2010 Tour of California Route Announcement
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 22, 2009 10:39 AM EDT
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PrintDue any moment now... Use this open thread to discuss.
Here's the stage list from the Amgen Tour of Cali site.
1. Stage 1: Sunday, May 16 – Nevada City to Sacramento
2. Stage 2: Monday, May 17 – Davis to Santa Rosa
3. Stage 3: Tuesday, May 18 – San Francisco to Santa Cruz
4. Stage 4: Wednesday, May 19 – San Jose to Modesto
5. Stage 5: Thursday, May 20 – Visalia to Bakersfield
6. Stage 6: Friday, May 21 – Pasadena to Big Bear Lake
7. Stage 7: Saturday, May 22 – Los Angeles (individual time trial)
8. Stage 8: Sunday, May 23 – Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village/Agoura Hills
Despite some suggestions to the contrary, Lance Armstrong has confirmed that he will ride the Tour of California, and skip the Giro d'Italia. Levi Leipheimer and David Zabriskie are also confirmed as of today.
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Official press conference is at 10AM Pacific Time.
but the route is to be “leaked” by Leipheimer, Hincapie, Zabriskie, the official ToC site and the governor (on Twitter I assume) at 8:30am. That cracks me up. A planned leak? Ha!
by ZoeRochelle on Oct 22, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Zoe
are you talking to yourself in here?
"My facking goat didn’t wear Robes! Does he look Scottisch?!" Baron von Frinkenstein
Re: Levi
He tweeted this two days ago:
I am confident that Santa Rosa will be announced as a host city on Thursday for the @amgentourofcali
I assumed “I am confident” meant “I know”.
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Oct 22, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
I am excited to see the route (clearly)
especially since its in May. More room to roam in the late Spring.
by ZoeRochelle on Oct 22, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Too much snow in may
this road typically open in early to mid june.
I think a time trial in Yosemite Valley would be epic. I don’t know if it’s logistically possible, but there is a loop road there that would be perfect. Nice and flat, and takes in all of the sights.
Flahutes: Harden the F--k Up!
I guess it requires a change in mindset
Simple announcement: that day the road will be closed because of a sporting event. Aight, so we can’t use it that day. Hey, maybe we could go watch.
yep
Not an easy thing here, where cycling does not have the deep roots it does in the older cycling countries. The difficulty with Yosemite is that May is a peak period for people to visit, and there aren’t alternate routes. In the main, though, I think the nix on Yomsemite has more to do with the wilderness factor.
I think it's more of a legal issue
Something to do with not allowing events that award prize money. And there is only one road in Yosemite Valley, really. They would never shut down the entire valley for an entire day for anything. No way.
Right, legal issue was mentioned earlier
So that’s the main reason or really the only one. Still, “they would never” is just what I meant: lots of main arteries or only roads over mountain passes get closed off in Europe, for the Tour de France as most prominent example. Just the way it works: that day you can’t go there by car. Acceptance for most. Much rejoicing among hotel owners.
Sonora Pass might still be closed in May
But if it was open, it would be a a gorgeous ride and a beast of a stage. The summit is over 9600 feet, or 2700 meters, with sections over 20% near the top. And the east side is a bitch. Best part is that almost nobody actually uses that road because it goes from Sonora on the west side, to the middle of fucking nowhere on the east side.
Eastern Sierra
It would make for amazing racing to go to the Eastern Sierra, but it’s so freakin’ remote. You’d have the race running along empty roads. Maybe some peeps would head to Mammoth for a stage finish, but it would be really hard to draw the crowds.
Me, I can’t say I have too much criticism of the Yosemite decision. It’s not like Cali needs to promote that place – plenty of people find their way there. And dunno, pretty special corner of the planet, not sure I’d want to think of a bike race running through there.
Yosemite is crowded enough
that place needs less traffic and fewer crowds as it is. The mobile circus that makes up a stage race would not help. The Eastern Sierra would just blow people away with its awesomeness, but the route would be devoid of spectators.
