Tejay Van Garderen of Boulder is the overall leader of the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Van Garderen, 23, with team BMC finished third in today’s 97-mile Stage 4 from Aspen to Beaver Creek.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Stage 4 winner Jens Voight crosses the fiish line at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Beaver Creek.

Cammie Smith, 10, of Littleton draws American cyclist George Hincapie’s name on the climb to Independence Pass to encourage him. The longtime racer has said this week’s USA Pro Challenge is his final race. “We’ve got to celebrate the man’s career going into retirement,” said Cammie’s dad, Doug.

Cammie Smith, 10, of Littleton shows her dressed-up dad, Doug, her chalk-stained hands after she draws American cyclist George Hincapie’s name on the climb to Independence Pass to encourage him. The longtime racer has said this week’s USA Pro Challenge is his final race. “We’ve got to celebrate the man’s career going into retirement,” Doug said

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Stage 4 winner Jens Voight, center is flanked by the USA Pro Cycling Challenge competitors and Radio Shack-Nissan-Trek team mate Andreas Kloden, left and third place finisher Tejay Van Garderen of team BMC

Chris Bilowich of Gainesville, Fla., sports Florida Gators colors as he cheers Jens Voigt across the top of Independence Pass Thursday. Voigt was the first across the pass and went on to win Thursday’s stage of the USA Pro Challenge bicycle race. Bilowich said he dressed up “so my friends could watch me at home on TV and spot me.” He said it worked, as he was televised during the previous day’s stage, which crossed the same pass.

Chris Bilowich of Gainesville, Fla., sports Florida Gators colors as he cheers cyclists across the top of Independence Pass Thursday during USA Pro Challenge bicycle race. Bilowich said he dressed up “so my friends could watch me at home on TV and spot me.” He said it worked, as he was televised during the previous day’s stage, which crossed the same pass.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Stage 4 winner Jens Voight get the customary celebration kiss from podium attendants after his Stage 4 victory at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge finish in Beaver Creek.

Team BMC’s Tejay Van Garderen of Boulder is aided in putting on the overall leader’s yellow jersey after placing third at Stage 4 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge from Aspen to Beaver Creek.

Dikky Brown of Crested Butte went with a red color scheme and high heels as he cheered cyclists over Independence Pass Thursday during the USA Pro Challenge bicycle race. Brown said he originally donned the outfit as part of an effort to protect Crested Butte’s Red Lady Mountain, also called Mount Emmons, from mining. “Once you’re a red lady you’re always a red lady,” he said.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Stage 4 winner Jens Voight, third from left hugs Lindsey Vonn an alpine ski racer on the victory podium. Vonn, from Vail, has won four overall World Cup championships. To Voight’s left is second place finisher and Radio Shack-Nissan-Trek team mate Andreas Kloden. To Vonn’s right is third place finisher Tejay Van Garderen.

Thousands of spectators packed Aspen for the Queen Stage of the USA Pro Challenge, Americas premiere road bike race, Wednesday. Stage four of the race continues Thursday starting from Aspen back over Independence pass to Beaver Creek.

Tom Danielson of the Garmin-Sharp Barracuda Team is congratulated by spectators after winning the Queen’s stage of the USA Pro Challenge in Aspen Wednesday.

Thousands of spectators packed Aspen for the Queen Stage of the USA Pro Challenge, Americas premiere road bike race, Wednesday. Stage four of the race continues Thursday starting from Aspen back over Independence pass to Beaver Creek.

Jade Wilcox leads the pack in the Blue Ribbon Alpine Challenge in downtown Aspen just before the men came into town. Wilcox won the crit.

A pack flies by in downtown Aspen during a pro women’s crit before the men arrived in Aspen.

Three visitors to downtown Aspen are framed by the Mill Street Fountain, a Centerpiece in a pedestrian area in the resort town. Locals say that children try to balance balloons or balls on the random geysers of water on the sidewalk.

Tom Danielson of the Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda Team waves to spectators after winning the Queen’s stage of the USA Pro Challenge in Aspen Wednesday.

Thousands of spectators packed Aspen for the Queen Stage of the USA Pro Challenge, Americas premiere road bike race, Wednesday. Stage four of the race continues Thursday starting from Aspen back over Independence pass to Beaver Creek.

Thousands of spectators packed Aspen for the Queen Stage of the USA Pro Challenge, Americas premiere road bike race, Wednesday. Stage four of the race continues Thursday starting from Aspen back over Independence pass to Beaver Creek.

The band played on as thousands of spectators packed Aspen for the Queen Stage of the USA Pro Challenge, Americas premiere road bike race, Wednesday. Stage four of the race continues Thursday starting from Aspen back over Independence pass to Beaver Creek.

Tom Danielson of the Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda Team finishes first at the Queen stage of the USA Pro Challenge in Aspen Wednesday.

Thousands of spectators packed Aspen for the Queen Stage of the USA Pro Challenge, Americas premiere road bike race, Wednesday. Stage four of the race continues Thursday starting from Aspen back over Independence pass to Beaver Creek.

Thousands of spectators packed Aspen for the Queen Stage of the USA Pro Challenge, Americas premiere road bike race, Wednesday. Stage four of the race continues Thursday starting from Aspen back over Independence pass to Beaver Creek.

Three-year-old Ella Ousley of Grand Junction was perched on the shoulders of her father, Todd Ousley, on Lizard Head Pass, urging the racers in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge to “pedal fast” during Monday’s first stage. The second stage Tuesday goes from Montrose to Mount Crested Butte.

#34, Ben King from the USA with team Radio Shack-Nissan-TREX signing autographs before the start of the Montros to Cresteed Butte USA Pro Challenge bike race.

USA Pro Challenge first stage leader #12, Tyler Farrar from the USA and team Garmin-Sharp signs autographs before the start of the Montrose to Crested Butte race.

#41, Vincenzo Nibali from ITA and a rider for team Liquigas-Cannondale.

#21, Cadel Evans from AUS and a rider for team BMC Racing.

First day race leader #12, Tyler Farrar from the USA and a rider for team Garmin-Sharp signs autographs before the start of the USA Pro Challenge Montrose to Crested Butte race.

George Hincapie from the USA and rides for team BMC Racing is celebrating his retirement after 19 years as a professional cyclist.

George Hincapie from the USA and rides for team BMC Racing is celebrating his retirement after 19 years as a professional cyclist.

Hard working journalist Robert Garcia at the starting line of the USA Pro Challenge Montrose to Crested Butte.

The USA Pro Challenge start in Montrose.

The start of the Montrose to Cresed Butte USA Pro Challenge race.

The start of the 99.2 mile stage 2 USA Pro Challenge race from Montrose to Crested Butte.

The start of the USA Pro Challenge stage 2, a 99.2 mile run from Montrose to Crested Butte.

#47, Ivan Basso from ITA and a rider from team Liquigas-Cannondale.

Pro Cycling Challenge Race fans donned costumes along the route.

Pro Cycling Challenge Race fans donned costumes along the route, including antlers.