2011 Tour of Utah 2.1 August 9-14

[just some guy]

Good signing for Sky Henao - Hopefully Uran and Henao go to the Giro and Bust it up.

On another note where is Ryo ?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Anybody know if these schedules have been confirmed?
http://www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/tv-listings

 

[Tuarts]

Not far off in my estimate of whinging about the tracker. Whilst a lot of post were single lines I am just surprised that there were so many people discussing this race compared to Eneco or Pologne. Especially considering the Euros that are on here. I guess there is a much larger US fanbase that come out of the woodwork (the clinic?) whenever a US race is on.

This is merely an observation btw.

 

[icefire]

Not far off in my estimate of whinging about the tracker. Whilst a lot of post were single lines I am just surprised that there were so many people discussing this race compared to Eneco or Pologne. Especially considering the Euros that are on here. I guess there is a much larger US fanbase that come out of the woodwork (the clinic?) whenever a US race is on.

This is merely an observation btw.

I guess one of the reasons why people has been discussing Utah more than Poland or Eneco is because there was a team who fulfilled everyone's expectations to have an agressive (and entertaining) race. This is the reason why Utah has been much more entertaining than California despite their not very dissimilar courses.

Let's just hope organisers take note. Luckily for them, there are some USA WT teams with a couple of riders strong enough to contest and win, so they keep their local fan base interested in the race. Otherwise, this would have been owned by the Colombians and the organiser would probably be forced to follow the way of the Montepaschi Strade Bianche, denying invitations to past winners.

 

[hatcher]

Also, Utah was live at a better time for most European viewers.

 

[BillytheKid]

I guess one of the reasons why people has been discussing Utah more than Poland or Eneco is because there was a team who fulfilled everyone's expectations to have an agressive (and entertaining) race. This is the reason why Utah has been much more entertaining than California despite their not very dissimilar courses.

Let's just hope organisers take note. Luckily for them, there are some USA WT teams with a couple of riders strong enough to contest and win, so they keep their local fan base interested in the race. Otherwise, this would have been owned by the Colombians and the organiser would probably be forced to follow the way of the Montepaschi Strade Bianche, denying invitations to past winners.

Points of disagreement. Utah is not similar to the Cali in many ways. The altitude is much greater. The Wasatch rise out of basin that in already about mile high (true of much of the greater Rocky mountains). The greater altitude is discounted, but the Columbians have no trouble with it because the Andes offer even greater height. Most would agree the course offers more climbing than the Cali. The only thing needed is more Columbian teams....as good as Gobernacion was I have to say Radio Shack countered very well on yesterday's stage. Leipheimer is dammed if he does and dammed if not. I think he could have won the stage, he looked very easy on that last climb.

 

[RedheadDane]

That was a great race!

Here's for hoping the broadcast will have improved next year...

 

[BillytheKid]

That was a great race!

Here's for hoping the broadcast will have improved next year...

And I missed most of it! I am hoping to get up to Colorado for few stages later this month.

 

[jens_attacks]

so did they beat the levi's record on snowbird?

 

[BillytheKid]

so did they beat the levi's record on snowbird?

No mention of it that I've come across???

 

[RedheadDane]

And I missed most of it! I am hoping to get up to Colorado for few stages later this month.

And you're even in the same timezone!

I think... closer than me anyway...

 

[kielbasa]

so did they beat the levi's record on snowbird?

If you're talking about the record from 1996 of around 43 minutes, that's from an annual amateur hill climb that started around 3 miles below the canyon (10 miles total). A few years ago they changed the location of the start, which I believe shortened the race a little bit, so I don't think it will ever be surpassed officially.

I've done that race a few times and it usually took 10-11 minutes to get to the bottom of the climb, so for comparison it would have to take him less than 33 minutes or so. Based on my observation of the dailymotion video, I'd say that Henao/Lepheimer did it faster than that this year.

For another comparison, I won this hill climb in the the masters category couple of years ago and it took me just under 40 min for the climb.

 

[The Hitch]

Chapeau Levi. Awesome course and awesome lineup and he did it.

 

[benpounder]

Your love of Levi has made you completely unable to understand why other people dislike him,

Interesting response from someone whose screen name is inextricably tied to one specific rider...

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

Interesting response from someone whose screen name is inextricably tied to one specific rider...

Awww, is that all you have got? I was expecting a comeback that refuted the points that I made, but all you can muster is this limp wristed and infantile response.

Tell you what. When I try to deny obvious truths about Damiano Cunego then you can call me on it.

 

[greenedge]

A really good race. Henao did great. Pity Mancebo lost time and Sutherland did not go so well. Levi pulled it off so congrats to him.

 

[Deagol]

I hate to see a stage victory or final GC decided this way.....

 

[The Hitch]

I hate to see a stage victory or final GC decided this way.....

I wonder what language Levi and Sergio communicated in.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

I wonder what language Levi and Sergio communicated in.

What language did hobbits speak?

 

[Deagol]

I wonder what language Levi and Sergio communicated in.

I'm guessing Henao speaks English ?
I don't rememeber if I saw/heard any interviews with him, though. Perhaps someone else knows..

On a related note: all the articles on the upcoming Colorado race that I have seen where they list the favorites, no one is mentioning any of the Columbians as a favorite. Since there will be Gobernacion and another Columbian team, I wonder if this a glaring oversight on the part of the analysts ?

None of the writers seem to be thinking of Henao or any of his countryman as a favorite.

 

[this_is_edie]

I'm guessing Henao speaks English ?
I don't rememeber if I saw/heard any interviews with him, though. Perhaps someone else knows..

On a related note: all the articles on the upcoming Colorado race that I have seen where they list the favorites, no one is mentioning any of the Columbians as a favorite. Since there will be Gobernacion and another Columbian team, I wonder if this a glaring oversight on the part of the analysts ?

None of the writers seem to be thinking of Henao or any of his countryman as a favorite.

yeah, that's strange. I think that some (most?) of the preview articles were written before the Utah race. And for some reason, never updated.

Personally, I hope the Colombians blow the roof off the race.