Colorado will revive its international pro cycling tradition next summer when the Quiznos Pro Challenge opens Aug. 22 in Colorado Springs, officials announced Thursday.

The seven-stage race will move through the Rockies before finishing Aug. 28 with a stage from Golden to Denver.

“This event will have a profound implication for the sport of cycling,” said Steven Johnson, CEO of USA Cycling. “It will put cycling in the back- and front yards of hundreds of thousands of Coloradans.”

The race, similar in structure to the Tour de France and likely featuring teams that compete in that race, will include 120 of the world’s best cyclists.

Johnson said that in recent years, the United States has sent its world-class cyclists to Europe to compete. But now, he said, “We are bringing America’s best talent back to America for Americans to see — to show their skills and ability.”

“That means thousands of young Coloradans will be exposed to the sport,” Johnson said. “They will see firsthand the excitement, the thrill and energy of professional cycling. And I can guarantee you that as a result of that exposure, at some point in the near future there will be young Coloradans standing on the podium in international competition somewhere who got their start in the sport because they saw the event coming through their hometown.”

Tim Duggan, a Colorado native and one of the young cyclists Johnson referred to, said he was “super-excited” about the prospect of racing in his home state.

“I haven’t had a chance to race in my backyard,” said Duggan. “I’m glad to bring it to my friends and family.”

Rory Sutherland, another pro cyclist who lives in Boulder, said that currently U.S. cyclists have to “go to the other end of the world to compete.”

“This is fantastic,” said Sutherland. “It shows just how big cycling has become in the United States.”

Gov. Bill Ritter and Quiznos Pro Challenge partner Lance Armstrong first discussed the race more than a year ago.

“This is a great and exciting day for Colorado,” said Ritter at the announcement of the race route. “It will tell the rest of the world about the fabulous biking we have here and the pristine landscape.”

Vail has previously hosted major national events and world-class cycling races such as the Red Zinger and the Coors Classic in the 1970s and 1980s.

“We are really excited to be part of that again,” Vail mayor Dick Cleveland said. “We anticipate those same people will come to this event.”

Among the celebrities at the occasion was Broncos legend Shannon Sharpe, who remains an avid fitness buff.

“There is no question in my mind that this will be the preeminent pro-biking race in North America,” Sharpe said. “We will have 120 of the greatest cyclists coming to the state.”

“I have been a fanatical cyclist for a very long time. I can recite all the Tour de France winners for the last 25 years. There is no question this race will be here for a long, long, long time.”

Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com