2014 Tour Of California Thread

Discussion in 'The Roadie Hangout' started by mtnbikej, Feb 24, 2014.

  1. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2004
    Messages:
    4,654
    Likes Received:
    51
    Trophy Points:
    48
    LOS ANGELES (BRAIN) — Organizers of the Amgen Tour of California have announced the route of the 2014 edition of America's highest ranked stage race. This year's route progresses north to south from May 11 to May 18, covering 740 miles. Unlike previous editions, the toughest and most critical stages occur on the first few days, which organizers say will create a new dynamic in the battle for the overall title.
    "The peloton will face the longest stage, the fast and flat time trial, and the hardest stage in the first three days of racing. In past races, the time trial and Queen stages – which typically shape overall standings – came late in the race, and the leader after that point had to defend his top position for only one or two remaining days. This year, with several days of difficult racing to follow, it is likely 2014 race fans will see the coveted yellow leader jersey change hands throughout the week with top performers in close contention and challenging each other until the very finish," a race press release said.
    This year's race also will feature two women's days: a circuit race in Sacramento on May 11 and a time trial the following day in Folsom, on the same course that men will race on later that day.
    This year's stages:
    Stage 1: Sacramento to Sacramento, 123 miles; women's circuit race.
    Stage 2: Folsom time trial, 12.5 miles; men and women.
    Stage 3: San Jose to Mount Diablo Summit, 110 miles
    Stage 4: Monterey to Cambria, 105 miles
    Stage 5: Pismo Beach to Santa Barbara, 108 miles
    Stage 6: Santa Clarita to Mountain High, 97 miles
    Stage 7: Santa Clarita to Pasadena, 91 miles
    Stage 8: Thousand Oaks (Circuit Race), 84 miles

    Also on Friday, organizers announced the final seven Continental and Pro Continental teams invited to the race, adding to the previously announced list of top-tier ProTeams.
    This year's teams:
    UCI ProTeams: Belkin-Pro Cycling Team, Netherlands; BMC Racing Team, USA; Cannondale Pro Cycling, Italy; Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team, Belgium; ORICA-GreenEDGE, Australia; Team Giant-Shimano, Netherlands; Team Garmin-Sharp, USA; Team Sky, Great Britain; Trek Factory Racing, USA
    UCI Professional Continental Teams: UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, USA; Team Novo Nordisk, USA; Team NetApp-Endura, Germany
    UCI Continental Teams: Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies, USA; Team Jamis-Hagens Berman presented by Sutter Home, USA; Jelly Belly Cycling Team presented by MAXXIS, USA; Bissell Development Team, USA.
     
  2. da big hills

    da big hills happy night trails

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    Messages:
    1,442
    Likes Received:
    52
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Occupation:
    daily night grind
    Location:
    Conejo Valley
    Rock Store climb !!!! Four times !!!!
     
  3. jcampbell

    jcampbell going Gods speed since 75

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2007
    Messages:
    452
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Occupation:
    Believer, Husband and Father.
    Location:
    92620
    Home Page:
    Surprised nobody has any interest in the tour of Cali on this board anymore.
     
  4. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2004
    Messages:
    4,654
    Likes Received:
    51
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Looks like it's gonna be hot, windy and miserable out there.....looks like they made the right decision not to have a Palm Springs finish again this year.
     
  5. Dino Brown

    Dino Brown Sir Smack-Alot

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2007
    Messages:
    6,186
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    38
    I've been watching it!

    Day 1: Cavendish is the man. Not much else to say!
    The sprint to the finish was awesome to see. Especially enjoyed the aerial view.

    Day 2: Bradley Wiggens was a machine (literally and figuratively). Thought Phinney would have given him a run for his money. Wiggins was in a zone.

    *I never knew Sacramento had a 30+ mike bike trail that followed the river. Way cool!!!
    *Looking forward to all hell breaking loose on Day 3.
    *The way the commentators tried to play it up, Cavendish and Wiggens are here to WIN! Cav skipped a few races presumably to focus on this race (as opposed to wanting to relax in Sunny California)

    My DVR has been set!

    NBC Sports is televising the event. The race is aired mid-day. Highlights air late in the evening!
     
  6. mfoga

    mfoga Intense Whore

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2008
    Messages:
    8,147
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Location:
    Moreno Valley
    Make sure you set your DVR to run longer or you may be sad when it cuts off a few miles from the end.
     
