Versus ATOC Preview

by Chief Commissaire on Feb 7, 2009 6:56 PM EST Comment 45 comments

Versus delivered a solid chunk of cycling Saturday, capped off by its Amgen Tour of California preview program.

Some initial thoughts:

- This year's race is going to be hard. There is a lot of climbing. Let me repeat: there is a lot of climbing.

- The line-up of talent is stacked (which we already knew). But we also heard Lance Armstrong say he'll be happy to work for Levi Leipheimer because Levi "obsesses" about the Tour of California (Lance's words, not mine).

- Did anybody else realize Jelly Belly is now the longest-running domestic team (10 years and counting)?

- Craig Hummer (who did the voiceover) conveniently didn't mention that Floyd Landis was sidelined for two years by a doping violation and not simply a hip resurfacing surgery.

- Rock Racing got more than the 10-second mention it received on last year's show (after not getting any mention in the official race guide produced by VeloNews).

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Climbing?

But will said climbing decide the race? Create time gaps?

by ursula on Feb 7, 2009 7:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not the stuff I saw

At least for the early stages much of the climbing is front loaded, leaving plenty of time for things to come back together.

Though I do need to look at the later stages to see if that trend changes.

"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."

Tom Boonen

by Drew... on Feb 9, 2009 11:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Don’t think the climbing will be decisive, but it may eliminate a few riders. The guys with a chance to win will probably all make it okay. Overall, it’s a more selective race than before, but I tend to think the crono will still be key in making the difference among the top guys.

by gavia on Feb 9, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have to say I enjoyed my afternoon of Versus today.

Started with the TDU wrap, had a Lance bit, and then the TOC preview. A nice couple hours of Versus for sure. Add into that the 50+ degrees we had today and it was one very nice day. :-) I think almost all our snow even melted. Pretty funny watching folks (myself included) running about with just sweaters and such. You’d think it was Spring here. (Hey Ruthann – I hope you’re getting some of this!)

I kept thinking when they kept showing the bit of Lance saying Levi obsesses on this one… “what does Levi have to say?” Levi has said this is a race he goes after but I’m not sure he’s ever phrased it quite like that. I will enjoy watching Lance’s coming back if he truly does take the role of super domestique. I’m thinking that may not last long though. The man drives for that focus, not fetching bottles.

Being a fan of the Jelly Belly guys and Danny Van Haute, I’m happy they got a couple props today. Here’s the lnk from Jelly Belly and they appear pretty proud of their sponsorship and of course the Team’s Blog.

I found it interesting too that Flyod’s and even Basso’s returning was not mentioned from doping (related) reasons. The way they spun it on Floyd, for someone not following cycling, they’d think it was the hip and not the doping case. If this preview was out there to help draw more people to watch the race, discussing doping would cause most to turn an ear off possibly so I can see why they left that term out of the preview.

I’m excited to get to see it this year and what a year to be making the trip! Very jealous of you getting to follow it all week!

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

by nikki on Feb 7, 2009 8:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I immediately caught the Landis and Basso non-mention of doping suspensions.

It was a nice team preview. I missed the first 35 minutes that highlighted the stages I assume. My TiVo didn’t record it for some reason and I didn’t turn it on until half way through.

I have a “record all cycling keyword shows” wishlist so Versus must not have tagged it as cycling or TiVo would have caught it. Missed the entire Lance comeback special as well. Very frustrating.

by ZoeRochelle on Feb 8, 2009 2:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Me too

Does anyone know if/when there is a re-broadcast?

by MavicMoto on Feb 8, 2009 9:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not sure it will be but check out Versus online.

They might have the video up there or times listed if they will show it again.

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

by nikki on Feb 8, 2009 10:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't see a replay time. Grrr..

by ZoeRochelle on Feb 8, 2009 9:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tivo failed me too

And I am not happy… No replay either according to my Tivo, which has proven that it cannot be trusted. But it already has all the ToC stages loaded up and ready to record so who knows…

Where the #@&$ is my Time?

by Jimbo... on Feb 8, 2009 10:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have it recorded and could put it on a cd and send it to you

but I’m not sure I could get it to you before you head out for the race itself. If want me to try, I can record it over and drop it in the mail on Tuesday.

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

by nikki on Feb 8, 2009 11:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Nikki

No need to go to that trouble. I was just whining… See you in Solvang! Bring your drinkin’ boots.

Where the #@&$ is my Time?

by Jimbo... on Feb 8, 2009 11:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dropped you an email last night babe.

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

by nikki on Feb 9, 2009 11:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I Suspect...

…that the special was “sanitized” by AEG in order to cast the participating cities and sponsors in the best possible light.

Of course, there will be no such editorializing by the news media. Even VeloNews (publisher of the official race guide) has already taken issue with the race organization’s claim that this year’s event “has the greatest field ever assembled in our country.”

by Chief Commissaire on Feb 8, 2009 2:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

VeloNews says

there’s no question that the three world road championships held on this side of the Atlantic have drawn the hottest lists of starters in North American history.

Well, yeah. Obviously the most elite riders are going to show up at the Worlds, no matter where they’re held. Even so, VeloNews cheated: they switched Amgen’s “ever assembled in the United States” to “ever assembled in North America” so they could point to two World Championships held in Canada.

