T of Cal

josame
josame Posts: 1,162
edited May 2011 in Pro race
Are people getting excited about it this time?

The CN description makes it sound pretty good ... lot more climbs
'Do not compare your bike to others, for always there will be greater and lesser bikes'
«134567

Comments

  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 19,085
    I like that its live in the eve uk time

    the TT last year was a shambles but I still enjoyed the race

    the profiles this year look promising
    "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
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,623
    It was better when it was in February and didn't clash with any major races.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,290
    andyp wrote:
    It was better when it was in February and didn't clash with any major races.

    It doesn't really clash with any, though. Riders missing the Giro are missing it because they don't want to do it, not because of the ToC. (Odd exception to this like Cav last year).

    Without it, there's next to nothing for the non-Giro riders to do for a month.

    And they're never on at the same time.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    RichN95 wrote:
    And they're never on at the same time.

    No, but some of us with smaller attention spans struggle when there is more than 1 race. For example, when Paris-Nice and T-A overlap, I always favour P-N, although I love T-A. Or in July, when it's Tour de France or the Tour of Austria.

    We'll see how it goes this year. Last years ToC wasn't brilliant, while the Giro was, so it didn't stand much of a chance. ToC also could be used as more of a training race so may never be top drawer.

    I look forward to it regardless - I like California (except that toilet which is helL-A)
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,290
    iainf72 wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    And they're never on at the same time.

    No, but some of us with smaller attention spans struggle when there is more than 1 race. For example, when Paris-Nice and T-A overlap, I always favour P-N, although I love T-A. Or in July, when it's Tour de France or the Tour of Austria.

    Yeah, I do too. But what I meant is they're not on at the same time of day, so there's no need to choose one over the other to watch live.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • magliaceleste
    magliaceleste Posts: 748
    No.
  • shinyhelmut
    shinyhelmut Posts: 1,364
    They finally seem to be making use of some of the terrain California has to offer. This doesn't of course mean it will be an exciting race but it does have more potential than previously.

    We'll just have to wait and see what the riders make of it.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,864
    In terms of watching a race, the ToC's timing is excellent. Couldn't really be better to be free from interruption, sleep etc.
    I'm not too bothered about which month it turns up in, although it was nice in February when
    the long winter rest period was starting to wear thin.
    I certainly will be watching with some anticipation for a couple of the stages.

    However, it's a week stager and in that respect, the only race that generates such early excitement is Paris-Nice.

    Getting quite fidgety about the Giro, though.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • deejay
    deejay Posts: 3,138
    No.

    It's only here because of McQaid's ambitions and he will award it serious Ranking Points to distort the real (now called European) season just like he did with the Indoor Tracks.
    Will watch it of course because it dosn't clash in the evenings.
    Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 1972
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    deejay wrote:
    No.

    It's only here because of McQaid's ambitions and he will award it serious Ranking Points to distort the real (now called European) season just like he did with the Indoor Tracks.
    Will watch it of course because it dosn't clash in the evenings.

    If that's your theory, can you explain the ASO involvement in it?
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    It doesn't have many ranking points, for those see the Beijing Tour which carries more points.

    There are lot of US riders and several teams, having a good home tour makes sense for them. I'm not particularly excited by the race but wish it well.
  • squired
    squired Posts: 1,153
    I really enjoyed it last year, so will be looking forward to it again this year. I thought the official website, which had a brilliant live stream, was excellent.

    The US market is a good market for cycling to break into. A race like this has to help draw in global companies, so I'm all for it. Tour of Romandie or Tour of California? It is a no-brainer for me.
  • deejay
    deejay Posts: 3,138
    iainf72 wrote:
    deejay wrote:
    No.

    It's only here because of McQaid's ambitions and he will award it serious Ranking Points to distort the real (now called European) season just like he did with the Indoor Tracks.
    Will watch it of course because it dosn't clash in the evenings.

    If that's your theory, can you explain the ASO involvement in it?
    MONEY, what else.

    The crunch is yet to come with who has the control of it.
    Prudhomme the Accountant or McQuid the Greed.
    Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 1972
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,290
    deejay wrote:
    MONEY, what else.

    The crunch is yet to come with who has the control of it.
    Prudhomme the Accountant or McQuid the Greed.


    What's wrong with making a bit of money?
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    Its always been pretty dull, but they've finally added some proper lumps this year so hopefully it should be better.
  • deejay
    deejay Posts: 3,138
    RichN95 wrote:
    deejay wrote:
    MONEY, what else.

    The crunch is yet to come with who has the control of it.
    Prudhomme the Accountant or McQuid the Greed.