I so heart the Eastern Sierra
but yeah, it’d be hard to draw any crowds at all. Also, it might be a bit cruel so send a bike race through the Mojave ;-)
It’s one of the more beautiful parts of California, though, really. To see the Sierra Nevada rise so steeply from the desert is amazing.
Or infrastructure to host anything.
"The road is our agony, but also our daily bread; and at night, when it is deserted and the moon glistens on the asphalt, the ridiculous dreams of racers like us pass up and down it."
--Dino Buzzati
How cool would that be?
Start in Sonora, head up over Sonora Pass, descend down to 395, finish in Bodie on 3 miles of dirt road. Google maps says it would be 137 miles. That would be a rough day.
imagining the whole peloton
at sorenson’s or the like…
"The road is our agony, but also our daily bread; and at night, when it is deserted and the moon glistens on the asphalt, the ridiculous dreams of racers like us pass up and down it."
--Dino Buzzati
Went there once, camped overnight in Lone Pine
near Bishop. Most beautiful scenery I’ve every been so lucky to witness. When you are in the Sierra looking up at Mt Whitney it is like looking at a giant wall.
by Peter Fontecchio on Oct 23, 2009 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed.
We used to camp at the end Horseshoe Meadows Rd (and then hike up into the Lakes area).
I’ve ridden from Lone Pine up to that campground once. The road crests just North of 10,000 ft I believe, I know that the campground is almost exactly at 10,000. Lone Pine sits at around 3,700 feet.
Did I mention that I only did this once?
Gorgeous scenery, truly stunning, but hard work!
There’s a race out there each year called the Everest Challenge. It’s for the light weights, it probably also helps to be slightly insane…
"Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill" - Fausto Coppi
Lovely spot
I’ve driven through Lone Pine any number of times.
There used to be a two-day race, Death Valley to Mount Whitney. The first day ran from Death Valley to Lone Pine. The second, from Lone Pine to Whitney Portal. Silliness.
The Everest Challenge
It’s still on!
Here are the results from this year
BTW I agree on the silliness description!
"Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill" - Fausto Coppi
My only advice
Gear appropriately, and be prepared for a long, long day…
The phrase, “just around the next corner” will get worn out :-)
"Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill" - Fausto Coppi
I think this route is horrible...
no offense to people that live in Bakersfield or Visallia…but come on! Everyone knows what we call that area!
But hand on...Bakersfield...biggest Basque population in the US.
Does this mean that just possibly Euskie might be enticed over? If Cali gets Intxausti you will be lucky people ;-)
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
really? is that true about Bakersfield?
by ZoeRochelle on Oct 22, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes. They have a pelota tournament there each year and some of the Basque pros go over.
http://euskalkazeta.com/ek/?p=410
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
you really are into the Basque culture not just cycling. Do you study it in school?
by ZoeRochelle on Oct 22, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
No, it happened through cycling really! I've always had obscure interests ;-)
I write a blog on pelota too: http://frontonnews.wordpress.com/
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
bookmarked it. Looks interesting. I'll read some when I have time.
by ZoeRochelle on Oct 22, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Fernando Goni, one of the players in that Bakersfield article read it and messaged me on Twitter!
I was fairly starstruck!
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Nice.
For three of the players, this was their first trip to the United States. They were amazed to find themselves among so many Basque speakers in Bakersfield.
by ZoeRochelle on Oct 22, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Boise, Idaho has the other big US Basque community
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
What about Winnemucca, Nevada?
Lots of Basques there too!
by Merry Crankster on Oct 22, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions
yup
what a happy surprise once when I was driving cross country to be able to have an interesting meal in Winnemucca.
"The road is our agony, but also our daily bread; and at night, when it is deserted and the moon glistens on the asphalt, the ridiculous dreams of racers like us pass up and down it."
--Dino Buzzati
I miss Winnemucca.
I lived there for a bit. Very interesting place and all sorts of Basque restaurants. They have one restaurant that serves sheep fries.
Is that the town
That also has the airport with all the weird, plane white 737s parked on the tarmac?
