The Race of Truth: Solvang, ATOC Stage 6 ITT PRE Race Thread

by ursula on Feb 20, 2009 3:00 AM EST Comment 77 comments

Oh boy! This is getting great!

I find this course close to perfect. Its short (good for this time of the year) but it does what its supposed to do: separate out the General Classification. The path varies all the time in it's 24 kilometers, thus presenting a little bit of everything for the competitors. Not only are there no fluke winners here but no one in the top 20 gets there by luck. Riders who do well here will do well on other TT courses the rest of the year. Add in a big crowd (thanks Lance) and the Podium Cafe party and we've got ourselves an instant high point to the Pro cycling pre-season.

So let's get down to brass tacks- the riders. Just look at these guys-

The Players

Levi Leipheimer- The two-time champ on this course defends his title. Both previous years he's had competitors breathing down his neck for the GC and each time he extended his lead. Of course the guy's no slouch when it comes to TT's anyway. Bronze medalist at last year's Olympics, 4th in the Worlds TT, winners of past TTs at the Tour and Vuelta, etc. He's a stud when it comes to the clock.

Dave Zabriskie- Defending US ITT champ, finished 5th at Solvang a year ago, 1:15 down to Levi. 3rd at last year's Worlds, 12th at the Olympics among many, many great races against the clock. Down 28 seconds to Levi for the GC. he's motivated.

Mick Rogers- three time World ITT champ, was 11th here two years ago. 8th in the Olympics, 12th at the Worlds, in 2nd place on GC here, just 24 seconds down.

Thomas Lovkvist- another dude 38 seconds back. Kid's career is littered with superior TT efforts.

Danger Men

Gustav Erik Larsson- 5th at Worlds. Silver medalist at the Olympics. No one should be surprised if he wins.

Lance Armstrong- 'nuff said. In 4th, 30 seconds down.

Jens! - His '07 effort, 2nd place, was the closest anyone's come to Levi so far. You know he's capable of bustin' out a huge effort. Currently in 12th place, 40 seconds down.

Svein Tuft- 2nd at Worlds, 7th at the Olympics; the Canadian champion. He's beaten everyone in this field last September; can he do it again?

Christian Vandevelde- 3rd last year here.

Chris Horner- just 34 seconds down, has looked very strong all week, including saving Astana's collective backsides on stage one. Finished 14th last year.

Jani Brajkovivc- finished in 5th place at Solvang last year. 38 seconds down. Definitely likes this course.

Vincenzo Nibali- also 38 seconds back. 1st time at Solvang, can pull out some great time trial efforts.

Ivan Basso- aka Nibali's teammate. Has been known to TT like a demon. 9th year two years ago as Levi's teammate.

The Locals

Ben Jaques-Maynes- 9th last year at Solvang. Looking for the stage win that he missed in Santa Cruz.

Tom Zirbel- 8th last year

Floyd Landis- won the Cali TT the first year when it was in San Jose. Deadly serious TT history and with a so far disappointing race would dearly love to win this thing.

Others could surprise too: Stef Clement, Bobo Gesink (20th last year), and Ben Day to name three. Who do you like?

Poll

5 votes

136 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I'm going Adam Hansen Baby!!!!!

Ok his team mate Mick is in for GC, but Adam is pissed about his last TT ride, so he will be out to show he still has it..

C’mon Adam, wear the Black Bibs!!

We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950

by CycleGirl on Feb 20, 2009 3:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not a chance CG...

….Adam has been spewin his ring up all week and hasn’t even been able to take his rightful place in the Team Columbia lead out train. He’s been pushing the envelope just to stay with them at the end of each stage and is over 30 minutes down on GC….then again, he could have got better.
I’m going HWMNBM by two seconds over Dave Z, six seconds over Dodger with Little Levi riding well but slowing over the final km to finish 30 seconds down in fourth….should make for an intersting weekend :-)
Then again….if there’s snow you gotta go Tuft.

errrr....am i supposed to sign this??

by Flatbagger on Feb 20, 2009 7:00 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

i'm go for

Mick Rogers

by semprenaroda on Feb 20, 2009 7:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

So looking forward to this!

Only problem is, I have to watch and write a report on a Basque pelota match too, which will clash…..I sense multiple windows open and high concentration being needed!

by Albertina on Feb 20, 2009 7:18 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

what's a pelota match?

Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.

by Frinking on Feb 20, 2009 7:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

better than a pelota mis-match.

It’s when you get the odd ones that things start to get ugly.

by Ed K on Feb 20, 2009 9:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ha!

by Albertina on Feb 20, 2009 9:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's a Basque sport superficially a bit like squash but in a 36m long court

and where you hit the ball with your hands, and there’s no wall on the right hand side. It’s huge in the Basque Country but there’s a surprising number of fans in other countries if you start looking. There are other modalities of it too, like jai alai, the world’s fastest ball game, where the ball is propelled in long scoop shaped baskets. I write articles on the hands only version for a blog, here:
http://frontonnews.wordpress.com/ The ones which say ‘mano pairs’ at the start of the title are mine (there’s a big pairs championship going on at the moment-it’s the crucial weekend of the first round!).

by Albertina on Feb 20, 2009 9:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They did that by Jack-Ass!

A long time ago but never got the game…

Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.

by Frinking on Feb 20, 2009 10:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ooo, just realised the pelota game doesn't start until 23.25! Saved.

They do things so very late in southern Europe.

by Albertina on Feb 20, 2009 11:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Boy, they're strict in Pelota-school

by Jens on Feb 20, 2009 8:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

so looking forward to this too!

of ursula’s top four, i’ll go with Mick, which might be a tad sentimental. of the danger men, i’ll go with my VDS boys, Larsson or Tuft. if it’s one of these three, i’ll be pleased with myself for even getting that close to calling it.

by nicknorco on Feb 20, 2009 11:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

oops

forgot i subbed out Larsson – maybe i should reconsider…

by nicknorco on Feb 20, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Start list

Here. Btw, I’ve heard that the forecasts says very local rain. Luckily, only certain spectators might be affected.

Bork, bork, bork!

by TheFigurehead on Feb 20, 2009 9:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

LL

Levi is the obvious choice, so I went for Dave Z instead. I’d love to see Floyd do well, but I just don’t think he’s there right now.

by johnw on Feb 20, 2009 10:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I wonder who that one vote for Christian is?

Heh.

by ZoeRochelle on Feb 20, 2009 11:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Keep pondering Zoe.

I’m of course hoping C has a great ride and will be thrilled if he smokes them all but I’m cheering really loudly for the Z-man today!

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Feb 20, 2009 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm... looking around. Wonder who?

by ZoeRochelle on Feb 20, 2009 12:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm on the Dave Z train too

At least sentimentally.

by Ed K on Feb 20, 2009 12:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i 'wondered' the same thing!

enjoy the race, nikki!

by cg. on Feb 20, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just saw this pic of Robbie Ventura with Bob Roll before the Versus clean-up. Bob is a wild man!

Source: http://twitter.com/RobbieVentura/status/1216525027

by ZoeRochelle on Feb 20, 2009 11:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

yikes!

by nicknorco on Feb 20, 2009 12:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Saw Robbie at Ironman Canada last year.

He is definitely stating in shape and had a kick ass bike time!

by Teel22 on Feb 20, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and

he looks WAY better than Bobke…

by nicknorco on Feb 20, 2009 12:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My pick today is

Gustav Eric Larsson.

by Teel22 on Feb 20, 2009 11:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

my vote is for lance...

(to win that contest from last week or so…)
i just see it as so him (w his eye for PR) to take his first win on US soil.

by cg. on Feb 20, 2009 12:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Chris.. When Lance won the Amgen I love cancer jerset..

Did the Lance weiin question thing ended?

Some say the best things in life, are one the inside.

by Frinking on Feb 20, 2009 12:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

To those of you at the AToCA, have a blast today and post as much as you can!

I’m so jealous. I’ll be surreptuously viewing it while at work, then am going to scoot home at 4pm CST to crack open a Chimay or three for the finish.

How is the weather?

Take lots of pictures! Have Fun! Viel Spaß !!!!!!!!

"It's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'nuclear' " --Seth Meyers

by Ruthann on Feb 20, 2009 1:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Any idea why Lance starts after DZ?

My pick would be Levi, b/c he’s so jacked and its February.
DZ is always a sentimental fav, but only Canc can seem to crank it up this early in the year.

by pooziepie on Feb 20, 2009 1:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs