Nature Valley: Behind The Scenes

by Chief Commissaire on Jun 14, 2009 9:13 PM EDT

While Lyne was delivering all the action from the Great White North during the Tour de Beauce, Team Type 1's blog was chock-full of behind-the-scenes content from the Nature Valley Grand Prix. Billed as the "Minnesota Bicycle Festival," this National Racing Calendar event annually draws huge crowds to the Minneapolis area.

This year was no different. The action was compelling on both the men's and women's sides – right down to the final minutes of racing. Kristin Armstrong made it four straight, but not without a fight. And defending champion Rory Sutherland (OUCH) pulled off a stunning upset over Bissell's Tom Zirbel on the final stage.

Check out Team Type 1's blog for some interesting video. And don't forget the official race site, either.

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I was at the Friday night men’s crit, not exactly my favourite kind of racing – a 1-hr race around a very short, flat circuit – but it was cool to see nonetheless. There was a pretty good crowd, it was held in one of the trendier neighbourhoods of Minneapolis. Literally everyone was talking about Landis – trying to identify him as the peloton sped by, crowing around the OUCH team van after the race to see him, etc. A nice event, hope it sticks around for a while!

by plinytheelder on Jun 14, 2009 11:52 PM EDT reply actions

that's my trendy neighborhood!

The race went right by my apartment building.

My neighbors down at the corner had a race-viewing party in their front yard, which was a lot of fun. I had been planning to go to Stillwater for Sunday’s stage, but I got lazy and decided not to make the drive. The Stillwater stage is the best one to watch, because the circuit includes a really steep hill climb.

by Susie Hartigan on Jun 15, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Cool – I think I walked right past you guys ;)

By the way there are some photos of the Stillwater stage, and that climb, at one of the links provided by Chief Commissaire above – seems like the race was won on that hill, Rory Sutherland attacked Tom Zirbel.

by plinytheelder on Jun 15, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

What would be awesome if there were pictures of riders posing by Teddy Bear Park.

Mon coeur appartient à les forçats de la route.

by Josenka on Jun 15, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I made it to the wednesday night event in St. Paul. Again hadn’t really seen a pro crit before but they were just flying around these corners. Got a couple of pictures of Floyd driving the peleton. Very fun event and great crowds throughout. Lots of hard work goes into this locally to put on this event.

by ncmussell on Jun 15, 2009 9:02 AM EDT reply actions

The Wed. TT (I think it was Wed.?) must have been interesting to see, sounds like they went flying up that hill on Ohio St. – kind of embarrassing as I ride up that hill all the time and struggle to make it up in my lowest gear ;)

by plinytheelder on Jun 15, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

The Time Trial finish...

It was sparsely populated. The only major local media I spotted there was Channel 9. I presume it was the time of day and weather that caused that even though it is (sadly/) enjoyable to watch riders pass each other on the steep inclines.

Mon coeur appartient à les forçats de la route.

by Josenka on Jun 15, 2009 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Can You Imagine...

…what the crowds would have been like had all the stages on the weekdays been in the morning? That’s why the race organizers should be credited for the late afternoon and evening starts – plenty of big crowds at the races Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night.

by Chief Commissaire on Jun 17, 2009 1:45 AM EDT up reply actions

I was out of town this past weekend, family committments, and didn't get a chance to

go see any of the stages at all. Last year we went to the Stillwater crit, and it was fantastic.

What really kills me is the Kristin Armstrong won for the 4th time this year, and for the 2nd year running (at least as far as I can tell) she did it alone, with no team. God, what a magnificent racer she is, I will miss her. “In boca al luppo” to her in the Giro Femininale coming up..

And I just have to mention this: last year, as I watched the race, there was this really cute little family (mom, dad, three almost-teenage kids) all watching the women’s race next to me. Kristin Armstrong was about 3 blocks ahead of all the other racers for the entire race. I heard them wondering who she was, and (being the nice kinda person I am :-P) I told them all about her. My last words were, “Remember where you heard this first, because Kristin Armstrong is going to win a Gold Medal in Beijing, you mark my words.” Well, they were pretty impressed with Kristin at the time, and probably thought I was crazy, but I hope they remembered where they heard it first when August came ’round…

by Ruthann on Jun 15, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions

a mystery(?)..

It’s orange, young and rides with light speed?

Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Frining "It's what he thinks.. But he always do.. I eat my shoe if he ride top 15 in le Tour" about Devolder

by Frinking on Jun 15, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I Wish I Had A Dollar...

…for every time someone asked me if she was Lance’s ex-wife. Uh, no.

by Chief Commissaire on Jun 17, 2009 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Giro Donne

Stages and teams.

Schedule: 3-12 July (prologue + 9 stages). Stage 1 mountainous, stage 2 ITT, stage 3 mountain top finish, stage 4 circuit 4x 27.3 km, stage 7 uphill finish, stage 9 circuit 8x 13.9 km.

Oh all right, here ya go, participants from US of A: Katherine Carroll, Lauren Tamayo, Brooke Miller, Meredith Miller, Janel Holcomb, Shelley Olds, Amber Rais, Katheryn Curi Mattis (National Team), Liz Hutch [ha!] (System Data), Kristin Armstrong (Cervélo), Mara Abbott, Kim Anderson (Columbia Highroad), Amber Neben (Nürnberger),

by tedvdw on Jun 17, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions