2012 Tour of California May 18 stage 7: Ontario - Mt. Baldy 126 km

[AntonioRossi]

The queen stage of the ToC will surely shake up the GC. This is a relatively short stage but it is one with a lot of climbing. Surely Sagan will not win here. The mountain top finish is quite difficult. Mt. Baldy village to the ski lifts is a 7.5 km climb averaging 8.7%. The GC guys will have to fight it out during this stage considering stage 8 will most likely not affect the GC at all. Gesink is the favorite right now but Velits is coming closer. Horner seems like he will not win this year while last year he and Levi solo'd to the stage win.

Expected finish time is a little before 4 pm PDT. I will be watching near the finish line cheering the rabo guys on Can't wait for some good racing, hopefully..finally

strava profile
http://app.strava.com/events/atoc-2012/Stage7

 

[blaxland]

so this is what we have all been waiting for a MTF"my money is on Gesink with danielson and velitis close behind.I just hope things start happening a bit further away from the finish in this stage?This is Gesink's stage for sure...

 

[The Hitch]

Hope to see some of the fans from last year.

Gesink win, Velits 2nd

 

[CQmanager]

Hope to see some of the fans from last year.

Gesink win, Velits 2nd

Sorry, not going this year but many of my cycling buddies are

BTW No way Velits 2nd. The finish is just too steep for him. Trust me, I rode all the way up last year and it was steeeeeep. So smaller, lighter guys will rule the show. I also remember Velits being way behind but he wasnt riding good last year

 

[BillytheKid]

Sorry, not going this year but many of my cycling buddies are

BTW No way Velits 2nd. The finish is just too steep for him. Trust me, I rode all the way up last year and it was steeeeeep. So smaller, lighter guys will rule the show. I also remember Velits being way behind but he wasnt riding good last year

Hoping Horner can have at last hurrah for the stage, but afraid Levi will have his wheel. The GC contenders might let him go on a short leash at the top. Nibali also could thwart him.

 

[BillytheKid]

How many here think this stage should have come before Big Bear? Should Big Bear be the final stage to get more out of it?

Georges did a real ride, congrats, but it was a stage that didn't see the GC riders attacking each other ahead of today's stage.

 

[CQmanager]

How many here think this stage should have come before Big Bear? Should Big Bear be the final stage to get more out of it?

Georges did a real ride, congrats, but it was a stage that didn't see the GC riders attacking each other ahead of today's stage.

Not even sure why Big Bear is in ... or if they are doing Big Bear they should go from the other side and climb Onyx Summit which is not the steepest either but about 30 miles with close to 6000 feet of elevation gain and topping 8450 Ft.

After all, there is so many great climbs in SoCal so the whole Big Bear is just a $$$ BS. Until there is a MTF on Palomar Mt. the ToC will be viewed as weak race.

 

[BillytheKid]

Not even sure why Big Bear is in ... or if they are doing Big Bear they should go from the other side and climb Onyx Summit which is not the steepest either but about 30 miles with close to 6000 feet of elevation gain and topping 8450 Ft.

After all, there is so many great climbs in SoCal so the whole Big Bear is just a $$$ BS. Until there is a MTF on Palomar Mt. the ToC will be viewed as weak race.

I agree on the $$$, but if there going to use it, you might as well get more out of it. You can expect this in a GT, but putting this stage last or even first would animate it more. I am happy for Georges, but with the whole GC on the line, it would not have happened. The grade of the climb does not matter that much if the final prize is up for grabs. You would see scattered groups and frantic chasing. Run the race south to north and put it first with fresh legs and, bang, it's totally on.

 

[greenedge]

I will tip Horner for the Win. He looks the best climber here and he has a super strong team.

Nibali to outsprint Gesink but Gesink to win the overall.

 

[ElChingon]

After all, there is so many great climbs in SoCal so the whole Big Bear is just a $$$ BS. Until there is a MTF on Palomar Mt. the ToC will be viewed as weak race.