  7. Redley78

    Redley78 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2010
    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Occupation:
    Mechanical Design Engineer
    Location:
    Aliso Viejo
    No surprise to me that Bradley Wiggins is wearing the leader jersey after the second stage of the tour.
    I wonder how he will do in stage 3, which is a probably the most exciting day IMO.
    The Mount Diablo stage is over 100 miles long with 10,900 ft of elevation.
    I remember Wiggins being a decent climber when he won the TDF, but i wonder if that was purely cuz he had Froome pulling him along those wicked climbs when he won.
     
  8. Schecky

    Schecky SoCalMTBubbs

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2005
    Messages:
    2,423
    Likes Received:
    12
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    North OC
    Kinda boring so far, but I am recording and watching. It should improve now. Nice to see Cavendish and Wiggens.
    We need an OC stage. I'd like to see something wacky, like a TT on Santiago canyon that finishes with a Maple Springs climb - on singlespeed bikes.
     
  9. da big hills

    da big hills happy night trails

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    Messages:
    1,442
    Likes Received:
    52
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Occupation:
    daily night grind
    Location:
    Conejo Valley
    I will be on top of the Rock Store climb, with my awing, ice chest, and chalk. I am going to the start to see the big 53's and maybe get some swag. Most everyone was running Dura Ace 53-42.
     
  10. Fullerton Mike

    Fullerton Mike I LOVE BIKES!

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2008
    Messages:
    856
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Going up Saturday to watch the finish in Pasadena. The race is great for the sport and they do great job showcasing CALIFORNIA. Each year it seems to be getting bigger and more teams want to come race the event. We have some of the best racers in the world at this years event. Great to see it on the tube every night.. I look forward to the Tour de France.
     
  11. CarbonLegs

    CarbonLegs Search for ultimate ride.

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    Messages:
    1,116
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Occupation:
    Moto Tech
    Location:
    In a crappy State
    I been following the Race, i caught Monday's TT.
     
  12. jcampbell

    jcampbell going Gods speed since 75

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2007
    Messages:
    452
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Occupation:
    Believer, Husband and Father.
    Location:
    92620
    Home Page:
    Should be an awesome day to watch being that its completely coastal. In reading the heat tweets from a few of the guys this morning I'd be they wish they had an earlier start for their century ride today.

    I wish we had planned to post up at Moonstone Beach to watch the finish.
     
  13. emejay

    emejay most annoying avatar

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2007
    Messages:
    302
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Occupation:
    dentist
    Location:
    Dana Point
    Thanks! I didn't know it was televised.....I watched the last half hour of the highlights last night and it was awesome! Aferwards, I had a hard time going to sleep, it made me want to go ride....
     
  14. blindman_22

    blindman_22 HAB Crew President

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2010
    Messages:
    2,353
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Occupation:
    computer stuff
    Location:
    now in fontucky
    I recorded it, but had to stop watching it. Got so annoyed that they weren't riding in a single file, but choose to take up the whole Lane

    Sent from my SCH-I605 using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
     
  15. Tedroy

    Tedroy Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2007
    Messages:
    1,520
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Designer Web/Graphic
    Location:
    Pasadena Ca
    Home Page:
    Jamis Boy sure screwed up on lap 2 of the circuit. He thinks he won the stage... arms up and all. But dude, theres another lap.
    Field sweeps by. oops.jpg oops2.jpg
     
  16. Fullerton Mike

    Fullerton Mike I LOVE BIKES!

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2008
    Messages:
    856
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    #fail LOL
     
  17. genusmtbkr5

    genusmtbkr5 STR Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2007
    Messages:
    8,618
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Lead Aircraft Mechanic for Major Airline at LAX
    Location:
    South Bay/Pedro
    Stage 8 on right now on NBC 4. These guys were flying down Mulholland. Granted the road is closed, but if you've ever ridden road in this are, you'll know the turns are tight and steep.
     
  18. UPSed

    UPSed SPECIALizED

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2008
    Messages:
    1,132
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Simi Valley
    We did a lap before the race started and I thought I flew down Decker at 29mph. They were going considerably faster. Was able to see the race from four different vantage points and though I'm not a true roadie I thoroughly enjoyed it.
     
  19. da big hills

    da big hills happy night trails

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    Messages:
    1,442
    Likes Received:
    52
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Occupation:
    daily night grind
    Location:
    Conejo Valley
    I loved it. We were at the top, and I just saw my group on TV. Weather was perfect and race was excellent. The Rock Store is steep. I rode part of it and suffered, they were out speeding the sprinters along side.
     
  20. UPSed

    UPSed SPECIALizED

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2008
    Messages:
    1,132
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Simi Valley
    I looked for you as I reached the top but of course I had no idea who I was looking for. ☺
     

Share This Page

Help keep STR alive, please click the donation button below