Amgen Tour of California Stage Four - Live!
by Sui Juris on Feb 18, 2009 2:05 PM EST
in Live Races
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Merced to Clovis, here we go!
[UPDATE] Chris here, was just putting up a post, so I'll merge that one here.
OK, we're not kicking off til 11am I believe, but what the hey. Today's stage from Merced to Clovis sounds an awful lot like a section of the Central Valley freeway system, i.e. devoid of any incline, and maybe even with a tailwind. But no, the course itself consists of pretending the peloton is off to visit Yosemite instead, before turning south just short of the park boundary. There is a fair amount of climbing on tap, from nearly sea level to just shy of 4,000 feet, but it's not all at once and it's all downhill from about mile 75 (of 115). Best bet: a sprint finish, though who's on hand to contest it depends on how the legs are feeling.
Which should be: good. After all, the sun is expected to make its 2009 ATOC debut today, though that won't solve all the riders' concerns. There is sure to be enough moisture left in the system for that 4,000'-high air to pack a serious chill. Look for the golden fleece to show up sometime in the last hour, once the black vests are put away for the day. But it's a step in the right direction, and the forecast for Visalia tomorrow is 65 and sunny. No whining!
Oh, and the passing storms have apparently left high seas in their wake. Translation: the silence from Gavia today will be deafening...
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you had a post? really, you?
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Someone's hot on the editing button :)
I tried to eliminate my own story but someone already sanctioned it… with extreme prejudice! :)
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
11:08 PST
We’ve heard that there is still snow and ice on the road surface on the way up the fourth and final KOM. However, organizers are at work plowing the road, so hopefully it will be clear by the time the riders arrive in several hours.
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Wow
fun descent?
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 18, 2009 2:20 PM EST up reply actions
Can we petition for a Columbia-High Road
kit change? I just can’t take the fugliness, and I like them too much to just ignore it.
Heh
Ignore my post too. I merged it with this one.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 18, 2009 2:19 PM EST reply actions
CN
11:08 PST
We’ve heard that there is still snow and ice on the road surface on the way up the fourth and final KOM. However, organizers are at work plowing the road, so hopefully it will be clear by the time the riders arrive in several hours.
It's life, Jim, but not as we know it...
… not as we know it…
… not as we know it…
… not as we know it…
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
"Eventually it is going to break and we will have a break"
couldn’t have said that better myself Frankie
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
Hi all
I know I asked this before a few weeks ago (is that when TdUnder was ? time flies) , but here again: does stage distance usually not include the neutral zone?
For example today is 188km plus the neutral ?
At least we'd get a few laughs if Mancrush was doing the commentary.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
update
11:35 PST 7.5mi/108.3mi to go
The riders are travelling at 30 miles per hour. We’ve got some good news from the final climb. Race organizers have cleared the road on the last KOM, so the race is officially cleared to go up and over it. A special shout out goes to Eric Smith and his Madera County crew for clearing the course. They’ve been at it since midnight.
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
would they stop calling him Frank Mathias
his name is Mathias Frank
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
They miss the rain
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
Bwahahaha...
Did anyone see the dog?
Bork, bork, bork!
by TheFigurehead on Feb 18, 2009 2:48 PM EST up reply actions
I still have to get used to race video being available
Last couple of years I lived on Curaçao and internet was too slow to see any of the fun. Now I can participate in live threads. Will it get any better than this?
and it's called sporza or rai
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
rai use to be a lot better...
or, rather, raisport…
gw and ronde in italian a few years ago
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
much....
wait until the giro
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
I can actually go watch de Ronde live :-)
But the coverage on television is good too so I’ll probably do that. Europe is so the place to be :-)
doesn't he always?
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Big George has bike issues
now it really feels like April
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
anyone know how to get rid of the new comments box,
that keeps appearing in my window,
I went to my “edit settings”,
and clicked on NO, for
" Live update comment threads with new comments"
and that only seemed to block all new comments?
he's back in the pack
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
renshaw goes next
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
5 man break
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
and all together again...
time for camp songs
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
bruce gap
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
ha...
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
CNews says
There are five total KOMs, and while they are “only” categories 3 and 4, it’s not like those are the only climbs of the day. The stage’s profile is very jagged — excepting the first 15 miles and the last 15 miles, the stage is constantly up or down
I propose that all KOM jerseys in ever race
are polka dot – the races can pick the color – but polka dots rule
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
hehe
you forget I have a polka dot jersey wherethe dots are marmottes …. ;)
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
Already soooo much better than yesterday
I hope the fireworks continue all day!
"....Up Sestriere on a rental clunker in jeans and loafers? Brother, lemme buy you a beer."
by Rolls on Feb 18, 2009 3:08 PM EST reply actions
Very disjointed this morning...
… absolute craziness.
PS: The SexyBack jersey looks like FdJ on streaming video.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
Hah.
That was a 5% grade and they were doing 26 mph on it. Mortals can’t do that. Lotta energy today.
"....Up Sestriere on a rental clunker in jeans and loafers? Brother, lemme buy you a beer."
by Rolls on Feb 18, 2009 3:15 PM EST reply actions
It's in the data on the tourtracker thingy, just above the video window
And I’m liking it!
