Podium Cafe - 2013 Tour of CaliforniaYou can check out, but you can never leavehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/25744/podiumcafe_f.png2013-05-20T15:07:34-04:00http://www.podiumcafe.com/rss/stream/40957132013-05-20T15:07:34-04:002013-05-20T15:07:34-04:00Cali Dreaming: When Will Tejay See Yellow Again?
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<figcaption>Doug Pensinger</figcaption>
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<p>Tejay van Garderen took home the yellow leader's jersey in the Amgen Tour of California on Sunday. Can he parlay this into a yellow jersey at a higher calibre race in the next two years?</p> <p>You could be forgiven for not paying the Tour of California a lot of attention in the past week. After all, the Giro is on, and after such an enthralling first 9 days of the race, who wouldn't want to turn their attention to Italy where the GC race was deeper and racing more aggressive? But, in the shadow of Italy something happened that is remarkable mostly because it has taken this long to happen - Tejay van Garderen, the young and ascendant stage race star on BMC, finally won a stage race in the professional ranks. </p>
<p>Now, van Garderen has won stage races before - as a U23 rider. In 2010, he ascended to the professional ranks and promptly finished third in the Critérium du Dauphiné, among the highest rated stage races outside of the grand tours. The next year he finished second in the Volta ao Algarve, third in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, and fifth in the Tour of California. Most memorably, van Garderen assumed a leadership role in last year's Tour de France after defending champion Cadel Evans faltered, finishing fifth overall. Yet, despite finishing fifth in the biggest stage race in the world, Tejay has not managed to win a race of smaller calibre yet.</p>
<p>In fact, van Garderen has almost become more notable for those times where he has faltered and lost leadership of a race or otherwise underwhelmed than for the strength and consistency of his results. In the 2012 Tour of California, he appeared in position to take leadership of the race after the Stage 5 time trial, sitting just 34 seconds behind David Zabriskie, a level down in climbing ability. Instead, van Garderen had an implosion of sorts on the summit finish atop Mount Baldy, finishing the race in fourth overall. In Paris Nice earlier that year, he had a jour sans on Stage 5 of Paris - Nice, dropping from third to sixth on GC. Even Thomas Voeckler out-climbed van Garderen that day, a feat no follower of the sport would have seen coming. </p>
<p>When a rider has such apparent bad luck in stage races, those inevitable jour sans, one begins to wonder why they cannot pull it together for a whole race, and in fact if they ever will. Leadership of a race is stressful, especially when as young and talented as van Garderen is. Mind, and not legs, often leads to days of surprisingly bad performances. We ask if a rider has, mentally, the ability to take leadership of a race. Many questioned whether van Garderen would continue to improve or simply stay at the level he has shown, at least in the foreseeable future.</p>
<p>Last week, he finally won, shedding the monkey that has been on his back for the past two years. The field at California was not deep, so his victory does not show signs of physical improvement. Instead, it might show Tejay is becoming more comfortable with the idea of leading a team, directing older and very talented riders to do his bidding, and having confidence that he will be able to pull off the eventual victory. If one paid close attention, it was possible to notice a change in tone in his post-race interviews after the final decisive stage on Saturday and the race's conclusion on Sunday - he seemed more relaxed. And since confidence has never been lacking for the young rider, perhaps this is what he needed most. </p>
<p>Will van Garderen win the Tour de France this year, or next? Not likely, not with with Alberto Contador and Christopher Froome racing, among others. But could he pull on a yellow jersey at the Dauphiné this year, or in Paris-Nice next year? I will find it a lot harder to bet against him now.</p>
https://www.podiumcafe.com/2013/5/20/4348802/california-dreaming-when-will-tejay-see-yellow-againDouglas Ansel2013-05-19T13:22:08-04:002013-05-19T13:22:08-04:00Tour of California Stage 8 LIVE
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<p><b style="line-height: 9px;">San Francisco - Santa Rosa 131.4 km</b></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Grand Levi-finale</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"></span><b style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Honorary Levi of the Day: Peter Sagan</b></p>
<p>Who else could win?</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Official site</a><b><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">, </span></b><a href="http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages/stage7.html" target="_blank">Stageinfo</a><b><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> , </span></b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjM3Mzk=">Startlist</a><b> </b></p>
<p><a style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;" href="http://www.gazzetta.it/Giroditalia/2013/classifiche/it/t_07_class_CLGEN.shtml?lang=en" target="_blank"></a></p>
https://www.podiumcafe.com/2013/5/19/4345804/tour-of-california-stage-8-liveJens2013-05-18T14:30:07-04:002013-05-18T14:30:07-04:00Tour of California Stage 7 LIVE
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<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2643447/atoc77.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Atoc77_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2643447/atoc77_medium.jpg"></a> <br id="1368893471104"></p>
