Race start requires extra help By Dale Strode
in big numbers. “We have more volunHerald Sports Writer teers than any other city (in the USA Pro Cycling ChalVolunteers? You need volunteers for a lenge),” Craig said. More than 600 people bicycle race? have lined up for the 1,200 Try Durango. volunteer spots needed for “Durango people are amazing. People are volun- the Durango stage. “Because we are the teering for multiple posioverall start, more voluntions,” said Cathy Craig of Durango, the co-chairwom- teers are needed,” Craig an of the volunteer commit- said, adding that pre-race tee for the local stage of the staging requirements neUSA Pro Cycling Challenge. cessitate more volunteers. For example, she said “We’re a cycling-friendly there are about 300 vehicles community. We know how affiliated with the 2012 to pull off a great race ... we’ve done the Iron Horse,” USA Pro Cycling Challenge including team cars, neuCraig said, adding that she tral support cars, referees wasn’t surprised by the cars, race officials vehicles, turnout of volunteers for medical vehicles, etc. the USA Pro Challenge in “All of those cars have Durango. to be decaled in Durango,” Forty years of the Iron she said of the race stickers Horse prepared the comfor the official vehicles. “All munity well, she said. of that for the whole race is “The surprise to me ... is done here.” people embracing the time In addition, uniforms and effort to do everything in advance ... before the race for race officials will be organized and distributed in even gets here,” Craig said, adding that the local organiz- Durango. “And the tour staff and ers have nearly 1,200 volunthe teams ... they are all teer positions in Durango. flying into Durango. They “Their willingness to need to be picked up at the step up is impressive,” she airport and shuttled into said. town,” Craig said. And they’ve stepped up
There are scores of other volunteer positions including parking, course marshals, recycling, etc. “And because we are the overall start, we have the opportunity to put on all these other events (before the race),” Craig said. That’s added to the volunteer numbers, she said. Craig said she was encouraged about the level of support at the very first volunteer orientation. The meeting was held on a Friday evening during a pouring rainstorm on the night of the opening ceremonies for the London Olympics. The meeting at Fort Lewis College drew a standing-room-only crowd that far exceeded the 300 seats in the meeting room. “That was really, really exciting,” Craig said, adding that anyone interested in volunteering can learn more at the event website at www.durango2012.com “People really want their guests coming to Durango to have a great time,” she said. “We all love Durango. We want people who visit to have that same experience.”