2012 Tour of California

[Quixote]

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.

That could be, Mellow. Last year Cav did the Giro...but I think I remember hearing him lamenting that route. Anyway, does anyone know if the riders have any input in which races they participate. I would hope to see Ben Swift back again...he had a really good California tour. But, I assume that he might be one of the lead out team for Cav and thus be doing the same races.

 

[Nielsa]

Last year Cav did the Giro...but I think I remember hearing him lamenting that route.

Yeah. "I didn't make the choice [to ride California]. I love Italy, I love the Giro but I'm paid to do this now, so I have to do it."

 

[BeachBum]

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

Ontario is slightly to the SE of last year's Mt Baldy start town, Claremont. I'm sure the route will be almost the same as last year, just maybe 10 or so more miles.

I'm with the others in wanting to rename the Big Bear stage to Big Bore. There was so much climbing that nobody would/could attack. Last 30k mostly flat (at 6000+ ft, but mostly flat). Sagan won it (in 2010) from a small group and that was cool, but it is a sad excuse for a mtn stage, given what they COULD have picked.

More fail-- the organizers continue to pretend as though the state doesn't exist north of Santa Rosa, east of the Sierra, or south of LA. Why not Gibralter Rd in Santa Barbara? Palm Springs? US 395? Mendocino County? There are dozens of other places to race in this state. Surely there aren't permit hassles EVERYWHERE?

Somebody asked about the LA stage-- on the offical site it is described as "The final stage of the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, Stage 8 will take place in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, sending riders in and around L.A. LIVE, the sports and entertainment district which includes STAPLES Center and Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE within its footprint, for an epic overall finish to a thrilling race. " This is the area of the TT in 2009. Hopefully more of a circuit race than a US-type criterium.

At least Sonora-Clovis has the potential for some good racing-- profile should suit rouleurs.

Overall grade: C- YMMV.

 

[roundabout]

Thanks.

Silly me for forgetting about this years route already.

So it would seem that the Big Bear stage may be a rerun of 2010 (same start and finish) and the stage to Mt Baldy will almost be a repeat of this year.

 

[The Hitch]

Baldy's OK, but I wish they could find a nice, short, killer ramp somewhere.

There was this out of this world ramp that our friend jobiwan posted in the unused climbs thread in LA.

300m at 30%.

The last stage is in LA, maybe they use that

 

[The Hitch]

Baldy's OK, but I wish they could find a nice, short, killer ramp somewhere.

There was this out of this world ramp that our friend jobiwan posted in the unused climbs thread in LA.

300m at 30%.

The last stage is in LA, maybe they use that

That could be, Mellow. Last year Cav did the Giro...but I think I remember hearing him lamenting that route.

Stapleton made Cav do Cali in 2010 but Cav said he would rather be at the Giro

 

[AntonioRossi]

seems like a decent route, glad to Mt Baldy is included again

 

[auscyclefan94]

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!

They did have Big Bear in the 2010 edition (last year). Sagan won.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/5th-amgen-tour-of-california-2-hc/stage-6/results

Sorry, but I don't want Cadel to do Cail when he could be doing altitude training, course recon for tdf or resting after winning Liege Bastogne Liege.

 

[Quixote]

They did have Big Bear in the 2010 edition (last year).

Aha! Of course you are correct...you know your stuff.

 

[greenedge]

I think the route sounds good. Chris Horner to win again maybe but Levi to put up a good fight. Maybe Porte could do this along with Coldportes ( good exposure for both of them )

 

[Kwibus]

There was this out of this world ramp that our friend jobiwan posted in the unused climbs thread in LA.

300m at 30%.

The last stage is in LA, maybe they use that



Stapleton made Cav do Cali in 2010 but Cav said he would rather be at the Giro

That's why I love Cav. He just says what he thinks instead of the political "Yeh I really love being here. This is such a great race. This race is the future of cycling" , because the sponsor wanted the rider to say that.