"The road is our agony, but also our daily bread; and at night, when it is deserted and the moon glistens on the asphalt, the ridiculous dreams of racers like us pass up and down it."
--Dino Buzzati
I usually think of it
as the crotch
"The road is our agony, but also our daily bread; and at night, when it is deserted and the moon glistens on the asphalt, the ridiculous dreams of racers like us pass up and down it."
--Dino Buzzati
yup...there will be alot of..."see you at the finish Lyne"....HA!
so do we drive to the start the night before….or early the next day…
It's Lyne's Garmin....speaks with female voice
by steph- on Oct 22, 2009 12:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
that's the problem - she just keeps repeating 'please follow...' in the same neutral voice
told you, passive aggressive!
Seems to me it was designed more
for residents to catch the race than for Tourists to follow it.
Beware the Argyle Unicorn!!
Hmmm
Good point Marvin. I always thought these were to show case your state?
by cyclingdiva on Oct 22, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions
A lot of these stages will be a pain
to get into unless they organize shuttles. This year getting into oh what is the name of the city where they start right before the Golden Gate bridge stage? Pain in the butt!
whoa...I totally disagree
the start…if the SF previews are correct is at pier 30….quite easy access…and I actually think easier than Sausalito start.
I think that will work well
Through the Marina into Crissy Field and Golden Gate Park. Lots of good places to watch from.
Tickets are bought, Belgium here I come!
oh ok
Wow, on a Monday. Those are some petty heavy traffic streets to be closing.
Tickets are bought, Belgium here I come!
It's on a Tuesday
They will start at 10 or 11 after the morning rush hour, and just roll down the Embarcadero and be out of town in about 15 minutes. It won’t cause much trouble, I would guess
Just noticed the Bay to Breakers route mention
Howard street to 9th, up to Hayes, out to Fell, and through the Park. I can watch the start from my office window almost.
Sausalito this year is what I'm talking about.
They should have done shuttles. Like they did in Davis. Parking was very difficult.
by cyclingdiva on Oct 22, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Sausalito is difficult on a non ToC day.
by ZoeRochelle on Oct 22, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Parking always sucks in Sausalito
The fact that it was pouring rain this past year probably made it better because it kept most people away, or maybe it made it worse because all of us locals drove down instead of riding.
not that we saw much of the Golden gate Bridge last year....
…the rain storm that day was vicious!!!
didn't go as expected last year. No coffee table photo book shots.
by ZoeRochelle on Oct 22, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
I think we got a pretty good one
A lot of thought went into this shot.
Larger version here:
http://www.cyclingfans.net/images/2009_tour_of_california_golden_gate_bridge.jpg
Too bad they won’t cross again in 2010.
The bridge crossing was supposed to be..
a massive publicity bonanza. The photos on the worldwide feed were going to be Humungous! And the PR Gods showed their fickleness.
And did I tell you it cost the organizers million dollars for the stage to cross the GGB? And another million for the rest of the day?
Does this squash Levi's quest
for 4 straight ToC wins?
I mean uh... hasn't that ever occurred to you, man? Sir?
The ToC site has a map of the 2010 route on it but if you click on it for a larger version
itsd the 2009 map still. Oops. Blame the webmaster!
Too bad no ITT in Venice.
I was really wondering about how they’d handle the street closings in that area. Downtown LA should be interesting, with some nice hills around Disney Hall area. It won’t be as easy as a spectator to move around to different parts of the course as in Solvang.
poor Bakersfield. Will it ever shake that image?
I went to a local dirt oval track stock car race there when I was 13. Don’t ask me why. Its the only stock car race I’ve ever been to.
by ZoeRochelle on Oct 22, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
There's no pollemica here folks, move along.
Cyclovia: Bogota www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/
Sorry - still irritated that they moved it from February and spoiled my training camp
I mean uh... hasn't that ever occurred to you, man? Sir?
Garchick and I are going to be very close!
by steph- on Oct 22, 2009 1:55 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I wonder how much the ToC will hurt the Giro
The USA is a big market for most cycling team sponsors and insisting that their teams send a quality team to the ToC will probably be high on their agenda. Does this mean that the Giro will become a regional race again where only Italians are going to Giro for the win? What do others think? Does ASO’s involvement with the ToC bring extra pressure for teams to send a competitive team?
If I just had one more gear, I...
Some of the slack-asses using the Giro for Tour prep
might go to Cali instead. Training + making an appearance for the sponsors. It’s a good fit.
+1
That’s what I’m afraid might happen. I would love to go the Giro one day, but I don’t want to go to watch a regional race.
If I just had one more gear, I...
+1 I really hope that doesn't become the case.
My wife really wants to go to Europe sometime within the next few years. I’d like to as well but said the only way I could justify spending all that money would be to attend a few stages of the Giro. She actually favored that angle!
by Spot of Bother on Oct 22, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I'll add to Jens' comments to say
It’s not so much anti-Giro as pro-Tour. It won’t take much away from the Giro as there really isn;t that much in the way of riders doing Tour prep at the Giro: maybe one or two big names a year, tops.
But the ToC will become an early Tour prep and in that light it makes sense that the ToC course is not that hard.
Doesn't ASO
now own an interest in the ToC?
"The road is our agony, but also our daily bread; and at night, when it is deserted and the moon glistens on the asphalt, the ridiculous dreams of racers like us pass up and down it."
--Dino Buzzati
I don't think it's an ownership share
My recollection is that they have a deal with AEG to promote the race in Europe.
That and according to Andy Schleck on CN
It looks like he will be there if possible. If he were to go, Saxo would obviously be sending a good team.
If I just had one more gear, I...
Almost certainly sponsor-determined
Le Shack and Columbia will certainly send fab squads. Sky, who has interests in Italy, would likely send a better team to the Giro than Cali, if they are invited. Liquigas is obvy all Giro, though they have an American bike sponsor, so they frequently send nice teams to the US races. Etc.
It’ll be a mix – some good riders will go each way. But I don’t see the Giro going all regional because of Cali.
Until the last couple of years, the Giro was regional
I’m not saying that the Giro will be back to those days exactly, but a ToC with fantastic weather, great organization, and awesome fans can’t be good for it. From what I hear, I would certainly expect the logistics of the ToC to much better than most other races, in Europe or elsewhere and that certainly has to make an impression on the riders and DSs that will be there.
If I just had one more gear, I...
Why would you
certainly expect the logistics of the ToC to much better than most other races, in Europe or elsewhere
?
There has been rampant complaining for years about the shit food/hotels
That riders have had to deal with in the GTs while there have been many positive comments about the the food/hotels from riders since the ToC’s inception. Maybe I should have specified what exactly I was talking about.
If I just had one more gear, I...
Well smartass
There is a problem for teams that don’t have their own cook with shitty food at hotels in France. Riders have complained about it for years. They tend to rely on food that the hotels can provide and many times the substandard food is not what they need nutrionally for proper recovery/refueling. So, there is a problem with food unless they are going to go find a restaurant and pay out of pocket themselves, which they aren’t going to do because going and tracking down food after a long day on the bike isn’t feasible.
If I just had one more gear, I...
You make it sound like this happens every day to every team
If you really think that is what happens, you are deluded. Sure, there are some bad (or cheap) hotels and every team is bound to encounter one during the 3 weeks w/ a different hotel each night. Especially in villages and with 20 teams + full entourage. So every rider has a story. Still, incidental.
Umm
I think QS gets the runs every time they come to the states. And, the motel accommodations at the ToM were horrible. ToC are a little better…but nothing to brag about.
Tour of Cali
The first year at the Tour of Cali, the race passed through a bunch of high end towns, and the accomadations were well, high end. In one case, there were teams doing it up at the Four Seasons. Kid you not. So, I think the rep of the Tour of Cali having fab hotels and awesome org comes from the first year, when they were actually in high end hotels and there were no transfers.
