[editor's note, by chris] Jimbo surveys the wreckage...

Jelly Belly may have the most vibrant team car, but...

their mechanic was seriously slow to get moving after the carnage.

My daughter and I were camped at the 50-meter-to-go line, right across from the VIP tents where we could see the live feed on the multiple VIP TVs (VIP tent = TV's, full bar, and an endless procession of BBQ wing bearing caterers. I must get very important before next year's race.)

Anyway, from 50 meters back and with all the crowd noise, I couldn't really see or hear much. All I could see was a bunch of cyclists standing still right past the finish line. The team cars all came to a halt in front of us, the mechanics exited quickly, wheels in hand, and bolted for the apparent pile up. All of them, that is, except the Jelly Belly guy who just kind of sat there in his easily id'd team car looking around, understandably confused, before he finally opened the door and got moving. Within two minutes the mess was cleared up and everyone was off again.

The group in front of the crash, probably 40 or so riders, came by a few minutes later with Bettini smack dab in the sweet spot. In truth, given all the speed and excitment, he was the only one I could pick out (white jersey sticks out) but he was in really great position, ten riders back right in the middle.

Two laps later, they came by for the final time, going really, really fast, all strung out in full sprint mode, two Rabobank guys in front, Hushovd about three riders back and the rest close behind. Bettini was all alone 500 meters behind the lead group. The rest of the field dribbled in for the next several minutes. A few sporting brand new road rash.

No idea who won. It was all very fast and very exciting... all blured speed and crowd noise. But, it could have been better. I would speculate that the crash made the final sprint a lot more civilized since it removed over half the sprinters and slowed things down a whole lot. The first time the peloton came through, it was big and angry. The last two times, it was cautious. Understandable, given that it's only mid-Feb and not even spring yet, except for here paradise. These guys have a long season ahead of them.

Versus coverage just came on so time to go. Can't wait to see what happened with the wreck. Sadly, work calls no more live racing action for Jimbo. Hopefully someone else will pick this up. This blogging thing is fun! Next thing you know, I'll start texting my buddies and wearing my pants around my thighs.

Chris, next year we need to weasle some press passes out of the organizers so a few of us SF locals can get some wings, uh, I mean, so we can cover the race better...