Whether it’s the bestest ever or not, the startlist for California is amazing. I can’t wait.

Google is my domestique.

by majope on Feb 8, 2009 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I cannot describe

how sad I was to find out that the world championships were held just down the street from me in Hamilton. If only I had found this beautiful sport a year earlier. *sigh

by Hons on Feb 8, 2009 1:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just read on the ctv website

that their coverage is available for viewers in the US, and I believe they are showing every stage live, which is good because Versus isn’t carrying the weekend stages live.

"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

by Phil H. on Feb 8, 2009 3:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

wonder who's doing the commentary, since brian's suppose to be doing eurosport

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Feb 9, 2009 9:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

maggie to be in the booth

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Feb 9, 2009 9:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

weather seems to be heading into a rainy pattern

Good news for Cali, not so good for bike racers. Could change completely though by the time we get to race day.

by gavia on Feb 9, 2009 11:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

More importantly

how will it affect the surf?

"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."

Tom Boonen

by Drew... on Feb 9, 2009 12:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lol :-)

hit and miss. depends on how close the storms are to the coast. this weekend? yucky sloppy.

by gavia on Feb 9, 2009 12:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That perfectly describes my first ride outside in 6 weeks yesterday

Pros – sunny, 50 degrees

Cons – sustained 20mph wind with frequent gusts over 30. 300 meters of dry pavement in 42k of riding.

It was one of the more bizarre rides I’ve had. Had to dress like it was 30 degrees, had a tailwind for 10 out of 90 minutes of riding, the rest of the time was a bit of headwind and tons of cross wind.

Very much a Flemish day, but still nice to be outside finally. I’m sure Hons still has snow past the first floor window.

"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."

Tom Boonen

by Drew... on Feb 9, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lol, pretty much what surfing was like this weekend!

great for a bit, then really windy, then windy the other way, then…

eh, good to get outside anyway :-)

by gavia on Feb 9, 2009 1:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If you could guarantee that I wouldn't

be eaten by a carnivorous fish, I would love to take a crack at surfing. Seems excellent training for leg and core strength.

"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."

Tom Boonen

by Drew... on Feb 9, 2009 1:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lol, here whitey whitey come get some drew :-P

Well, the odds are about the same as being struck by lightening, apparently. I’ve lived on the coast in Cali for pretty much my whole life and never seen a shark of man-eating proportions. Of course, I haven’t gone swimming in San Simeon with the elephant seals either. There are some spots you want to avoid, but in the normal way of things, it’s pretty safe to paddle out.

Great back and ab work-out. Too much surfing will really f-ck your strength to weight, natch, cuz you have to paddle. Short-boarding is a heavy leg workout – and oddly has little relationship to riding bikes. More of a power move, I guess. Great for balance, though. The hardest thing from riding bikes, actually, is the feet. On the bike, the feets don’t do anything but sit there strapped to carbon. On the board they have to balance and steer and the leetle toes have to grab on. File under oddities ;-)

by gavia on Feb 9, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know the odds are long but......

just the thought of family having to explain “oh, he was eaten by a shark” is so embarassing it would keep me on the beach.

I’m at the top of the food chain for a reason, and I intend to stay there.

"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."

Tom Boonen

by Drew... on Feb 9, 2009 3:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Drew...

Are you telling us you’re afraid of going into the Ocean?

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

by nikki on Feb 9, 2009 7:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nope - love the ocean

as long as it doesn’t get deeper than 10 feet deep. After that all sorts of horrible things can come up from underneath you and swallow you whole.

Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies………….

"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."

Tom Boonen

by Drew... on Feb 9, 2009 10:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

bahahaha!

I used to do a ton of open water swimming. I grew up in La Jolla – there’s a undersea canyon over 1000 ft deep not too far offshore. Not sure I ever really swam over that thing, but eh…

We’ll go surf a point break – nice shallow happy water :-)

by gavia on Feb 9, 2009 10:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You're on!

"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."

Tom Boonen

by Drew... on Feb 10, 2009 4:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You do know Drew that means you need to get to CA at some point, right?!?

I can’t believe you are blowing us off next week. (hugs and kisses – I get the job thingy)

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

by nikki on Feb 10, 2009 7:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's breaking my heart, believe me

"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."

Tom Boonen

by Drew... on Feb 11, 2009 9:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Someone hired Drew?

These kinds of stories are heartwarming . There are kind people everywhere.

by Jens on Feb 11, 2009 10:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just for that

I put Lovkvist on my VDS team.

"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."

Tom Boonen

by Drew... on Feb 11, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Jens. And I was looking at him on my team.

Now I have to rework the team. Drew, honey, can you pleeeeeeease let me know who else you are going to pull from my list? I’d like to at least give them a shot with the new season.

Hey Jens…. I didn’t mention “what” the job thingy was so you can leave that wide open to the imagination and feel free to have some fun with it. Although it is a very sweet move and one that suits him super well. :-)

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

by nikki on Feb 11, 2009 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

VERSUS has the Preview Show up on its website

http://www.versus.com/cyclysm

Well, sort of, but its in 2 minute segments so if you start with one titled “2009 Tour of California Preview Show” the videos play in order and you get basically the preview show. It has teams previews and the stages.

by ZoeRochelle on Feb 9, 2009 2:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs