Toc Stage 5 Preview - Visalia to Bakersfield
by Jimbo... on May 20, 2010 6:00 AM EDT
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Today's stage rolls 121 miles (195 km) from Visalia to Bakersfield, crossing pan-flat fields and orchards before venturing up the western slopes of the mighty Sierra Nevada. The stage peaks out at over 3,345 feet before descending back down into the dusty old oil town of Bakersfield. While this stage resembles stage 4 in total climbing, length and dustiness, the finish of this one is no flat sprinter's playground. Instead, the route planners tossed in a finishing circuit complete with a hairpin turn and a nasty little 10% climb near the end, which should make for some interesting hear rates and wattage numbers on the tourtracker. What will happen is anyone's guess. And since I was a little hard on poor Modesto yesterday, I'm going to take it easy on Bakersfield today, because, it turns out that Bakersfield is actually a pretty interesting place... Seriously...
Bakersfield is famous for it's country music, specifically the "Bakersfield Sound", sort of the punk-rock equivalent for country during the late 1950's and early 1960's, featuring a rawer, rockabilly, honky-tonk style with steel guitars and a back beat, and piano, popularized by legends such as Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. Bakersfield is also the home of Korn, the pro face-piercing alt-metal band (not the crop), and to a sizeable and vibrant Basque community (for some unfathomable reason). Those crazy Basques even host an annual Basque festival complete with genuine pro ASPE pelota players flown in all the way from Euskadi... that thud you just heard was Albertina fainting. Ted, call her mom... So expect to see some basque flags and txapela's. Hey, maybe Horner will wear his to the press conference? Nah, prolly not.
I will be on the scene again at the finish tomorrow bringing you all the news worth cutting and pasting, so if you have any real questions that do not include rider grooming, post them below. Same offer as before. I'm even meeting up with an old buddy of mine for dinner. We're going out for Basque food after the race, which I assume will make me climb like a scalded monkey, or perhaps crap like one. Either way, I'm excited!
Williams Wheels video of the climbs
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Yay! Txtxtxtxtxtxtxtxtxtxtx! The ASPE boys are going again this year :)
And while you’re at it, don’t ‘click on the link under their photos’ as they suggest, read MY INTERVIEW with one of them, Fernando Goni! Right, Basque related excitement over. I promise I’ll shut up now. Maybe.
Enjoy the pintxos and the txakoli. And the sidra….don’t get too drunk ;-)
Anybody live nearby?
According to the PdC map, Gav is closest. If she decides to drive out to Bakersfield, though, that will take her past Val Verde … So, you know, maybe not.
We wouldn't want her to drive past a town with a name like Valverde
In order to see riders like Armstrong, Leipheimer, and Hincapie.
The only thing I care about
Is who is clean right now.
We can’t go back and change the fact that everybody was doping until 2006 or so.
If someone has evidence that AC, LA, LL, CE, or any of the main guys are doping or transfusing now.. then I want to hear that.
Otherwise, the past is past, dredging it up will not help the sport.
by whistlingmountain on May 20, 2010 10:23 AM EDT reply actions
aaand somehow I ended up on the wrong thread
ugh, where is delete.
by whistlingmountain on May 20, 2010 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
No delete
But you are allowed to go off on a small doping rant since Ted had mentioned Val Verde
"Do you think we are a bunch a girls?...Go and ride some cobbles and you’ll definately know that we don’t discuss perfume and shaving cream." - Dom
it was supposed to be in the landis thread, beneat 800 rants much much longer than my minor note!
delete!!! or rather.. to steal a line from vanilla sky..
tech supporrttttttt!!!!!!
by whistlingmountain on May 20, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree
the Bakersfield Blaze minor league baseball team looks totally doped.
Giro...Giro.....Giro!!!!!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
Coors Light and Skoal are both legal
"Do you think we are a bunch a girls?...Go and ride some cobbles and you’ll definately know that we don’t discuss perfume and shaving cream." - Dom
Streets of Bakersfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe7WX9fy-1M
I’ve spent a thousand miles of thumbin’
Yes I’ve worn blisters on my heels
Trying to find me something better
Here on the streets of Bakersfield
Hey you don’t know me but you don’t like me
You say you care less how I feel
But how many of you that sit and judge me
Have ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?
MJB
Don't forget the smell...
… this will be Hors Categorie for smell. Are they going by the Harris Ranch?
Translated from Danish into English: "Bush league, psyche out shit, man! Laughable!"
Someone's playing around with the Tour Tracker!
It shows Levi and half of RSH in a break up the road by themselves..
(I popped on to see what time the live video coverage starts – they’re not sayin’.)
I’m completely lost on trying to post pic’s here or I’d share…
George bunny-hopped my bike somehow. He's like a cat. -- cvv
From yesterday's stage perhaps
There were some echelons, with Radioshack in the driver’s seat (good thing Levi is small).
"i just see giro and get all spazzy" - Gavia
by TheFigurehead on May 20, 2010 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Tweet from
Sorry to report there was a huge crash, with Chechu and Lance involved. Lance had to abandon and is going to the hospital for Xrays.
No, this will not spark speculations.
"i just see giro and get all spazzy" - Gavia
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