Tour of California Stage 1 *spoilers*

2

Comments

  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    Like the Saxo Bank Spesh...

    jdtocstage1031_600.jpg

    Specialized should be red, like a Colnago should be black and a Bianchi celeste...
  • DaveyL
    DaveyL Posts: 5,167
    Moomaloid wrote:
    I know it was the first stage an'all but jeez it was boring...

    It was, yeah. I think it was the "keep Cuddly Bob happy" stage - downhill and little chance a breakaway would survive, setting up Cav for the win.

    Some of the other stages look a lot more interesting though. There were a couple of really good stages last year, the one *cough* Mancebo *cough* won in awful conditions, and the one that finished with a few circuits in Pasadena, spring to mind.
    Le Blaireau (1)
  • FransJacques
    FransJacques Posts: 2,148
    Did LA just stay buried at the front of the pack outta trouble? Did they do much highlight or focus sections on him during the racing? Wonder if he is even near to being fit yet. Could be a mis-calc thinking that the ToC is anywhere near a good tune up as the Giro. Well, it's his legacy, not mine but I hope he come into the Tour fighting for the front and not fighting to keep up.
    When a cyclist has a disagreement with a car; it's not who's right, it's who's left.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    iainf72 wrote:
    greasedscotsman wrote:

    Not sure I'm going to watch anymore stages, finishes a bit late for me. Why can't they start the stages a bit earlier for the Europeans :D

    I think, longer term, this is going to be where they struggle. If they can't get the hardcore audience from Europe then there is a danger of it being a local race for local people. In February, we're all keen to see whatever cycling we can, but in May we've got Bella Italia.

    i quite like the late night live thing...could work in their favour


    some of the US squads are weak thou.jelly bellys devastating attempt to rip the peloton apart in the cross winds was somewhat laughable... thou they did know how to ride those high speed crits despite being outclassed


    different style of racing on those roads
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • DaveyL
    DaveyL Posts: 5,167
    FransJacques wrote:
    Did LA just stay buried at the front of the pack outta trouble? Did they do much highlight or focus sections on him during the racing? Wonder if he is even near to being fit yet. Could be a mis-calc thinking that the ToC is anywhere near a good tune up as the Giro. Well, it's his legacy, not mine but I hope he come into the Tour fighting for the front and not fighting to keep up.

    I think Phil and Paul mentioned him once or twice :D

    They seemed to think he was looking to see how he is going in the TT but doesn't have any other expectations.

    I agree though about his comeback in general - and Michael Schumacher's seems to be going the same way. Double shame...
    Le Blaireau (1)
  • paulcuthbert
    paulcuthbert Posts: 1,016
    DaveyL wrote:
    FransJacques wrote:
    Did LA just stay buried at the front of the pack outta trouble? Did they do much highlight or focus sections on him during the racing? Wonder if he is even near to being fit yet. Could be a mis-calc thinking that the ToC is anywhere near a good tune up as the Giro. Well, it's his legacy, not mine but I hope he come into the Tour fighting for the front and not fighting to keep up.

    I think Phil and Paul mentioned him once or twice :D

    They seemed to think he was looking to see how he is going in the TT but doesn't have any other expectations.

    I agree though about his comeback in general - and Michael Schumacher's seems to be going the same way. Double shame...

    Has Schumacher done anything of note? I don't follow F1 so I've no idea how he's going.

    But I'd say 3rd in the Tour at 37 years old is pretty commendable. It's crap compared to his legacy, but in terms of achievement it's not bad for an old guy
    The most painful climb in Northern Ireland http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs200.snc1/6776_124247198694_548863694_2335754_8016178_n.jpg
  • Lightning
    Lightning Posts: 360
    paulcuthbert wrote:
    Has Schumacher done anything of note? I don't follow F1 so I've no idea how he's going.

    Not yet.

    Lance is there to TT against Cancellara supposedly. We won't really know anything until the first real climb of the Tour starts though.
  • paulcuthbert
    paulcuthbert Posts: 1,016
    Lightning wrote:
    paulcuthbert wrote:
    Has Schumacher done anything of note? I don't follow F1 so I've no idea how he's going.

    Not yet.

    Lance is there to TT against Cancellara supposedly. We won't really know anything until the first real climb of the Tour starts though.

    Leipheimer can time trial too, as can Tony Martin who went well in the time trial Tour last year. Any other time trial contenders riding in California? Is Zabriskie there or in Italy?
    The most painful climb in Northern Ireland http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs200.snc1/6776_124247198694_548863694_2335754_8016178_n.jpg
  • Lightning
    Lightning Posts: 360
    paulcuthbert wrote:
    Is Zabriskie there or in Italy?
    He's there.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    http://vimeo.com/11797410

    Very up close video of the crash - side on.

    Pretty obvious that Boonen goes down first.

    I have to say, for someone who manages the northern classics so well, and can handle the bike over cobbles and make his way through the peleton so easily, this happens more to him than you'd expect.

