for kids 7-12, free for kids 0-6 - fee includes transportation, guides, information materials and Routt-Beer floats. Advance registration is required - please contact our concierge.
• $7 FOR KIDS! Weekends, June 19-August 22, 2009: Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo
• From $2/RIDE FOR KIDS! May 23-September 20, 2009: Steamboat's Alpine Slide
• From $1/RIDE! Open Year Round: The Steamboat Old Town Hot Springs
• $1 FOR KIDS! July 1-August 19, 2008: Strings in the Mountains Music Festival The Strings Music Festival has Youth and Family Concerts the whole family will enjoy!
• From $12/Day! Starting in July: Tube the Steamboat Springs Yampa River

...BUT THERE'S MORE FREE STUFF IN STEAMBOAT!

In the spirit of all this free stuff, ResortQuest Steamboat is offering travelers to Steamboat the 'Power Of Free' lodging package which includes Every 3rd Night Free plus up to $100 in FREE Spending Money - yes FREE cash gift certificates to spend wherever you choose in Steamboat Springs! Learn more about ResortQuest Steamboat's lodging deals.