The Tour of California is like the Tour de France- but in America. Its a big stage race-which are very rare in the US. Most pro road cycling is in Europe. So having our own tour is a big treat. This link shows the route for the whole tour http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/map.html
The scale to put on a race like this is immense. If your not in the cycling scene- you have to see it to really appreciate it. Major roads are closed for the race. Cops are out everywhere to help with traffic. There are 17 teams. Each has their own set of riders. There are the favorites- those who are the 'best''- and many supporting riders. These guys ride in front of them so they always can ride in a draft. The supporters also make runs to and from the team cars for water bottles, etc. In addition to the riders- each team has multiple support cars- driving extra wheels in case of flats, extra bikes in case of a crash or mechanical issue, team mechanics, the team directors, coaches...There are cops that ride up front- and a car announcing what is going on with the peloton (the group of riders) ahead of them so the spectators know the stats of the race as the riders are coming up. Behind are most of the team cars, and also the neutral support (extra wheels/bikes/help for anyone who needs it) and the ambulance. All around are motorcycles with guys ridign on the back, facing backwards- holding video cameras- or therea re some with cameras mounted above them. Back at the finish line there are vendors for the public- and also all the teams tour vans/buses. All in all- its really a major major event- and all this stuff is traveling from town to town for nine days.
Day 6- when we caught up with the tour- was an Individual Time Trial. So each rider is by them self for 15 miles racing against the clock. Times were in the low-mid 30 min zone. The fastest time was 30:40, by Levi Leipheimer-an awesome 8 seconds faster than U.S. National Time Trial champion David Zabriskie (who makes some great Chamois cream :)
We got some pics of them about 300 yards out from the finish-right before the last turn...the bikes are different from the ones they ride in group races. These are focused on getting as aero as possible, but don't handle well.
Our parking space in Solvang. Solvang is a little town out in the mountians- where everything is made to look like your in Denmark. Cool, but weird town.
and hey look , its Lance!
1 comment:
Hey - Looks like you are having a great time - regardless of Hearse troubles!
Post a Comment