Lance Armstrong, undeniably the most famous bicyclist in the United States, has announced that he will hold a professional cycling competition in Colorado. The Quiznos Pro Challenge is planned for August 22-28, 2011. It will be the only professional bike race in the state. Until 1988, the state was home to the Coors International Bicycle Classic. Since then, though, there has not been a pro-event in Colorado.

When asked whether he would participate in the race, Armstrong laughed before saying that he had not made up his mind.

Like many professional athletes who excel in their sport, Armstrong has had a difficult time letting go of the glory. He official retired from professional racing in 2005. Four years later, though, he competed in the 2009 Tour de France, where he took third place.

Armstrong, now 38, says that he cannot recover from crashes as quickly as he could in his 20s. This has created serious reservations in his mind about whether he should continue racing competitively. That does not mean, however, that he has gotten off the bike for good. In fact, he stated during the press event that he had recently spent four hours on a bike just because he felt like it.

Armstrong has been toying with the idea of starting an event in Colorado for several years. The idea first came to him while riding along the state’s roads. He realized that, despite the region’s scenic beauty and challenging terrain, there was not a professional biking event in the state. His daydream will soon become a reality.

Even though Armstrong questions whether it is wise for him to compete in the race, he says that he is still committed to the sport. He might not continue to perform on the track against other professionals, but that does not mean that he has completely walked away from the sport that has defined much of his life to date.

One great way to take part int he race is to travel to Colorado and travel the course staying in vacation rentals and cheering on your favorite cyclist.