<p><b style="line-height: 9px;">Livermore - Mount Diablo 147.1 km</b></p>
<p>Another evil climb to decide the GC.</p>
<p><b>Honorary Levi of the Day: Leopold König</b></p>
<p>If Tejay takes it easy König could finally get a good win.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Official site</a><b><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">, </span></b><a href="http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages/stage7.html" target="_blank">Stageinfo</a><b><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> , </span></b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjM3Mzk=">Startlist</a><b> </b></p>
<p><a style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;" href="http://www.gazzetta.it/Giroditalia/2013/classifiche/it/t_07_class_CLGEN.shtml?lang=en" target="_blank"></a></p>
https://www.podiumcafe.com/2013/5/18/4343254/tour-of-california-stage-7-liveJens2013-05-17T17:01:44-04:002013-05-17T17:01:44-04:00Tour of California Stage 6 LIVE
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<p><b style="line-height: 9px;">San Jose 31.6 km Timetrial</b></p>
<p>Quite an original looking timetrial once again. Just as the Giro TT the other day this looks quite hard to predict as it ends with quite a challenging climb</p>
<p><b>Honorary Levi of the Day: Tejay van Garderen</b></p>
<p>Tejay has struggled to hold it together in the TTs where he has been in a position to win. He needs to shake that habit.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Official site</a><b><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">, </span></b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages/stage6.html">Stageinfo</a><b><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> , </span></b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjM3Mzk=">Startlist</a><b> </b></p>
<p><a style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;" href="http://www.gazzetta.it/Giroditalia/2013/classifiche/it/t_07_class_CLGEN.shtml?lang=en" target="_blank"></a></p>
https://www.podiumcafe.com/2013/5/17/4336198/tour-of-california-stage-6-liveJens2013-05-16T16:46:43-04:002013-05-16T16:46:43-04:00Tour of California Stage 5 LIVE
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<p><b style="line-height: 9px;">Santa Barbara - Avila Beach 185.7 km</b></p>
<p>More sprinty times.Can the domestic teams have their day. They've come close every day.</p>
<p><b>Honorary Levi of the Day: Peter Sagan</b></p>
<p>I have to go with another underdog who hasn't won much lately .</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Official site</a><b><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">, </span></b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages/stage5.html">Stageinfo</a><b><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> , </span></b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjM3Mzk=">Startlist</a><b> </b></p>
<p><a style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;" href="http://www.gazzetta.it/Giroditalia/2013/classifiche/it/t_07_class_CLGEN.shtml?lang=en" target="_blank"></a></p>
https://www.podiumcafe.com/2013/5/16/4336180/tour-of-california-stage-5-liveJens2013-05-15T15:49:16-04:002013-05-15T15:49:16-04:00Tour of California Stage 4 LIVE
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<p><b style="line-height: 9px;">Santa Clarita - Santa Barbara 134.6 km</b></p>
<p>Another day for the sprinters.</p>
<p><b>Honorary Levi of the Day: Jake Keough</b></p>
<p>He could totally have a repeat of his Utah win here today. Totally.</p>
<p><a style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;" href="http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/" target="_blank">Official site</a><b><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">, </span></b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages/stage4.html">Stageinfo</a><b><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> , </span></b><a href="http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjM3Mzk=" target="_blank">Startlist</a><b> </b></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.gazzetta.it/Giroditalia/2013/classifiche/it/t_07_class_CLGEN.shtml?lang=en" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"></a></p>
https://www.podiumcafe.com/2013/5/15/4333626/tour-of-california-stage-4-liveJens2013-05-14T18:24:07-04:002013-05-14T18:24:07-04:00Five Reasons to Watch the Tour of California
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<figcaption>Harry How</figcaption>
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<p>So, the Giro still rules all, but there is a bike race in America that's worth watching. Here's why.</p> <p>Okay, guys, I admit it. I tried to make words about the Tour of California, but I'm so totally stuck in Giro love that it is proving quite hard to do. I mean, has there even been a stage that was only moderately exciting over in Italy? And, oh my, the DRAMA that is on the horizon with Team Sky and their Columbian lieutenants that look stronger than Wiggins... Meanwhile, the GC lineup in California is decidedly meh and the rest of the race threatens to become a one-man Peter Sagan show like last year. So yeah, it was hard to find a lot of good words about California, at least that flowed together well enough to make a story.</p>
<p>But, every afternoon at 5pm - as soon as live video starts - I go over to the Tour of California website and start watching the race. I'm not sure exactly why, as keeping up with the Giro on top of work and training and life in general is already time consuming enough. But, without fail, I'm there, watching a race I expected to be boring. Why? The more I think about it, the more reasons I can come up with. Here are my top four. You got others? List 'em in the comments section!</p>
