2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Stage 3, Gunnision to Aspen, 207 kms.

[BillytheKid]

2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Stage 3, Gunnision to Aspen, 207 kms.

Considered the queen stage. Two long ascents; starting with another gradual uphill from the start to the 14-mile dirt road climb of Cottonwood Pass topping out at 4000 meters and Independence Pass also topping out at just over the 4000 meter mark. Some 45 kms separate the the two climbs as the race turns north along the Arkansas River. The major selection on this stage came on the Independence Pass. There is a chance for regrouping on the long descent into Aspen, but a technical section just before the town allowed George Hincapie and current race leader Tejay Van Garderen to escape putting 45 seconds into a group containing Levi Leipheimer and Cadel Evans last year in wet weather.

http://radioshacktourtracker.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/ Live Streaming

Start time for Stage 3; 10:10 am MST, 12:10 EST

 

[BillytheKid]

Police have annouced Euro-fan imitators will not be tolerated on today's stage.

 

[killswitch]

This would have been the perfect stage for Nibali to get into a breakaway. Not that he won't but would be too tired to win the stage. Hopefully Bettini's methods work for him...

Police have annouced Euro-fan imitators will not be tolerated on today's stage.

Alberto hitting with the strength of a bull.

 

[SafeBet]

Nibbles in the break.
I see it.


Edit: killswitch beat me to it

 

[The Hitch]

Police have annouced Euro-fan imitators will not be tolerated on today's stage.

Are you serious. pff, what a way to ruin the one thing US races have going for it.

 

[dlwssonic]

Tejay to double it up! and confirm his overall victory!

 

[patrick767]

Police have annouced Euro-fan imitators will not be tolerated on today's stage.

ha hah... I never get tired of this picture. Stay away from the riders, you @#$@#s!

 

[BillytheKid]

Tejay to double it up! and confirm his overall victory!

Spoken like a true Prophet.

Garmin might make it interesting though.

I wish they would get their start times straight, Tour Tracker now saying 10:10 am MST

 

[BillytheKid]

One good thing about the TourTracker coverage is that it from the start. Today's stage may differ, but the attacking during the first 30 minutes yesterday had groups all over the road before things settled down.

Looks like I'll be lucky to catch the tail-end today. Fire at will.

 

[Deagol]

Hurray for no Antler-man. This stage was awesome to see in person last year. Sadly, I am stuck in the office this year

 

[mewmewmew13]

Today's stage will be killer! I am glad it's them and not me...

Seriously, many must be really hurting after the pace of the first two days' damage.

 

[User Guide]

One good thing about the TourTracker coverage is that it from the start. Today's stage may differ, but the attacking during the first 30 minutes yesterday had groups all over the road before things settled down.

Looks like I'll be lucky to catch the tail-end today. Fire at will.

Watched women's exergy tour on the tracker....
Was an attack and major crash right on the startline

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Dirt roads, nice!

 

[User Guide]

Break already, 20 miles in @2 mins
Dave Z and Aru most interesting also Castiblaco
good scenery too (oh yes @dirt roads)

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

They had this stage last year too right?

I remember I stayed up late too watch this, and then it was extremely disappointing and they had poor coverage.

 

[User Guide]

Aru puncture

 

[dgodave]

Dirt roads, nice!

le strade marrone.
.

 

[theyoungest]

They had this stage last year too right?

I remember I stayed up late too watch this, and then it was extremely disappointing and they had poor coverage.

Yeah, it's the only queen stage in the world where you can't make any difference at all (except in the wet descent, does it rain today?)

 

[Deagol]

they could have shortened the stage today to have it finish ontop of Independence pass for a MTF. Since tomorrow's stage starts in Aspen anyway, Aspen would have got it's coverage. It's the only city to host both a start and a finish on different days in this year's race. I would have loved to see a MTF ontop of Indy Pass.

 

[Warhawk]

Yeah, it's the only queen stage in the world where you can't make any difference at all (except in the wet descent, does it rain today?)

It's unfortunate, because it very much looks like it ought to be a good stage, but it hasn't been.

Ultimately, though, you can only blame the organizers so much for boring stages. Even the best designed stage can be a dud if nobody in the peloton feels much like making it exciting that day.

 

[Warhawk]

So we can get HD photos from mars, but we try to take video from a helicopter in Colorado and it ends up looking like a frog in a blender?

 

[dgodave]

Wow. One crazy loner 90 miles out.
.
"Miles". Feels weird to say that about cycling.
.

 

[Deagol]

Tomm D & Dave Z driving the chase up dirt road up Cottonwood.

 

[Afrank]

Gotta say I am a little disappointed to not see Nibali in the break again, on the other hand how awesome is Dave Zabriskie

 

[mewmewmew13]

Altitude is killing nibs...?