Organizers of the Colorado Classic, the only women's-only UCI stage race in the United States, have solicited sponsors to help relaunch the race after it was cancelled for the past two years due to a pandemic.

The Colorado Classic evolved from the former USA Pro Challenge and began in 2017 as a men's 2.HC race and a national-level women's event, with the 2019 event shifting its focus to women only. Chloe Dygert won all four stages and all four classes.

However, before the race could continue into its second edition, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and all races in North America were closed.

Race organizer Ken Gart issued an open letter on Tuesday asking for sponsorship.

"We need your help. As we celebrate International Women's Day and Women's Month, I want to talk to you about the current state of the 2022 Colorado Classic. We are at an unfortunate crossroads. Given the lack of financial support and sponsorship interest, we are faced with the difficult decision of whether to continue the tournament."

"In order to restart the Colorado Classic, we need a minimum investment of $3 million. We know this is a big ask, but after asking for funds over the past 12 months and coming up short, we are now making this request public as a last-ditch effort to not sit on our hands.

"If we cannot get the investment we need, we will no longer support Colorado Classics and its mission of inclusivity and gender equality for women's cycling.

The U.S. pro calendar has been hit hard, with the Tour of California men's and women's races gone and the Tour of Utah following suit this year. The only races left on the Americas Tour are the Tour of the Gila, the Joe Martin Stage Race, and the Chrono Christine Armstrong.

In September, the Maryland Cycling Classic, a one-day Pro Series event, will be held exclusively for men. There are no women-only races in North America and they are rarely broadcast. Unlike in Europe, women professionals enjoy the same events as their male counterparts, and the Women's World Tour has 31 events.

"In 2019," Gart writes, "the Colorado Classic has become the gold standard for women's racing in the United States." After recognizing the stark gender disparity in professional cycling, we set out on a mission to become the new best practice for women-only races, and a year later, the Colorado Classic is more than just a cycling race; our dedication to improving the sport for women The Colorado Classic has become more than just a cycling race, it is a testament to our dedication to improving the sport for women. We created an international platform where women are treated equally to men in terms of prize money, broadcasting, and all other aspects of the race.

"The COVID epidemic forced the Colorado Classic to suspend the event in 2020, providing an opportunity to proactively evaluate the event structure. Incorporating best practices learned in Colorado, we developed a new business plan. Our vision is to build a long-term sustainable women-only race series across the United States, culminating in a major event in Colorado.

"Now we have a "blue sky" moment, and with the right partners, we can create something that will have a real and lasting impact on women's cycling. The Colorado Classic is a game changer, and without this event, the opportunities for current and emerging women cyclists would be severely diminished. As a Colorado native, this event and its mission are near and dear to my heart. Together we can make a difference, together we can create opportunities to catapult women cyclists to the next level.