 

[CobbleStoner]

it sounds like they are honing in on a good race, nice to have the Big Bear stage back, hope they can tweak the last few k for a better finish and really cool that they are sticking with the Palmdale start, instead of Pasadena, the Baldy stage is epic on a bunch of levels, but it is strange that they don't go into the OC for a stage, so many good routes, established cycling community, Olympic history, and lot's of money. very strange that they are abandoning the Thousand Oaks stage, that is where the Amgen headquarters are and the course is beautiful, tough, and very well attended, should have made that the constant tradition rather then a boring crit on horrible streets in a city that hates cyclists, kinda anti-climactic and not a good representation of cycling in Cali.

 

[craig1985]

So does this mean that Andy won't be allowed to treat the race as a pub crawl now?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

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.

It is a killer in terms of altitude gain - a LOT of climbing in that stage will hurt a lot of people.

Sadly it's all at about 3%, which means no real platforms for attacking. It was near enough the worst MTF in the history of the sport in 2010, so much so that they rewrote the history to say that 2011 would see the first MTF in California's history despite calling Big Bear that in 2010.

I'm really disappointed, because I thought they'd learnt from that mistake this year.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Big bear is a Levi climb. That's why they have it in there.

 

[Polish]

Sorry, but I don't want Cadel to do Cail when he could be doing altitude training, course recon for tdf or resting after winning Liege Bastogne Liege.

ACF, I must say I am disappointed with your attitude

Cadel has many fans out here in the USA.
And out here in California.
Lots of fans.

They would love to see the Tour de France Champ in person.
He recieved a very warm welcome the last time he raced here iirc.

"But I would rather see Cadel resting waa waa"
Disappointing. Sigh.

 

[roundabout]

Why is it a Levi climb? It's not difficult enough for Leipheimer to break away.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Why is it a Levi climb? It's not difficult enough for Leipheimer to break away.

Low gradients! Levi is a superior tt'er than Horner. Horner nor any other climber could possibly take time out of Levi on this climb. Levi can roll a hard consistent gear hence why it is a Levi climb.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Why is it a Levi climb? It's not difficult enough for Leipheimer to break away.

And of course he's never going to win a sprint. But I suppose the idea is it's not tough enough to drop him regardless of what form a climber is in, because there's just no real platform for an attack.

Although Levi's biggest victory in terms of his climbing is probably attacking to win on the Rettenbachferner, which is pretty much the Mortirolo, but 1000m higher up.

 

[auscyclefan94]

ACF, I must say I am disappointed with your attitude

Cadel has many fans out here in the USA.
And out here in California.
Lots of fans.

They would love to see the Tour de France Champ in person.
He recieved a very warm welcome the last time he raced here iirc.

"But I would rather see Cadel resting waa waa"
Disappointing. Sigh.

In saying that, it is very convenient for me if Cadel races ATOC. All stages are live in Aus and I can watch a few of them without being sleep deprived.

 

[roundabout]

Low gradients! Levi is a superior tt'er than Horner. Horner nor any other climber could possibly take time out of Levi on this climb. Levi can roll a hard consistent gear hence why it is a Levi climb.

I see your point, but I think Leipheimer in California isn't very likely to lose time on other types of climb even if he was outclimbed by Horner this year.

 

[Anonymous]

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?

Very possible that Sky will be sending Henao to beat up on the old guys.

Giro shaping up to be a very young squad, Thomas, Lofkvist, Appollonio, Dowsett, possibly Puccio.

Henao would be a good one to send to Cali..

 

[auscyclefan94]

Surely Rogers would be the leader at Cali??? Course suits him quite well and he would tt better than Henao.

 

[roundabout]

Why not send both and let the race decide.

 

[Polish]

In saying that, it is very convenient for me if Cadel races ATOC. All stages are live in Aus and I can watch a few of them without being sleep deprived.

Well, if Cadel races here, you will see him signing lots of autographs and being treated very well. Kind of like Lance at the Tour Down Under

That week in May is one of the best for watching Pro Cycling.
Giro coverage ends and the ATOC coverage begins.
6+ hours of live coverage daily yahoo.

Hey, since you are a day ahead of us here in California - no spoilers please!