Coach P talks about ideal timing for the big week of cycling; particularly for East Coast folks prepping for Lake Placid.
Note: The intro date is wrong, this video is from 2/17/09.
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Archive for February, 2009
Tour of California, Stage 2: The Coast & The Climb!
On February - 17 - 2009
Stage 2: Sausalito to Santa Cruz
Third day of the tour, our second day of riding, and second day of rain. We started a little south of San Francisco in Pacifica, giving our group a good 15 mile head start on the Pro Peloton as they ventured across the Golden Gate Bridge. As the video from CycleTo.com shows below, even the pros weren’t that excited about the day.
Watch Jens and Jurgen – S*** at the Start
Our group was only just a bit more excited, and we found a way to roll down the coast on the PCH 1 despite the conditions.
There was a hotly contested sprint (See video below) that coach Rich only just took ahead of Dan “Soigneur” Socie and Bryan “Have You Seen My Foam?” Masse.
We then turned left up Tunitas Creek Road for a 10+ mile stint, with over 7.5 of them climbing. It was just an epic ride, starting in farmland and then gradually building up to slight forest, changing over to redwoods, then switchbacks and eucalyptus trees and more. There were parts no wider than a car and the fans stiil turned out in earnest despite the conditions. It was a tough climb, and a tiny part of you knows that the peloton would just big ring the whole thing….just sick.
Our group pulled at the top of the first KOM, with just over 30 miles on our legs with the hopes of living to fight tomorrow’s epic climb of Sierra Road (and more). Spirits are high, lots of joking and a little bit of fear as we look ahead to two more quality days of work before the TT break in Solvang!
Ride safe!
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Tour of California, Stage 1: It Begins!
On February - 16 - 2009
Stage 1: Davis to Santa Rosa
Second day of the tour, our first day of riding, and, as always, an adventure! With a forecast of rain, wind, more rain, and temps in the low 50′s, we began the day with the squad kitted in full battle gear: gore-tex, layers, and full rain gear. Coach Rich decided to toss Coach Patrick into the scrum on the first day. Welcome to Cali!
The first 20 or so miles were flat-ish, through vineyards, but with gusting head and crosswinds. Coach Patrick took the first sprint points of the tour, with a win in Winters, while Coach Rich managed to get the van stuck in the mud about 7 miles into the day…but a quick call to AAA saved the day!
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The Lance Effect
On February - 15 - 2009
Lance is good for cycling.
I put my video camera on the ground while I was shooting the pics above. Watch it all the way through to see all people running across the street to Lance coming back the other way. What can’t see is Christian VanderVelde who is on the road behind Lance.
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Tour of California Camp 2009: Prologue Stage
On February - 15 - 2009
Floyd is Baaaaaack!
Camp hasn’t even started yet, but thanks to today’s electrifying prologue in Sacramento everyone got their fill of cycling. From starting gates to S-turns, from Lance to Levi to Landis, from Frankie Andreu to Dr. McDreamy (yes, that doctor!), today was chock full of action. View the photo gallery slideshow here. Listen to our recap podcast here. Follow us on twitter.com here.
With all campers and bikes accounted for, we were free to roam the 4.2 km course. A light rain began to sprinkle towards the end of the TT. The dark clouds only made things more dramatic, with Lance and Basso staring very shortly before Levi in the top slot as returning champion. It was amazing to see the energy build over the day. Without a doubt the largest cheers were saved for Mr. Armstrong himself. The crowd seemed to swell as he neared and whipped by us at lightning speed.
Riley, Camp Mascot
The most intrepid campers got pics alongside their favorite pros. The rest of us settled for the racing action. But all of us are excited for Sunday’s long ride starting in Davis. After a quick admin meeting, a great dinner and a clandestine meeting with Rich of Weelbuilder.com, we are all anxiously waiting the go ahead fo Sunday!
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