The more recent editions I’m sure are fine, but not much different than a European race. The transfer from the Bake to Pasadena next year won’t be much better than the average Giro transfer, and could conceivable be much much worse if there’s heavy traffic on the grape vine.
So agreeing with you :-)
and in california the hotel food is better?
Or what? Seriously, i’m asking. And is it american riders complaining about the food or everyone?
Overcooked pasta seems to be a French hotel catering speciality ;-)
You do see a lot of cliched whinging about that from all sorts of riders. But then there’s Cadel’s astonishment at finally getting a bad bowl of pasta in Italy
& I'm not convinced the Giro was all that "regional" either
though obviously it has meant more to Italians to win it & they have frequently done so
If the majority of the ones really focusing on the win are Italians
I would call it regional. Not saying that there aren’t international riders showing up, but the truly elite riders aren’t trying to win most years, the last few excepted.
If I just had one more gear, I...
they're all in the "last few" years which Spun Out was excepting... ;-)
plus I still can’t spell Merckx, tut.
Contador won when he showed up
And so did Menchov. Leipheimer was there for nothing more than training and to help Contador.
If I just had one more gear, I...
Those guys rode every race back in the day
Riders today don’t do that. Since those days are long gone, that’s not valid. You can’t tell me that Cunego was one of the elite GT riders when he won the Giro, no way.
If I just had one more gear, I...
Forgive me
but hang on a minute here.
Examples from the recent past you’ve already excepted/discounted. Examples from the “past” past you’re now also dismissing. So basically, the only the only period that’s relevant in determining whether or not the Giro is or has been a “regional” race corresponds, more or less, to the period when HWMNBN was riding (& winning) exclusively the Tour.
So Lance returns, does the Giro once, lending it an air of international importance, then decides to sod off back to Cali the following year, making it “regional” again, yes?
Actually, in the eyes of a certain audience, you may well be right… ;-)
If the Giro is a regional race
than it’s the greatest regional race EVER. But you have to look at more than GC contenders, the Giro also draws out a lot of interntaional sprinters and all around guys. Yes the Italians go all out for it while the international riders take it more easy because of the Tour, but riders will only be using the ToC to improve form for the Tour in May. They may try to win because it’s less difficult than the Giro, but I doubt any PT rider will go into the year with the ToC win as a major goal(well except Levi of course).
Dammit Elk! I don't care if it's your mating season, you are disturbing my peaceful sleep! Just STFU!
I wonder if thats why the Giro has such a great route this year, as if to say
oh you want to race along side us, well say hello to some gravel roads..oh and some little climbs called Gavia, Mortirolo, Zoncolan, Terminillo and so on…so what you got?
Dammit Elk! I don't care if it's your mating season, you are disturbing my peaceful sleep! Just STFU!
The thing is, if we were to get really serious about proper climbs, we have
HUGE mountains that dwarf most of the climbs in Europe and definitely views that rival them. The one thing we don’t have is the romance and history of the races over here. But, if there were a concerted effort, we could definitely get started on that route.
If I just had one more gear, I...
Well the mountain may be bigger but the roads are far less spectacular
at least here in Colorado, you have huge mountains, with big roads going up them at like 4% grades…quite a yawner.
Dammit Elk! I don't care if it's your mating season, you are disturbing my peaceful sleep! Just STFU!
looks like that
I’m guessing it was difficult to get stage hosts this time. Most local governments don’t have any extra cash these days in Cali to be hosting bike races – the AEG has to foot a lot of the bill and head for spots where it’ll cost less to get the roads. Certainly, they could have gone to Venice with enough cash. In the ‘80s they ran a one-day race straight through the heart of LA, with rolling closures all the way. That’s serious money right there. But that was the ’80s.
I am amazed she was even born
what with that, like, SoCal thingy going on and all I thought she was, like, 19 ZOMG! lolz.
Pasadena to Big Bear via Wrightwood?
That is going to be an entire day in the mountains. No huge gradients I think, but a long, long day riding through all those places that just burned up during the wildfires that you saw on the news.
Yeah, across the ridgeline
and through the burnzone. If the road survives the winter.
That could be problematic. And they will have to hope there is no wind – That ashy shit blows all over the freakin’ place. Yuck.
Atmospheric conditions aside
I think that this stage could be an entertaining one.
You’re right, there’s no nasty gradients in there, but the climbing just goes on and on and on. Perfect for the TT’er who can hang with the climbers but can’t respond to savage attacks on steep stuff.
Also perfect for a stacked team to dish out a death march. Set an unrelenting pace and watch the “couldabeens” and “almosts” get dropped one by one.
"Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill" - Fausto Coppi
Yep
It has potential to be quite fun to watch – and if the weather cooperates, there should be some seriously awesome photo ops. I like this stage a lot. It’s also spectator friendly, because Big Bear is a nice place to hang out with plenty of lodging. Win-win, in my view.
Me, I think they should have sent them across the Pearblossom Highway and up the back side of Big Bear – but I’m cruel that way. And, it would be completely impractical. The climb on the desert side is freakin’ silly, though.
You are mean!
Have the specific details been finalizee yet, or are we just looking at what people think is the “most likely”?
If we assume that they are going to ride around the 120 mile distance then there are a number of ways to get from the Rose Bowl to Big Bear, some tougher than others – but none of them easy.
"Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill" - Fausto Coppi
I think that they are.
Assuming that they take the ‘crest (Highway 2) over Waterman and down into Wrightwood, wouldn’t they then hook up with the 138 to the Rim of the World (18) and just follow that into Big Bear?
I thought that the gang at Steephill.tv (isn’t that you too?) pretty much captured it here The only question was do they go up the 39 to the 2 or hit the 2 straight out of La Canada…
Or is there an even more difficult route?
"Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill" - Fausto Coppi
That portion of 138 is not the Pearblossom highway
Pearblossom doesn’t go that far east. It’s only the part of 138 and 18 north and west of there out on the flat high dessert.
Gav, is the crazy climb from the desert side you are thinking of highway 173?
Right
LOL, i wasn’t being all that specific. You split off the Pearblossom and head toward Victorville, cross the 15, then head out through Apple Valley. Hmm, 173 might be right. I’d have to check a map thingy to be sure. There’s only one option though on that side – it’s on the northeast side of the lake at Big Bear.
they still haven't decided the road
ahem and I quote from the press conference
“Operational & technical guys are recommending that the route goes through the desert after Angeles and then come up the backway, the alternative is to come up the Rim of the World Highway.”
and the roads up Angeles are currently closed from the Station Fire but after consultation with CalTrans, the organizers are optimistic that they will be re-opened.
What I see is the "usual" lack of acceptance of change.
I embrace the TOC’s growth and competition with racing in Europe and I say “about time”. Sure the Giro is one of the major tours I would like to visit one day of all the majors because, hell, it’s Italy. But it just seems natural to me that cycling venues grow in other places just as they did over a hundred years ago, and it is almost inevitable that they compete as well.
No horn, watch for finger.
I think they had found a good niche as an attractive season-opener
I have serious doubts that it will make much of a splash in May. Who is impressed with the label: The NEW Volta a Catalunya?
Time will tell
I might agree
if the parcours was more interesting. Seems to me they haven’t taken much advantage of the better weather May offers. All or large parts of 4 stages are in the Central Valley, one of the flattest places on the planet. And by May it’s already pretty hot there. Headscratcher for sure.
"The road is our agony, but also our daily bread; and at night, when it is deserted and the moon glistens on the asphalt, the ridiculous dreams of racers like us pass up and down it."
--Dino Buzzati
I agree with both of you
I liked it as a season opener, and it does appear that they aren’t using the potential that is there for an amazing course. I hope they have a great vision and are growing this Tour slowly to become a grand tour some day. That really falls under the category of “Time will tell”.
No horn, watch for finger.
I only see one stage in the Central Valley.
