Amgen Tour of California *Spoilers*

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  • RonB
    RonB Posts: 3,984
    Current GC

    CisloryUYAAsKrE.jpg
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,660
    There's some sly related snark in my Twitter Timeline this morning...what could that be about??
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • DL1987
    DL1987 Posts: 204
    To be fair to Powless if his TT ability is as good as Neal Rogers and a few others were saying last night, at only 40 seconds back he might have a decent chance to finish top 5 overall here.
  • dish_dash
    dish_dash Posts: 5,642
    edited May 2016
    WTF are we doing here?
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    More stunning scenery
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    Trek rider forgets he's not at the Giro
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    Winner
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  • dish_dash
    dish_dash Posts: 5,642
    As ever Manual for Speed are a laugh

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    manualforspeed_americantourofkalifornia_2016_stage02-7-1280x1024.jpg

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  • specialgueststar
    specialgueststar Posts: 3,418
    dish_dash wrote:
    WTF are we doing here?
    105727__BH17532.jpg

    Not much (as usual)

    137(135)Wiggins Bradley Team Wiggins
  • onyourright
    onyourright Posts: 509
    Wiggins is probably showing up because XIX Entertainment told him to.
  • DL1987
    DL1987 Posts: 204
    OnYourRight wrote:
    Wiggins is probably showing up because XIX Entertainment told him to.

    Also I think the majority of the Olympic track endurance squad (male and female) are currently training in California. Might as well tag along the back of the big local group ride whilst you're there.
  • RonB
    RonB Posts: 3,984
    profile-04.jpg

    Stage 4 and yet more stunning scenery today as we pass through Monterey County, over the Bixby Bridge and through the Big Sur big redwoods (prob not literally but it is possible to ride right through some of the bigger ones).

    1599px-Bixby_Creek_Bridge%2C_California%2C_USA_-_May_2013.jpg

    GOT3.jpg

    We could be in for an exciting finish once again, with the race ending on the Laguna Seca race track an the famous Corkscrew bend before the finishing straight.

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    Source: Wikipedia, Redwoodhikes, Louie Traub
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Would be more fun going the other way!
    _
  • RonB
    RonB Posts: 3,984
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Would be more fun going the other way!

    Sounds like a grand idea! Bit like some of those Vuelta finishes from a couple of years back.

    Who's likely to be up for it today? After comitting a number of rider to the chase up Gibraltar Road yesterday I wonder if this could be a stage for BMC's Greg Van Avermaet.

    Having said that it might suit Sagan as well, and he took it easy on the MTF in the last stage.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,535
    SpecialGuestStar wrote:
    dish_dash wrote:
    WTF are we doing here?
    105727__BH17532.jpg

    Not much (as usual)

    137(135)Wiggins Bradley Team Wiggins

    F@ck it, said Cav. I'm going in the break.

    This is actually true, got a minute with 6 others.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,399
    No tA Doctor wrote:
    SpecialGuestStar wrote:
    dish_dash wrote:
    WTF are we doing here?
    105727__BH17532.jpg

    Not much (as usual)

    137(135)Wiggins Bradley Team Wiggins

    F@ck it, said Cav. I'm going in the break.

    This is actually true, got a minute with 6 others.

    Awesome!
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    I nearly choked when I saw that.
  • Mad_Malx
    Mad_Malx Posts: 5,160
    RonB wrote:
    Current GC

    CisloryUYAAsKrE.jpg

    Haimar Zubeldia - ghost riding into top tens since 2000
  • RonB
    RonB Posts: 3,984
    edited May 2016
    Mad_Malx wrote:
    Haimar Zubeldia - ghost riding into top tens since 2000

    The Keyser Söze of the peloton?

    Here's a reminder of the breakaway riders today - Greg Daniel (AHB), Timo Roosen (TLJ), Michael Morkov (KAT), Tanner Putt (UHC), Ryan Anderson (DEN), William Routley (RLY) and Mark Cavendish (DDD).
  • onyourright
    onyourright Posts: 509
    Why is Cavendish in the break? Talk about unusual!

    Sometimes I have the feeling that top riders treat the Tour of California as a bit of a joke. They shouldn’t any more.
  • RonB
    RonB Posts: 3,984
    At 2HC it has the same ranking as the Baloise Belgium Tour, which starts next Wed :wink:

    Sometimes, as the Tour of Britain has found, it's not a bad plan to coincide with a GT rather than avoid them. Gives riders other options as they work towards other goals such as Tour de France in the case of California and the WCs in the case of Britain.

    Edit - 52km to go & live coverage has started. The group of 7 has just 4'40" on the main field.
  • RonB
    RonB Posts: 3,984
    38km to go and the gap is 4'30". Looks like the peloton has woken up and with Tinkoff setting the pace it's now really strung out as we head up the Pacific Highway. Cracking views of the ocean folks, nearly as good as Pembroke.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,399
    3 minutes with 28km to go now
  • jam1e
    jam1e Posts: 1,068
    Carlton seems to think that Boonen is planning on doing something this Tour, every day he gets a mention as a possible contender for the stage win.
  • RonB
    RonB Posts: 3,984
    Break is now in bits on the Cat2 climb with just under 10km to go. Daniel (again) from team Axeon (again) making a great effort in the lead with 200m to go to the top.
  • RonB
    RonB Posts: 3,984
    Here comes the last 1km climb to the race track. Daniel is still just ahead.
  • RonB
    RonB Posts: 3,984
    BMC vs Sagan as they head around the circuit.
  • RonB
    RonB Posts: 3,984
    edited May 2016
    Sagan gets the win from GVA. In terms of the overall, not much time lost despite such an exciting finish. Alaphilippe still in the gold jersey.

    Got to say the Axeon team really lit things up again today. Great stuff with Tao Geoghegan Hart 5th.
  • jam1e
    jam1e Posts: 1,068
    It's actually had some good racing year, been quite enjoyable.
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,031
    Yes been an interesting race - well some interesting stages anyway.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • philbar72
    philbar72 Posts: 2,229
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Would be more fun going the other way!

    having ridden the race track on a racing spec 250cc motorbike either way is great fun/ mildly terrifying. the corkscrew is a classic turn, and actually hurts without crashing!
  • deejay
    deejay Posts: 3,138
    RonB wrote:
    At 2HC it has the same ranking as the Baloise Belgium Tour, which starts next Wed :wink:
    Also California 2 HC race is rated the same as others this last month which were Tour of Turkey and 4 days Dunkerque.
    This month your Belgium Tour and yesterday the Tour of Norway and then the Tour de Luxembourg starts in a couple of weeks and all of them are 2 HC.
    So as some people might say :- there are plenty of shoot races if your interested. :roll:

    I think that California has a bigger varied terain than others except Turkey but the local riders seem to be of a better standard than Turks :shock:
    Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 1972
  • RonB
    RonB Posts: 3,984
    Today's stage takes us through the wine region of Lodi towards South Lake Tahoe. This could be a stage for a break, but if we end up with a bunch sprint finish it's worth spotting that very last kick uphill towards the ski resort at Heavenly Mountain (1.7km at 5.9%) which might, yet again mean that riders like Alapilippe, Sagan and GVA could be in contention.

    profile-05.jpg

    Today also sees the start of the women's race which will now follow the Men's stages until Sunday. I hope we get some coverage of this as there is a very strong field.

    http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Amgen_Tour_of_California_WE_2016_Stage_1_Startlist

    They're off in an hour and there is a specific tracker site set up to follow all the action here ...

    http://microsofttourtracker.amgentourofcalifornia.com/women/

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