"....Up Sestriere on a rental clunker in jeans and loafers? Brother, lemme buy you a beer."
by Rolls on Feb 18, 2009 3:19 PM EST up reply actions
Lol
Yes, way more extraterrestrial than me and most all other peeps, that’s for sure!
"....Up Sestriere on a rental clunker in jeans and loafers? Brother, lemme buy you a beer."
by Rolls on Feb 18, 2009 3:21 PM EST up reply actions
On the Amgen Tour Tracker
I keep eyeing the great side roads on the map at right
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
There are some gorgeous rides out there...
… for either the gasoline or lactic acid powered variety of rider. I’ve been all over the roads they are on today and it is breathtakingly beautiful.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
This isn't even the good part yet! Just wait until they make the turn onto HWY 49...
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
Look at how green it is! So beautiful...
… and that soil really is that red.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
Okay to be fair
the gps thing on the TourTracker is pretty sweet
Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia) abandons
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
The coverage is great
It’s fun to see the “developing” part of the race
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
Fantastic! Should be just about the time VS drops their coverage...
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
Do you guys see all that yellow chalk on the roads?
Livestrong was handing out boxes and boxes of that yellow road chalk at the Prologue, I imagine they’ve been doing it at each stage. That’s a phenomenal amount of chalk! Holy hell!
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
Am I the only one enjoying watching LA doing work on behalf of another team mate?
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
I told him.
On Saturday, I told Lance to ride for Levi as he road past with the team for their second pre-ride of the prologue course.
You’re welcome.
:P :P
There's a group that will be going along these somewhat deserted roads...
… recovering all the empty gel packs and water bottles right? RIGHT!!?! It’s not like we have TdF crowds lining the roads for every scrap to sell on eBay.
Crashdan – making love to the State of California.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
In TdG (our smaller race), there were people
trolling for ebay scraps… A Rock Racing musette went for over $100. (OK, so I only tried to do that on one stage – and got nothing but a few water bottles.)
spray paint it pink and ship to Switzreland
and I will make an offer ;)
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
I need to start picking these things up
$100 for a musette? Man. I could make more recycling the stuff I trip over than selling photos, at some races.
ctv live now
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
major news there
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
What will happen if we cross the streams?
The end of the world?
Just spinning the pedals in the hills of Western Maryland
Try
to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.
After a couple of messy attempts while riding,
I now pull over for pee breaks
(did I say this out loud?)
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
shows not much respect (in a professional way) for the break though
shows break not thraetening to be more precise
Mancebo in the break
Astana’s gonna hammer it up the climbs, I guess
Also, hello there. This is the first day I’ve been able to make it on to watch.
Fill me in
Who’s in the break? Changin tires for the Essor Basque tomorrow…
CTT
Will they keep some of their powder dry for the rest of the season or will they spend everything in the early season races?
Hi, dudes and dudettes! Just checking in, how is everyone doing today?
Wow, it’s sunny in CA today. Let’s see: for the first time ever i thnk i can ID the breakaway riders….Mancebo, Hamilton, McCartney and …
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
Serge Pauwels (Cervélo TestTeam)
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Ah. Thank you! :-)
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
gap 1.35
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Mancebo at start today was at 1 min off Levi's GC lead , McCartney at 14 min
Tyler at 30 min
Pauwels at 36 min
Because
he looks like Ron Jeremy?
"....Up Sestriere on a rental clunker in jeans and loafers? Brother, lemme buy you a beer."
by Rolls on Feb 18, 2009 3:55 PM EST up reply actions
Wha?
You dont like horrible 70’s porno with lots of back hair and wah-wah/farfisa bad funk music?
"....Up Sestriere on a rental clunker in jeans and loafers? Brother, lemme buy you a beer."
by Rolls on Feb 18, 2009 3:58 PM EST up reply actions
O/T How the hell is Bruce getting a BruceGap from the AToC?
I mean, he’s on the other side of the world from CA and we are right here, in the same country, fergawdsake. Right? Right? Bruce, do you have Special Powers that you have not told us about yet?
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
...or you'll have to watch Finnish music videos
Bork, bork, bork!
by TheFigurehead on Feb 18, 2009 3:53 PM EST up reply actions
I would like to officially thank
all russians, tactically inept swedish kings, traitorous noblemen and rebelling hordes that were helpful in separating Finland from Sweden. May your efforts never be forgotten.
Here is the answer...
Bruce lives in Finland… which is north of the “Present Event” horizon.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
whoa dude where the %$#@(!!! did you get that so quickly ! are you part of the Brucegap conspiracy !
No... I'm not part of the Brucegap conspiracy...
… I’m part of the Hong Kong Cavaliers and we’ve given Bruce the Oscillation Overthruster.
Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.
all your questions answered at
brucegap.com
twitter.com/brucegap
tracker.amgentourofcalifornia.com/brucegap
Bwah! LOL You guys slay me!
"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers
Hahaha!!! :D
No insults to our music please, we are embarrassed enough. Easy for you Swedes when you have ABBA after all….
