2013 Tour of California

[Netserk]

What a shame that it is done during the Giro. So stupid.
Should be done in early September, would make so much more sense.

During the Vuelta?

 

[Bavarianrider]

During the Vuelta?

Of course, would be the best date.

 

[gooner]

May is the perfect time for it. Any rider who's not riding the Giro and who still needs extra racing to prepare and fine tune for the Tour, it makes perfect sense to come here. I don't see how September would make much of a difference when the USA Pro Challenge would have been finished just a week or two earlier and afterwards riders would be looking more to the World Championships or the Canadian races which are WT.

 

[Bavarianrider]

In may there's no chance for the Tour of California to grow. It will always be overshadowed by the Giro. And those who want to fare well at the Tour can not go all in for Tour of California.
It would be much better in September.
In the long term in September there could be a real shot to develop this race gradually into a two week race and make it areal big thing.
There could be some sort of merger with the Us Pro Cycling challenge, too.
An all American Tour. One week in California, one week in Colorado for example.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

In may there's no chance for the Tour of California to grow. It will always be overshadowed by the Giro. And those who want to fare well at the Tour can not go all in for Tour of California.
It would be much better in September.
In the long term in September there could be a real shot to develop this race gradually into a two week race and make it areal big thing.
There could be some sort of merger with the Us Pro Cycling challenge, too.
An all American Tour. One week in California, one week in Colorado for example.

Tour of California is stuck in the Armstrong era bit imo. Once (if?) it starts to embrace something else, it can easily grow further.

If racing is good, the worldwide fans will be available to watch the show on telly without conflicting with the Giro.

The P-N and T-A calendar conflict is a much bigger issue imo. Here worldwide fans must choose between watching one or the other race live.

 

[Afrank]

Chris Horner did not make the RSLT team for AToCal... feel bad for him! I hope he can recover from his injury for one last (very last?) hoorah this season.

BUSCHE Matthew
DIDIER Laurent
IRIZAR Markel
JUNGELS Bob
KING Ben
SCHLECK Andy
VOIGT Jens
ZUBELDIA Haimar

http://www.wort.lu/de/view/andy-sch...ien-rundfahrt-zeigen-518895efe4b08d4e6de0c363

Andy Schleck is said to be "extremely motivated" - "I am sure we will get to see something from Andy. He is motivated tohis toes and he wants more than just to show himself", says Alain Gallopin.

Sad to see he won't be competing, age may finally be catching up with him.

Really hope Andy can show something here, I think he'll be trying hard too as well. I could definitely see him being able to grab a win here.

 

[manafana]

Plenty things wrong with horner at the moment.

Expecting an american winner maybe TVG

 

[Ruudz0r]

Plenty things wrong with horner at the moment.

Expecting an american winner maybe TVG

Field is really weak this year. The americans who normally feature will not be here. No Horner, Leipheimer, Danielson, Vande Velde, Talansky.

There will not be much competition for TJVG I guess, maybe Busche can surprise.

 

[shades1]

i will be very disappointed if i do not see a very much improved performance from andy schleck in this , if he is to have any chance in france he has to show some decent form here , i fully understand the slow build up after the injury but the time has now come to get competitive .

come on andy , your fans need to believe again !!

 

[El Oso]

In may there's no chance for the Tour of California to grow. It will always be overshadowed by the Giro. And those who want to fare well at the Tour can not go all in for Tour of California.
It would be much better in September.
In the long term in September there could be a real shot to develop this race gradually into a two week race and make it areal big thing.
There could be some sort of merger with the Us Pro Cycling challenge, too.
An all American Tour. One week in California, one week in Colorado for example.

+1 although I'd also add in Utah. All three are managed by Medalist Sports.

It'd be a lot easier for Europe based teams to travel. Eventually could work towards that American grand tour that has been thrown out there before.

 

[the asian]

In may there's no chance for the Tour of California to grow. It will always be overshadowed by the Giro. And those who want to fare well at the Tour can not go all in for Tour of California.
It would be much better in September.
In the long term in September there could be a real shot to develop this race gradually into a two week race and make it areal big thing.
There could be some sort of merger with the Us Pro Cycling challenge, too.
An all American Tour. One week in California, one week in Colorado for example.

Before the Worlds? Then it will clash with the Vuelta.

 

[classicomano]

Field is really weak this year. The americans who normally feature will not be here. No Horner, Leipheimer, Danielson, Vande Velde, Talansky.

There will not be much competition for TJVG I guess, maybe Busche can surprise.

Lieuwe Westra.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Before the Worlds? Then it will clash with the Vuelta.

Bavarianrider hates the Vuelta and wants to kill it off.

Also considers that jetting back and forth across the world to the US week races will be better preparation for the Worlds than the Vuelta, notwithstanding that the last World Champion not to have done his preparation at the Vuelta was Romāns Vainšteins.

 

[brilleaben]

It works in PCM

 

[masking_agent]

looks quite challenging. I hope Andy finds his legs

 

[mewmewmew13]

I saw Tejay come flying back into town this morning with another BMC rider...not sure who it was as they whizzed on by in the opposite direction!

I would not be surprised if Tejay goes big this year ...that would be fun to watch.

 

[jaylew]

Field is really weak this year. The americans who normally feature will not be here. No Horner, Leipheimer, Danielson, Vande Velde, Talansky.

There will not be much competition for TJVG I guess, maybe Busche can surprise.

Agreed. The GC field is definitely weak this year. Tejay will never have a better chance to finally win a stage race. Of course, he'll probably find some way to lose it.

 

[avanti]

.................
It would be much better in September.
----------------.

Move it back to February or March - what's a little "bad" weather in California compared to the near freezing early season temperatures in Europe this year.

 

[Afrank]

Took a look at cyclinfever's startlist, looks like the only other possible contenders are De Gendt, Westra, Rogers, maybe Dennis but he's untested for the most part at this point, Cam Meyer maybe; Busche and Schleck as wildcards. And a lot of those guys are big if's and are probably unlikely to challenge. It's too bad Garmin isn't sending a stronger squad, Talansky and Martin could do well here I think.

Hope Tejay can take it, but also hope the guys that are there manage to give him enough competition to make him earn it. If he can't win it, well...

 

[jaylew]

I might add Zubeldia, Mancebo, and Konig as other possible contenders.

 

[Netserk]

Bavarianrider hates the Vuelta and wants to kill it off.

Also considers that jetting back and forth across the world to the US week races will be better preparation for the Worlds than the Vuelta, notwithstanding that the last World Champion not to have done his preparation at the Vuelta was Romāns Vainšteins.

Well it's not like the Vuelta made the difference for Cav in '11

 

[saneguy]

Gilbert could take a stage as well. Hes not done well this year at all and this field seems to be his only chance for redemption. Tejay should start the favorite but I hope Andy can at least win a stage !! Guess Radioshack will be gunning for Busche or Zubeldia as possible leaders depending on who does well initially. Stage 1 in that sense should set things right for many teams.

 

[jaylew]

Gilbert could take a stage as well.

If Sagan lets him. He was rather greedy last year and he's got his sidekick with him this time.

 

[Bavarianrider]

In May Tour of California is neither a good option for those who want to ride a GT, the Giro, or those who want to peak at the Tour.
Going to the US with all the jet leg and so on is not the ideal preparation heading into the Tour. Peaking for the Tour of California is also not the ebst idea if you want to ride the Tour at your best.
Especially for American riders who want to shine both on their home turf as well as in the tour that's a real problem. After all, the Tour is by far the most popular bike race in the USA. American riders will only get publicity if they shine in the Tour.
Hence moving it to September would make so much more sense.
In September it could be a real race were people go all in.
In May it will always stay a preparation race in the first place. And only second tier riders will declare it their peak.

 

[Jancouver]

Last night I saw a SRAM support car leavining hotel parking lot in my neighborhood. Must a sign that ToC is around the corner. #Stoked