Organizers of the Colorado Classic, presented by VF Corporation, have announced the adoption of a "Made for TV Streaming" model for the August 27-30 race schedule. This new model is designed as a health precaution to reduce public gatherings in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, and prioritizes the safety of riders, host communities, and event staff.

Organizers confirmed that the state has not yet approved the event. However, they expect further updates on public health restrictions in July.

"Canceling or postponing the event was considered, but only as a last resort. And while it would be the easiest thing to do, we feel a strong commitment and promise to the athletes, the community, and our partners," said Lucy Diaz, CEO of RPM Events Group.

"Our decision to move forward with a modified model is in line with our mission of continued support and development of women's cycling. We feel that the athletes need something positive to work towards and we want to be a beacon of hope for both the peloton and the citizens of the area where the race is held."

"While the infrastructure surrounding this year's race will be reduced, our top priority is to create opportunities for world-class competition in an environment that best supports and emphasizes the health and well-being of our athletes and staff. We are working closely with state and city organizations, health authorities, and sports governing bodies to establish protocols and processes to ensure the health and safety of everyone," she said. [This is something we have not experienced in our lifetime, so it takes time and cooperation to plan meticulously. We have worked tirelessly to develop a model that we hope will inform and inspire other event promoters to apply to their own events."

Colorado Classic organizers announced at the end of 2018 that they had opted to cancel the men's event in favor of a women-only race in 2019. They used additional funds to expand the women's race by offering a harder stage, larger prize money, and live streaming.

The organizers plan to enhance and innovate this live streaming model, which was successful in exposing the race last year, for this year's event. According to a press release, the event will offer free start-to-finish coverage to dozens of outlets around the world and new features such as immersive viewpoint cameras, zoom viewing parties, superfan simulcasts, guest commentator drop-ins, and behind-the-scenes coverage of pre- and post-race activities

The event will be hosted by the race organizers.

Race organizers had already announced the host cities as Snowmass Village, Avon, Boulder, and Denver. However, in order to minimize the impact on local communities and the need for security authorities, some of the stage routes and start/finish points will be changed.

"As we further explore alternative venues and courses in and around Denver, Red Rocks Park has emerged as an exciting venue candidate. This iconic location offers not only a stunning landscape and easy-to-control event venue, but also a challenging course profile that could determine the overall race on the final day," the press release said.

USA Cycling suspended all permits for sanctioned events, including USA Cycling races, rides, camps, and clinics, until May 31 due to the coronavirus outbreak. However, several events scheduled for later dates, including the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah in August and the Maryland Cycling Classic in September, were either canceled or postponed until 2021.

"As of today, the state has not yet approved the event, but the situation is changing daily. Race organizers have set their next public information release for early July, at which point they will provide more details to the media."