1 – Sierra Foothills into the Sacramento Vally
2 – Sacramento Valley into the Coastal Mountains
3 – SF Bay Area
4 – Bay Area to San Joaquin Valley
5 – Central Valley
Parts of 1, 2, 4 and all of 5 — I see your point about differnetiating “Sacramento” and “San Joaquin” Valleys from the Central Valley but they are all of a piece and equally flat. Of those, only #2 doesn’t end in the Valley. 1 is downhill then flat. 4 is over the coast range then flat. 5 is flat flat and more flat. They could do a lot better especially if this is supposed to be a pre-TdF tuneup and is no longer a pre-Spring-Classics tuneup. I suspect gavia is right about the state’s (and municipalities’)financial problems having an effect.
"The road is our agony, but also our daily bread; and at night, when it is deserted and the moon glistens on the asphalt, the ridiculous dreams of racers like us pass up and down it."
--Dino Buzzati
Us folks in Sacramento consider the Central Valley to be south of Merced or so
But as far as the heat goes, it doesn’t matter. Its hotter the further north you go. That Nevada City to Sacramento stage could be 105F and bone dry or 65F and raining. Never can tell in May.
It makes me laugh when people say it won’t rain in California in May. They could be in for a rude awakening.
and us folks in the Bay Area
consider everything east of Fairfield to be in Nebraska :)
Seriously though, I’ve never heard anyone differentiate the difference in the Valley between Redding and Bakersfield. It’s all just “the valley”… aka the place you have to suffer through to get to Tahoe.
Tickets are bought, Belgium here I come!
I hope I haven't insulted
I will cop to having, more or less, the Bay Area perspective jsallee00 describes… although as a transplanted midwesterner I am sensitive to the flyover mentaility.
"The road is our agony, but also our daily bread; and at night, when it is deserted and the moon glistens on the asphalt, the ridiculous dreams of racers like us pass up and down it."
--Dino Buzzati
Stupid NEWB question:
Is this thing gonna be on TV? I live in CT and am in no danger of making it out to physically watch the race.
DannoE
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
Versus had it live last year and I believe they have already announced live cov for next year
no doubt now with Lance riding.
Dammit Elk! I don't care if it's your mating season, you are disturbing my peaceful sleep! Just STFU!
I would bet he rides the ToC
Because Columbia is a US company, the team is a California based team, Cav’s big goal next year will be the green jersey at the Tour, and that is all I can think of right now…
But he lives in Italy right? He seemed to love riding the Giro last year
and it helped him get in the form to win 6 stages at the Tour, I say he does Italy and Greipel Cali.
Dammit Elk! I don't care if it's your mating season, you are disturbing my peaceful sleep! Just STFU!
He does live in Italy & he's a pretty big star over there.
They seem to like him very much &, ahem, recent developments will doubtless add to that. My one doubt though is that he has practically no chance of ciclamino in the Giro & while I’m not terribly sure this is exactly the Tour parcours for an attempt at green, if that’s his priority… but maybe he’ll do two weeks of the Giro again or whatever. No one seemed to mind terribly his pulling out.
He will probably pull out of the race before the Zoncolan
the first 2 weeks of the race are actually quite sprinter friendly, the last 8 or so stages are by no means sprinter friendly.. Well according to the rumors which are very solid, we will know for sure tomorrow.
Dammit Elk! I don't care if it's your mating season, you are disturbing my peaceful sleep! Just STFU!
Rider logistics will be key...
Personally, my take is that if anything, a May date confirms the ToC as a regional race, rather than the other way around. Almost all top level racers are based in Europe int he summer. and I think many of those will look at the round-the-world flight, and think, thanks, but no thanks.
Also, best will in the world, the ToC is not a GT. I suspect the ToC will end up seeing decent squads from genuinely US based teams, plus a few (but not many) riders who want to do warm up racing and / or have sponsor commitments. Plus, from the Parcours, it looks like the climbers would be better off doing Euro races with proper hills in them.
Those tuning up for the TdF have better / more historic / more local races to do it at.
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