2012 Tour of California

[just some guy]

tour of Cali 2012 route announced

The 13 Host Cities for the 2012 Amgen Tour of California include:

• Stage 1: Sunday, May 13 – Santa Rosa
• Stage 2: Monday, May 14 – San Francisco to Santa Cruz County
• Stage 3: Tuesday, May 15 – San Jose to Livermore
• Stage 4: Wednesday, May 16 – Sonora (new for 2012) to Clovis
• Stage 5: Thursday, May 17 – Bakersfield (Individual Time Trial)
• Stage 6: Friday, May 18 – Palmdale to Big Bear Lake
• Stage 7: Saturday, May 19 – Ontario (new for 2012) to Mt. Baldy
• Stage 8: Sunday, May 20 – Los Angeles/L.A. LIVE

 

[just some guy]

Velonations take on the route

 

[theyoungest]

The Amgen Tour of California continues to draw global attention as one of the most anticipated cycling events of the year – one that attracts Olympic medalists, world champions and the top Tour de France competitors from all over the globe.

From Cyclingnews' objective write-up of the race. Or is it a copy-paste from the organizer's website?

 

[just some guy]

From Cyclingnews' objective write-up of the race. Or is it a copy-paste from the organizer's website?

Safe to assume it is from official website - CN does not product to many original pieces.

 

[Boeing]

No Orange County again

 

[cleverhans]

No OC, but we got Bakersfield!

 

[Johnalex13]

*** edited by mod ***

 

[The Hitch]

Well Mount Baldy is good. Dont know about the other profiles or how mountinous they are.

This years course was quite good imo, hope theres the descent finish somewhere that was cancelled this year.

San Jose was a mtf this year but it only seems to be a start city this year.

Also is LA a time trial, or are the organisers already feeling confident enough to start a traditional major city criterium like 2 of the real GTS do, with a Chants Elysee like finish?

From Cyclingnews' objective write-up of the race. Or is it a copy-paste from the organizer's website?

What do you expect. They had the 2010 Cali (most boring race in history) as 1 of the greatest races of the season.

Clearly there is more than just a media - event, relationship here.

Also, everyone be prepared for the crap that is going to come from the poster "Polish" at some point in this thread about how its the new Grand Tour and all the Great Tour de France favourites (ie Andy Schleck and Chris Horner) will be coming here and not the Giro because its the bigger race, bla bla bla.

 

[maltiv]

The question is...how many of the top 10 places on GC will go to Radioshack? I'm guessing about six. 1-2-3-4-7-8. Insert some of the Garmin guys and one from BMC in the remaining places and you've got the top 10!

 

[Boeing]

From Cyclingnews' objective write-up of the race. Or is it a copy-paste from the organizer's website?

An announcement is a little different than a write-up.

Timing. they posted news before velonews even

I would expect review to follow

 

[The Hitch]

Sadly Cadel will probably do this race, and we will get a lot of crap about how this proves its bigger than the Giro.

Hopefully Cav will stick with the Giro otherwise they would say that the worlds 2 greatest riders are doing it.

Hell if Lance came out of retirement, then it would be - the 3 greatest riders in the history of the sport, are doing TOC.

 

[just some guy]

Sadly Cadel will probably do this race, and we will get a lot of crap about how this proves its bigger than the Giro.

Hopefully Cav will stick with the Giro otherwise they would say that the worlds 2 greatest riders are doing it.

Hell if Lance came out of retirement, then it would be - the 3 greatest riders in the history of the sport, are doing TOC.

I don´t think so he like that little warm up race in France after altitude - not what I would expect.

He did say a later start than last year in interviews - which has changed to an earlier start.

but similar program to 2011 I would say

 

[Jamsque]

Here's hoping they run some ****ing drug tests this time.

 

[El Oso]

No Orange County again

Is OC a logistical PITA to deal with as far as permits? I know that's why they won't come down to San Diego. My understanding is it's a PITA to put on a cycling event down here. It's utter BS that they won't do anything south of LA.

 

[jens_attacks]

i hope it will be a tour of california edition just like this year,an enjoyable show.
any chance for some colombians?i know that americans were impressed by gobernacion and they would like to have them again in races over there.
and papy horner will be back again,ready to take this!

 

[avanti]

.............. Dont know about the other profiles or how mountinous they are.
........................

The Palmdale-Bear Lake may be a killer in altitude gain if the course is similar to the 2010 stage to Big Bear. I was at the finish (7,000 ft) and riders staggered in for more than 30 minutes behind the stage winner.

 

[Kwibus]

The question is...how many of the top 10 places on GC will go to Radioshack? I'm guessing about six. 1-2-3-4-7-8. Insert some of the Garmin guys and one from BMC in the remaining places and you've got the top 10!

If they won't be doing doping tests again then I'm sure atleast 6 get top 10.

 

[Mellow Velo]

The Palmdale-Bear Lake may be a killer in altitude gain if the course is similar to the 2010 stage to Big Bear. I was at the finish (7,000 ft) and riders staggered in for more than 30 minutes behind the stage winner.

If the course is similar, they might as well rename it Big Bore Lake.
Didn't the Cali folks learn nothing from Colorado, with regard to these endless drags?
Really disappointed to see it return.
Baldy's OK, but I wish they could find a nice, short, killer ramp somewhere.

 

[Siriuscat]

Can we give it it's proper intended name please.......

The Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer Help the Aged Charity Tour presented by Amgen

 

[ansimi]

The question is...how many of the top 10 places on GC will go to Radioshack? I'm guessing about six. 1-2-3-4-7-8. Insert some of the Garmin guys and one from BMC in the remaining places and you've got the top 10!

Levi will be at OPQS so you need to save a spot for him. Michael Rogers might be back for a go or somebody from Sky?

I imagine Radioshack will ride all in for Horner as the defending champion and only American GC guy but they'll probably get 1 or 2 others in the top 10. Garmin might have more than them though.

The route sounds like a minor improvement? Of course, this year should have been better without the weather problems.

 

[Quixote]

Sadly Cadel will probably do this race, and we will get a lot of crap about how this proves its bigger than the Giro.

Hopefully Cav will stick with the Giro otherwise they would say that the worlds 2 greatest riders are doing it.

Hopefully, both Cadel and Cav will disappoint you and join the rest of the cycling royalty on our backroads. Hey, what about Alberto? He was out here last month...was that to check out a couple of the routes?
I've just seen the release of the host cities, but I don't think the actual routes have been announced. Up here (Northern Cal) it looks like a prologue-type event in Santa Rosa followed by the San Francisco to Santa Cruz route of previous years. The San Jose to Livermore could be interesting with some really steep profiles going up Mt. Hamilton. Stage 4 starts in the gold rush town of Sonora...it will be a beautiful stage with plenty of climbing.
I'm stoked! Tell you what, Hitch...I'll try to get a photo of Cadel and Cav holding a "WISH YOU WERE HERE" sign for you.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Sadly Cadel will probably do this race, and we will get a lot of crap about how this proves its bigger than the Giro.

Hopefully Cav will stick with the Giro otherwise they would say that the worlds 2 greatest riders are doing it.

Hell if Lance came out of retirement, then it would be - the 3 greatest riders in the history of the sport, are doing TOC.

Don't think so. Doesn't fit well with how he will be preparing for the tour.

Why the hell did they go to Big Bear again. That stage was a fail last year.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Hopefully, both Cadel and Cav will disappoint you and join the rest of the cycling royalty on our backroads. Hey, what about Alberto? He was out here last month...was that to check out a couple of the routes?
I've just seen the release of the host cities, but I don't think the actual routes have been announced. Up here (Northern Cal) it looks like a prologue-type event in Santa Rosa followed by the San Francisco to Santa Cruz route of previous years. The San Jose to Livermore could be interesting with some really steep profiles going up Mt. Hamilton. Stage 4 starts in the gold rush town of Sonora...it will be a beautiful stage with plenty of climbing.
I'm stoked! Tell you what, Hitch...I'll try to get a photo of Cadel and Cav holding a "WISH YOU WERE HERE" sign for you.

I'd say given the fact that the Giro has put in a clutch of flat stages for next year, that you have ZERO chance of seeing Cav in Cali.
Italy will entice the world champion, because he rates winning stages in the 2nd GT higher than those in the 4th.

Why the hell did they go to Big Bear again. That stage was a fail last year.

Heck, ACF. We have found something we agree upon.

 

[Quixote]

Don't think so. Doesn't fit well with how he will be preparing for the tour.

Why the hell did they go to Big Bear again. That stage was a fail last year.

No Big Bear last year...you're thinking of the Tahoe stage that they abandoned due to snow...and yes, that was a mistake given their dramatic weather changes in the month of May.
But hey, Ausyfan, you've GOT to use your influence on Cadel and get him to ride California. I've already got the shrimps on the barby. I promise you...he's the rockstar of that team and California love rockstars!

 

[roundabout]

I think Ontario and Mount Baldy are very close together? Wonder what the route will be.