    Reminds me a little of the TdF last year, again during the final run in to mass group finishes.

    Shows how nasty those crashes are though. Ouch.
    _
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    No need for a stage 2 spoiler.
    TV coverage cancelled due to a bit of rain.
    4 Grand Tour? 1 Grand Farce more like.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    No need for a stage 2 spoiler.
    TV coverage cancelled due to a bit of rain.
    4 Grand Tour? 1 Grand Farce more like.

    no coverage or no race?
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    I see no tv coverage but they are racing...
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • csp
    csp Posts: 777
    Does this link work for anyone?

    http://tracker.amgentourofcalifornia.com/
  • stokepa31
    stokepa31 Posts: 560
    it works but is showing a repeat of stage one!!!

    California - the fifth largest economy in the world and they cant get a tv picture out. Land of the lame and home of the inept. grrrrrrrrrrr
    Burning Fat Not Rubber

    Scott CR1
    Genesis IO ID
    Moda Canon
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    stokepa31 wrote:
    it works but is showing a repeat of stage one!!!

    California - the fifth largest economy in the world and they cant get a tv picture out. Land of the lame and home of the inept. grrrrrrrrrrr

    helicopters are grounded I guess for the relay?

    you think they could do the finish
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • Platti
    Platti Posts: 130
    Gutted about missing the vid on this stage. Quick question. Why was Haedo shown as 4s behind Cav, thought he was right on his tail at the line ?
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Platti wrote:
    Gutted about missing the vid on this stage. Quick question. Why was Haedo shown as 4s behind Cav, thought he was right on his tail at the line ?

    Bonus seconds perhaps?
    _
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Wasn't the ToC supposed to be better weather this year?
    _
  • shakey88
    shakey88 Posts: 289
    Yeah after the tdf,the toc has the second best weather according to pharmstrong :wink:
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Turned on when I got back from the velodrome last night and thought **** me, it's pouring down in California as well. I then realised it was Giro highlights. How come they can get a signal out in Italy in that deluge but not in California :? I assumed there was a thunder storm or something so it was too dangerous. Perhaps LA wasn't feeling good so instructed the cameras to stay away so no one could see him suffer :lol:
  • Rodrego Hernandez
    Rodrego Hernandez Posts: 1,436
    The helicopters couldn't fly at the height they needed to as it was in the flight path of a nearby airport. These things happen I suppose.

    The amazing thing about the EPO Tour is that all it takes is for Larnse to call in the #2 Grand Tour and a nation believes him. Are they really that ignorant?
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Most of them haven't heard of Italy let alone the Giro :wink:
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Most of them haven't heard of Italy let alone the Giro :wink:
  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    :lol: So no TV pics and all the blame lands at the feet of Lance.
  • Rodrego Hernandez
    Rodrego Hernandez Posts: 1,436
    Gazzaputt wrote:
    :lol: So no TV pics and all the blame lands at the feet of Lance.


    Should have gone to specasvers.
  • DaveyL
    DaveyL Posts: 5,167
    Rodrego Hernandez wrote:
    The helicopters couldn't fly at the height they needed to as it was in the flight path of a nearby airport. These things happen I suppose.

    The amazing thing about the EPO Tour is that all it takes is for Larnse to call in the #2 Grand Tour and a nation believes him. Are they really that ignorant?

    The *nation* believes him? Really? And again, he said it was 2nd in importance to the Tour *for his team*, which it is. As it is for HTC-Columbia.

    Hopefully there will be pictures for Stage 3 and we can talk about the racing, rather than be derailed by more of this guff.
    Le Blaireau (1)
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    DaveyL wrote:
    Rodrego Hernandez wrote:
    The helicopters couldn't fly at the height they needed to as it was in the flight path of a nearby airport. These things happen I suppose.

    The amazing thing about the EPO Tour is that all it takes is for Larnse to call in the #2 Grand Tour and a nation believes him. Are they really that ignorant?

    The *nation* believes him? Really? And again, he said it was 2nd in importance to the Tour *for his team*, which it is. As it is for HTC-Columbia.

    Hopefully there will be pictures for Stage 3 and we can talk about the racing, rather than be derailed by more of this guff.

    look we are not going to let a little thing like context get in the way of our obviously justified opinion that he said what we want to him have said so you might as well give up now...oh i feel a macro coming on
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • luckao
    luckao Posts: 632
    Ha. The European-American divide is palpable. It's only fair for Lance to have talked up the race, albeit at the expense of upsetting us haughty Europeans. He can't win. Poor bugger.
    Pross wrote:
    Most of them haven't heard of Italy let alone the Giro :wink:

    Reuters referred to it as the 'Tour of Italy' in one report. Not wrong, obviously. Just seems a bit weird.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    What happened to Cav in Stage 2? I see he lost 17 minutes, was that just due to climbs? The pictures appear to show quite a large bunch contesting the finish but the Eurosport summary suggested it was quite a hilly stage.

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