    What's wrong with making a bit of money?
    I remember a conference I attended many years ago with a USA speaker.
    The main point remembered was.
    It dosn't matter what business you are in, you do not get involved for your health but only to make a profit.

    You have a factory and bring in the materials at the back door and then do your "Value Adding" before it goes out again to make your profit. (and the more the better)
    The product is of no consequence.
    Applies to any business.

    I thought Cycle Racing was a Sport.

    I know I learnt in my teens that Religion was the biggest Money making machine devised by man and then came the Olympics.

    I object to GREED having an effect on my sport and that includes a certain Texan.

    Oh and if the TOC had been run in February this year then I am told it rained every day.
    Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 1972
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    deejay wrote:
    I thought Cycle Racing was a Sport.

    Sport is a business.

    Cycling has always been about the money.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,290
    deejay wrote:
    I thought Cycle Racing was a Sport.

    Almost all of the great bike races were originally started as publicity stunts for businesses (mostly newspapers).

    As Iain points out, cycling has always been about the money. It's always been effected by greed. There's never been a corinthian amateur age.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • P_Tucker
    P_Tucker Posts: 1,878
    deejay wrote:
    I thought Cycle Racing was a Sport.

    Amateur cycling might be. Professional cycling is not. The clue is in the word "professional".
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    I thought the ToC was to the TdF what the Tour of Oman was to the classics?

    i.e. Irrelevant racing but excellent training in some far off place.
    _
  • josame
    josame Posts: 1,162
    and now...?
    'Do not compare your bike to others, for always there will be greater and lesser bikes'
  • deejay
    deejay Posts: 3,138
    P_Tucker wrote:
    deejay wrote:
    I thought Cycle Racing was a Sport.

    Amateur cycling might be. Professional cycling is not. The clue is in the word "professional".
    There you go.
    Just another Business for the accountants.

    So why do you get all high and mighty about drugs. :roll:
    Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 1972
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    deejay wrote:
    So why do you get all high and mighty about drugs. :roll:

    Because it's against the rules?

    Things can be all about the money yet still enjoyed by people and have a set of rules you know.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • deejay
    deejay Posts: 3,138
    iainf72 wrote:
    deejay wrote:
    So why do you get all high and mighty about drugs. :roll:

    Because it's against the rules?

    Things can be all about the money yet still enjoyed by people and have a set of rules you know.
    And you go to church on Sundays and all is well.

    Make up your mind - Business or sport.
    Business has rules also but they get bent to insure the profit margins.

    Leave it to the accountants like Prudhomme or the Olympics or the UCI and some of it could be enjoyable.
    Well I hope it is for the next three weeks.
    Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 1972
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    deejay wrote:
    iainf72 wrote:
    deejay wrote:
    So why do you get all high and mighty about drugs. :roll:

    Because it's against the rules?

    Things can be all about the money yet still enjoyed by people and have a set of rules you know.
    And you go to church on Sundays and all is well.

    Make up your mind - Business or sport.
    Business has rules also but they get bent to insure the profit margins.

    Leave it to the accountants like Prudhomme or the Olympics or the UCI and some of it could be enjoyable.
    Well I hope it is for the next three weeks.

    Professional sport is business.

    That's the entire point. They're not mutually exclusive.
    _
  • lucybears
    lucybears Posts: 366
    provisional startlist
    http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html ... d=MjE2NDg=
    awaiting confirmation of MOVISTAR TEAM participation
    interview.cyclingfever.com
  • rebs
    rebs Posts: 891
    No Rogers for Sky? Thought the whole point Sky entering just so Rogers could defend last years win?

    That cant be right?
  • P_Tucker
    P_Tucker Posts: 1,878
    deejay wrote:
    P_Tucker wrote:
    deejay wrote:
    I thought Cycle Racing was a Sport.

    Amateur cycling might be. Professional cycling is not. The clue is in the word "professional".
    There you go.
    Just another Business for the accountants.

    So why do you get all high and mighty about drugs. :roll:

    I don't. I have no problem with riders doping - I'd do the same in their situation.
  • theknowledge
    theknowledge Posts: 223
    rebs wrote:
    No Rogers for Sky? Thought the whole point Sky entering just so Rogers could defend last years win?

    That cant be right?

    He was out of Romandie due to a virus, so I'd presume he's out of ToC for the same reason.
  • lucybears
    lucybears Posts: 366
    rebs wrote:
    No Rogers for Sky? Thought the whole point Sky entering just so Rogers could defend last years win?

    That cant be right?

    http://www.teamsky.com/races/0,27631,20 ... l#month=05
    interview.cyclingfever.com

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