Heck they could start in Pine Valley, ride up Sunrise Highway, then back up to Julian, down Banner Grade then up Montezuma then up Palomar (South Grade), now we'd be talking about all time epic stage.

 

[robert_c]

Does anyone know why they aren't riding through downtown Glendora this year? They ride right by it.

 

[Woody22]

No love for TJVG??

Does anyone give him a chance to stick with Gesink tomorrow??

I do.

 

[dlwssonic]

TJVG to hang in there and limit his loses well and win ATOC!!!

 

[ghostofjoy]

I'll be on the baldy switchbacks for this, can't wait! the ride up to the village, a ceremonial lunchtime beer or two, and then a ride halfway up the switchbacks should make for a great afternoon. last year was fantastic, hopefully the racers actually bring it on the climb.

Does anyone know why they aren't riding through downtown Glendora this year? They ride right by it.

Downtown Glendora consists of about two blocks, it's hard to see the purpose in diverting the entire race off of sierra madre, through foothill, and back up gmr.

 

[Kwibus]

No love for TJVG??

Does anyone give him a chance to stick with Gesink tomorrow??

I do.

I wouldn't be surprised if he can stick with Gesink, but that would be because Gesink will dissapoint on the climb. I'm not confident about his climbing at all. I so badly hope I'm wrong, because I'd love to see him win this all.

Anyways TJVG won't be near the winner.

 

[Kwibus]

Riders I will follow with curiousity tonight:

-Dumoulin
-Duarte
-Meyer (in his attempts to become a climber)
-Kelderman
-Bardet
-Atapuma

 

[theyoungest]

I say Velits for the overall, and Danielson for the win on Baldy.

Gesink just isn't there yet, and the climb doesn't suit Van Garderen at all.

 

[RedheadDane]

Pssst! It should be May 19.

I've no clue who's gonna win, neither the stage nor the GC. But I am so gonna stay up and watch it!
Sleep? Totally overrated anyway!

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Kind of crappy when the result of this race simply depends on what kind of a shape Gesink managed to get despite his injury this winter. Normally there's no way TJVG or Velits would be anywhere near Gesink on a climb like this........

This sucks, I really want Gesink to win this

(and he will if he managed to get any shape)

 

[Kazistuta]

Oh, sad times.....

Me and my band have our biggest concert (probably ever) tonight, with getin at 4:30 PM (just around the Cervinia finish) and concert at half past midnight (just around Mt. Baldy time) - so two great stages I will miss, thankfullly due to another great event, though.

Hoping for Danielson tonight, betting on "Il Gesink".

 

[Arnout]

I wouldn't be surprised if he can stick with Gesink, but that would be because Gesink will dissapoint on the climb. I'm not confident about his climbing at all. I so badly hope I'm wrong, because I'd love to see him win this all.

Anyways TJVG won't be near the winner.

Gesink didn't look comfortable on the Big Bear stage near the end, I don't expect him to do well to be honest.

 

[greenedge]

That little sprint thing probably did not suit him, nor probably the heat.

 

[theyoungest]

Arnout tends to point out how bad Gesink looks at every race he does, that's nothing new

Basically you can't gauge anything from his suffer face, it's nearly always there. During his worst performances, and during his best ones.

 

[Arnout]

Arnout tends to point out how bad Gesink looks at every race he does, that's nothing new

Basically you can't gauge anything from his suffer face, it's nearly always there. During his worst performances, and during his best ones.

Lol why do you always make things up? I was talking about his position in the peloton and the way he rode...

I was not talking about the sprint by the way, but about the ascent.

 

[Leonardus]

If Gesink has his climbing abilities back than it's all over and he will take the stage and gc. If not than my guess would be Horner for the stage and Velits the gc. I wonder what Garmin will do with their men in the gc, early attacks or just wait and see what happens in the final?