2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge; Stage 1, Durango to Telluride

[BillytheKid]

http://www.usaprocyclingchallenge.c...s/downloads/page/UPC-2012-Stage-1-Profile.pdf

Stage 1; Durango to Telluride 203 Kms.


Stage 1 will intitially take riders out of the San Juan Mountains but will make a right at Deloras and begin the long steady climb to the top of Lizard Head Pass which tops out at about 10,000 ft. A very good descent follows and then another short climb to Alta before dropping down into the flat run-in to Telluride. Telluride sits in a box canyon and is surrounded by some nice scenery and big peaks. An early break and the field will loose some riders, but the it will most likely stay intact for a likely bunch sprint. The finish in Telluride offers three 90 degree turns in short order to come to the finish line.

Live streaming: http://radioshacktourtracker.usaprocyclingchallenge.com Start: 12 pm EST, 10 am MST.

Start list: http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/2012-usa-pro-challenge-start-list

50% chance of rain today. It's the monsoon so these could very intense thunder storms with strong winds.

 

[Deagol]

Thanks for starting this thread. I will check in from time to time...
Live Coverage starts at 9:50 AM mountain time.

Looks line rain in telluride...

Crazy that this might end up a sprinter's stage..


Edit: online commentary says the riders don't think the super high altitude stages that fans want would result in exciting racing.... would be more like "a race of attrition at the back of the pack".

 

[BillytheKid]

A grab bag of names from the start list;

Fuglsang
Nibali
Basso
Moser
Janez Brajkovic
Cadel Evans
Tejay Van Garderen
Leipheimer
Horner
Klöden

 

[Deagol]

The coverage is frustrating (again). they have no footage of the race, but rather the announcers talking at the finish, trying to fill time....

 

[BillytheKid]

The coverage is frustrating (again). they have no footage of the race, but rather the announcers talking at the finish, trying to fill time....

The plane won't be up until later as per usual in most races. Lets just hope they can fly the weather. The FAA regs say you have to fly at somethingn like 3,000 ft above the 14,000 ft peaks which means wing icing like last year. Hopefully, they will have a weather capable aircraft this year.

 

[Deagol]

what about video from motorcycles ?

 

[screaming fist]

what about video from motorcycles ?

an aircraft is needed to transmit the motocams' signals

 

[BillytheKid]

I am a loss as to why they cannot get this done. Great pictures make for great racing.

Not worth watching for the moment. NBC Sport Network is to air at 1:30 MST, 3:30 EST. Pictures by then?

 

[cineteq]

Stetina, Danielson, Zabriskie, Voigt, Nibali in the break, 2.35 gap.

 

[Deagol]

RE: planes & motorcycles.. ahh, makes sense, thanks.

They are talking about Lachlan Morton now. He was a huge talent who used to race locally, but is from Australia. They said they (aussies) lived up in Breckenridge. That may help explain why they were so good on Mt Evans..

 

[Deagol]

Finaly, some live video

 

[teiwaz]

Hey! Seems like the gap is quite stable. Are all the riders in the breakaway contributing to the work? I guess Garmin and Liquigas are pulling, but what about the others, like Hincapie, Velits and Radioshack riders who have their GC guys in the peloton? Just beeing curious as I can not see the video (internet too slow), just the text updates.

 

[Rocksteady]

Interesting race strategy so far...

 

[Yingge]

Whois the 2nd BMS rider in the break? Tracker only lists Hincapie from BMC.

Edit - answered by a closeup - TJVG.

 

[Carols]

Live pictures Go Shark!!!!

 

[webvan]

Wonder when it will go live on Eurosport...

 

[Deagol]

strange move, Danielson & Nibali leaving the break behind so soon...

 

[maxmartin]

Nibali and Danielson are insane

 

[Carols]

No idea what the objective is, Nibs what's up.....

 

[Deagol]

they have not even reached Rico yet. It's a long way to the summit. bizare

coming back together now. Good way to test their strength ?????

the break is droping riders, though

Maybe they intending to caus a split ?

 

[Carols]

Live TV comes on here in the states in 1hr 15 mins

 

[maxmartin]

No idea what the objective is, Nibs what's up.....

I think Basso even Dugan for GC, Nibali just want to show off the outfit to pay back the sponsor and train for WC

 

[pastronef]

huge break! danielson nibali TJVG jens hincapie et all

 

[Eshnar]

How many kms left? Estimated finishing time? please?

 

[Deagol]

Zabriskie dropped


53.4 miles (not KMs) to go

ETA : ??