<p> </p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><b>Tejay van Garderen could finally get that elusive stage race win.</b> He's been so close, hasn't he? Really, it seems hard to believe that he has yet to win a stage race as a professional rider with as hyped as he is. Plus, it seems crazy that someone who has finished fifth in the Tour de France at 23 years old has yet to rack up a victory somewhere else. Tejay has been close, no doubt, but has faltered at key moments in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Paris-Nice, and even California in the past. This year, partly by virtue of a lower standard of GC competition than in years past, Tejay is the clear favorite. He currently sits second overall after the first mountaintop finish on Monday. I will be watching to see how he deals with this status and if he can finally get that monkey off his back.<br><br></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><b>Feisty riding by the domestic teams.</b> One of the most enjoyable things about the grand tours is watching the wildcard invitations from the tour's host country. These smaller teams try to make the most of their invitation, going in all the early breakaways, trying to take an upset stage victory. In America, the same dynamic occurs whenever European teams come to town. This year, even the GC battle has domestic potential. United Healthcare has Philip Deignan, an Irishman who famously won a stage of the Vuelta á España while riding for the Cervelo Test Team. Just over a week ago, Deignan won the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico and he now sits in third on the overall classification after an aggressive ride on the first mountain stage. Leading the race is Janier Azevedo, a Colombian riding for the Jamis - Hagens Berman presented by Sutter Home team. With an individual time trial coming later in the race, I doubt they can hold on to beat Tejay, but it will be fun to watch them try.<br><br>PS - the young Bontrager-Livestrong U-23 team is the most fun to watch. Those kids are quite precocious.<br><br></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><b>Peter Sagan v. Gianni Meersman.</b> Last year, Sagan won five stages. Yes, five - more than half the stages in the race. In part, Sagan's victories can be credited with his unique ability to make it through climb-heavy stages where normal sprinters end up in the autobus. And really, once the sprinters are gone, who can challenge the Slovakian wünderkid? Enter Gianni Meersman, the young Belgian on Omega Pharma - Quickstep who won two stages each of the Volta Catalunya and Tour of Romandie with his fast finish, even when the group sprinting for the win was a mere 40 riders strong thanks to a hilly parcours. On Stage 1, Sagan edged out Meersman in the bunch sprint for third... but just barely. This should be a fun set of battles to watch.<br><br></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><b>Scenery</b>. Yes, there is a lot of desert in the Tour of California, but that's mostly behind us. What's next, aside from a lot of manicured golf courses? Well, for one, lots of coastal roads, and those are terribly scenic. Really, it's almost a crime that people get to live there while others like yours truly are stuck in the Midwest. Plus, the race goes over the Golden Gate Bridge on Stage 8. <br><br></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><b>Philippe Gilbert, Andy Schleck, and Tyler Farrar watch.</b> Really, I don't envy these three riders this year - neither one can catch a break. Gilbert has been very good this spring but the reigning World Champion has yet to win a race or sniff the form he had in 2011. Younger Schleck? At least he is finishing races now. And poor Tyler Farrar - he hasn't seemed the same rider since his good friend Wouter Weylant died two years ago. Will they manage to pull anything out of their magicians hats this week, be it a stage win or a competition jersey? Gilbert suffered in the heat and was dropped on Stage 1, along with about half the peloton, on a stage that should have suited him. Schleck all but disappeared as soon as the road pointed upwards on the Tram Way finishing climb on Stage 2. But, as I am writing this, Andy is riding in the (doomed) breakaway and Garmin is chasing for Farrar. Maybe there is hope yet?</span></li>
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https://www.podiumcafe.com/2013/5/14/4331240/five-reasons-to-watch-the-tour-of-californiaDouglas Ansel2013-05-14T14:15:04-04:002013-05-14T14:15:04-04:00Tour of California Stage 3 LIVE
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<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2623949/atoc33.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Atoc33_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2623949/atoc33_medium.jpg"></a> <br id="1368551076729"></p>
<p><b style="line-height: 9px;">Palmdale - Santa Clarita 177.5km</b></p>
<p>A bit of respite and one of those ATOC days where you have nooooooooo idea how it is going to end.</p>
<p><b>Honorary Levi of the Day: Gianni Meersman</b></p>
<p>Loking good to take a win (hahahahahahahahahahaha) here</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Official site</a><b><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">, </span></b><a href="http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages/stage3.html" target="_blank">Stageinfo</a><b><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> , </span></b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjM3Mzk=">Startlist</a><b> </b></p>
<p><a style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;" href="http://www.gazzetta.it/Giroditalia/2013/classifiche/it/t_07_class_CLGEN.shtml?lang=en" target="_blank"></a></p>
https://www.podiumcafe.com/2013/5/14/4330544/tour-of-california-stage-3-liveJens