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!
Popularity: 8% [?]
