2013 Tour of California: Stage 7: Livermore-Mt. Diablo (146 km)

[Afrank]

Profile of Mt. Diablo
http://app.strava.com/segments/254731
Or, for those that don't want to click the link.

General Classification after Stage 6
USA 1 VAN GARDEREN, Tejay (BMC RACING) 22:44:24
AUS 2 ROGERS, Michael (SAXO-TINKOFF) + 1:47
AUS 3 MEYER, Cameron (ORICA GREENEDGE) + 2:57
SUI 4 FRANK, Mathias (BMC RACING) + 3:21
COL 5 ACEVEDO COLLE, Janier Alexis (JAMIS - HAGENS BERMAN) + 3:31
USA 6 BUSCHE, Matthew (RADIOSHACK LEOPARD) + 3:33
ESP 7 MANCEBO PEREZ, Francisco (5 HOUR ENERGY) + 4:26
IRL 8 DEIGNAN, Philip (UNITEDHEALTHCARE) + 4:52
USA 9 HAGA, Chad (OPTUM - KELLY BENEFIT) + 5:02
USA 10 CRADDOCK, Lawson (BONTRAGER) + 5:04

In all likelihood, the 2013 Amgen Tour of California will be won or lost on the climb to the peak of Mt Diablo. The route of 92 miles will feature Morgan Territory Rd. which will be one of the more spectacular roads the race has ever used. The race will also return to Patterson Pass Rd and the infamous wall before returning to Livermore for the first Sprint of the day. The route to Mt. Diablo from Livermore is the same that was used in 2012 where a portion of the climb was along the Stage 3 route. The crowds on Mt. Diablo were among the largest ever seen along a mountain route for the race. In 2013, the race will add an additional five miles of climbing to the actual summit. Think Mt. Baldy with a 360-degree view! Speaking of views, Mt. Diablo has the greatest viewscape of any mountain in California. On a clear day you can see nearly 200 miles in any direction. The vistas captured for the TV broadcast will be spectacular!

As long as Tejay doesn't lose a massive amount of time here, he should cement his lead and take his first stage race win. Acevedo will no doubt doubt be looking to move up on GC and possible grab a 2nd stage win, as will Mancebo.

Also look out for Schleck, as I think there's a good chance of him going in the break and trying to get a stage win. I'll predict Schleck to take the stage (yes I'm serious ) and Tejay to cement his overall lead with one stage to go.

 

[Publicus]

This one is in my backyard. Hopefully I'll get a good spot near the summit

 

[Dazed and Confused]

any details of Patterson pass?

 

[Ferminal]

8km @ 5% or something.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

I have one really stupid question...how come the AToC never uses any of the mountains in the eastern part of the state. I mean, you would think that Whitney Portal, several spots within Yosemite National Park, and others would be a great place for a stage finish (or an entire stage). Shoot, you could fit three Category ones or higher into a Badwater Basin to Whitney Portal Stage, within 240 km, without too much effort. I know the AToC claims to be the biggest stage race in the Americas, but they can do much better than they even are doing.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

8km @ 5% or something.

sounds impossible.
Uphill sprint it is.

Acevedo FTW.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I have one really stupid question...how come the AToC never uses any of the mountains in the eastern part of the state. I mean, you would think that Whitney Portal, several spots within Yosemite National Park, and others would be a great place for a stage finish (or an entire stage). Shoot, you could fit three Category ones or higher into a Badwater Basin to Whitney Portal Stage, within 240 km, without too much effort. I know the AToC claims to be the biggest stage race in the Americas, but they can do much better than they even are doing.

Are they less accessible from population centres? That tends to be the case most of the time with fairly young races, they stay close to their population centres while the race is young in order to build the audience.

 

[Lupetto]

You can't just drive a whole race through a national park.

 

[xrayvision]

Tejay FTW

 

[greenedge]

Acevedo to win this.
Hopefully Cam Meyer can retain 3rd in GC, but i doubt it.
TJVG should have this won.

 

[jaylew]

sounds impossible.
Uphill sprint it is.

Acevedo FTW.

That's not the finishing climb.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

That's not the finishing climb.

yep, I know. Point is 5% climb that far out have no impact most likely.

 

[Kokoso]

Leo will do very well, he's getting in very good form. TT performance was very goog for him and he's much better climber. He could even win. Top ten is within grasp.
Pitty the stage 2 loss...he said he was feeling very good, plannec to attack and out of the blue crisis came.

 

[jens_attacks]

vamos paco and acevedo!

gotta say even if i don't like him, tejay is a great talent and really owned this race big time

 

[Leonardus]

Hopefully Andy shows something again, it's nice there's finally some progress. GC is already over, Tejay won't lose this anymore. Disappointing ToC this year with a very weak field but could still be a good race to see who takes the stage.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

8km @ 5% or something.

Considered a speed bump in the Giro.

 

[manafana]

leopold could go well solid tt, surely deignan can go well again, just can not see TVG losing 3 minutes to anyone let along Meyer and Rogers

 

[Telmisartan new]

Andy in the break with a teammate....interesting.

 

[RedheadDane]

That guy, Andy, found a pair of new legs in Cali!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Break looks strong enough to put some pressure on BMC.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Go ANdy, we need your whiny little body this July!

 

[trevim]

Considered a speed bump in the Giro.

I remember a stage in 2010 or 2011 that had 5km @ 9% and it wasn't even a categorized climb

 

[Afrank]

Also look out for Schleck, as I think there's a good chance of him going in the break and trying to get a stage win. I'll predict Schleck to take the stage (yes I'm serious ) and Tejay to cement his overall lead with one stage to go.

what'd I tell you guys, Andy in the break. He's gonna take it!

 

[Kokoso]

Leo had second best time yesterday in final climb. That's very promising for today.

 

[Afrank]

Is Leo, westra?