U.S. Pro Championships: Preview? Anyone?

by itswells on Aug 27, 2009 10:57 AM EDT Comment 51 comments

Last year I was all gung-ho and stuff on-account-a I was actually going to the race and what not, so I painstakingly built my very first RR Preview post. This year, Q.T. with the family prevents that, but since I see noone has mentioned it, I figured I'd throw a thread out there to document some thoughts.

cyclingnews has a startlist here.

pdf of Road Race here with downtown circuits here.

pdf of TT here.

UPDATE: If anyone has links to tickers or video or whatever...let me know and I'll add them here.

Update #1: Podium Insight will have coverage courtesy of Lyne. Follow her tweets @podiuminsight.

My quick thoughts are these:

1) Last year, Garmin was loaded and failed. In retrospect, I believe the plan was to work for Danny Pate the whole time.

2) Garmin looks like it still has the team that can deliver Pate, but

3) BMC is riding with form and motivation AND with Hincapie's future move, I think they might be the team to beat.

With that, I'd like to open the floor for discussion.

0 recs | Comment 51 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Is this start list correct?

Ben King is going to ride?

"If me and King Kong went into an alley, only one of us would come out. And it wouldn't be the monkey."
"I don't really trust a sane person."
"I never met a man I didn't want to fight." The one and only Lyle Alzado

by TRDean on Aug 27, 2009 11:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...which is suprising seeing as most of the guys on Trek-Livestrong can ride the Championships and he is the only one that is doing it.

by Vlaanderen90 on Aug 27, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes to Ben King riding

by steph- on Aug 27, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

podiuminsight will be covering....

You can keep up to date with race updates by following Lyne on Twitter @podiuminsight
Lyne’s race updates have been invaluable!!

Also…she will have full coverage at podiuminsight.com

Lyne told me to watch Tom Zirbel of Bissell….dark horse pick.

by steph- on Aug 27, 2009 3:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You mean Zirbel for the TT right?

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Aug 28, 2009 4:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yup

by steph- on Aug 28, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Team Type 1

…has a preview on its blog site.

by Chief Commissaire on Aug 27, 2009 3:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

you guys have the best previews and recaps!!!

by steph- on Aug 28, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So many possibilities but I think that Garmin will probably load up the early break and then have about 4 guys in the finale

My picks:
1. Pate
2. Hincapie
3. Louder

by Vlaanderen90 on Aug 27, 2009 3:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's a good podium prediction right there.

I would LOVE to see Pate get it, but he’s got to shed Hincapie somehow. I can see Phil Zajicek on the podium somewhere too.

by itswells on Aug 27, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True...but he also has the curse of being a one-man team

by Vlaanderen90 on Aug 27, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but...

he’s clever enough, if he gets into the right break…

Then again, I guess you could use the “right break” scenario for anyone. I could prolly win in the “right break” – i.e. off the front alone, everyone else suddenly dies…

by itswells on Aug 27, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Louder

is good enough to be have ProTour ride somewhere. Right?

by save10 on Aug 27, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe, He never has gotten stellar results on the European level and seems to be comfortable where he is...

though he was 10th overall at Curcuit de la Sarthe earlier this year.

by Vlaanderen90 on Aug 27, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My podium picks

1. Floyd Landis: picks up where tyler hamilton left off
2. Danny Pate: Garmin – always the bridesmaid, never the bride
3. Alex Howes: Seems to be on a nice little streak

by PopUp Rolen on Aug 27, 2009 4:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

can

U23’s race in the event?

by save10 on Aug 27, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah, just as long as you are over 18

by Vlaanderen90 on Aug 27, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oooh, I likey the Alex pick for a podium spot.

He’s visiting Chicago this week, flies out tomorrow. :-) He has been on a great ride, it would be awesome to see it continue!

I'm ready for this road season to wrap up. Bring on Cross!

by nikki on Aug 27, 2009 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Start list

…is not even close to complete at this point.

In other news, I’ll be racing! I’m not on the start list yet. There are whole teams that still need to be placed on there. My team, DLP, only has one rider listed, but we’ll have at least five I think.

I’ll be riding and taking pictures of the course tomorrow in Greenville. Look for a preview tomorrow night on PEZ. :)

I’ll then ride perhaps a whole lap, maybe two, then turn in my riding hat for my writing one.

by jered on Aug 27, 2009 5:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How 'bout

taking a flyer on the first lap…you know, just for fun?

by itswells on Aug 27, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ha

I’d love to, and I would if I could…except about half of the field has the same idea. I promise, if it’s possible, I’ll be in the early move. It’s the best place to be, which unfortunately most everyone knows. :) I do love the early moves though.

by jered on Aug 27, 2009 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good Luck Jered!

I'm ready for this road season to wrap up. Bring on Cross!

by nikki on Aug 27, 2009 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yay!

I’ll cheer for you. :)

George bunny-hopped my bike somehow. He's like a cat. -- cvv

by cg. on Aug 27, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good luck man

You see how calm Vaughters is? That’s because he’s really one giant seething ball of Evil inside. With like, extra Evil.

by Ed K on Aug 27, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jered what happened with Time?

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Aug 28, 2009 4:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There now Team Mountain Khakis

No horn, watch for finger.

by sminer on Aug 28, 2009 7:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

is

that your piece that is up in Pez Cycling News?

Anyways I am envious that you are good enough to race in the USPRO championships. But am I glad that I don’t have to go through the suffering and carnage of that race.

by save10 on Aug 28, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have to agree with you on the BMC form and motivation

and wow am I stupid, of course, GH won’t be without help. Look out Garmin.
Looking forward to this race.

And good luck Jared and DLP. I’ll be racing Saturday, have fun with those boys on Sunday, better you than me.

No horn, watch for finger.

by sminer on Aug 27, 2009 10:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

me too!

I’m not putting too much stock in Sunday…I’m racing on Saturday at Fork Shoals. I won my first ever race there in 2007. :)

by jered on Aug 27, 2009 10:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I Would Like To See...

…this race continue to be in Greenville (this is apparently the final year of the already-extended contract) and the race returned to its original length (five “big” laps).

If you recall, the first year (2006), only 31 riders were listed as official finishers and only 13 were actually allowed onto the finishing circuit. Now that’s a championship-level road race.

by Chief Commissaire on Aug 28, 2009 6:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think that's why they shortened it, isn't it?

The carnage was horrendous up Paris Mtn. But I agree, it should be 5 laps (suffer bitches), and it should stay in Greenville, well because it’s so damn close to me.

No horn, watch for finger.

by sminer on Aug 28, 2009 7:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1 on stayin' in gville!

George bunny-hopped my bike somehow. He's like a cat. -- cvv

by cg. on Aug 28, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ja, it seems like a good course and venue

I hope they can keep it. I do wish they would do the elite women’s races there too, though, at the same time. It would be great publicity for the women.

by gavia on Aug 28, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

exactly....give the women some respect

The women ride the same course at World’s.

by steph- on Aug 28, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

gmaps pedometer map of the climb

Is Here
An easy start for the first half mile, then a 10-11% section that is the only part of the climb that will be exposed to the sun – it can be very hot. This leads to a false flat at the one mile point where you can actually gather yourself for the rest of the climb. The final mile plus has very irregular grades – there is no sense of rhythm on this part. The final 100 meters is a wall – about 12%.

The leaders will do this in about 9 to 10 minutes. Hincapie and Lepheimer (when he won last year) have done it in the low 8 minute range.

by 12string on Aug 28, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs