2013 Tour of California

[El Oso]

Zabriskie has zero chance to win this race.

Agree (even though I am a DZ fan). He'll struggle on the relatively steep pitches on Stages 2, 6 and 7

 

[ElChingon]

So Garmin and OPQS are chilling at Starbucks in Del Mar 8)

 

[ElChingon]

Now GreenEDGE

 

[ElChingon]

NetApp & BMC, Woot Woot

 

[Parel van het Zuiden]

It is difficult to see who can threathen Van Garderen. Westra can climb and time trial and could be his biggest rival. Chavanel can time trial but Mount Diablo is probably too much for him. An in form Rogers would be a strong candidate but he has not shown anything yet in the current season. De Gendt is recovering from knee problems, so the race will be too soon for him I assume. For Zabriskie some hills are probably too steep. I guess this is a great opportunity for guys like Deignan and Mancebo to have a shot at the GC podium. I am also curious to see how Busche will perform.

 

[Cult Classics]

Gilbert is riding California. I claim my £10 from a certain smug Belgian poster on this forum who mocked the suggestion that BMC would want their world champion at the American race.

 

[Race Radio]

I think at least 3 stages will end up in a sprint with a large part of the peloton.

I wouldn't call it "at least" but "maybe". I think there will be good gaps after the first two stages and the race will be more aggressive because of that. Even some of the "easier" stages have climbs where most of the pack could be dropped.

My three predictions for stage 1.

- Crashes on descend from Mesa Grande. That road is dangerous!

- Attacks on Palomar. They are climbing Palomar from the east, the easier side but some of the bottom sections are around 10%. It is a long 18km (45min) drag with 800m gain. Descend from Palomar will be fast but the road is much better than Mesa Grande.

- Attacks on Cole Grade. about 3.5km climb averaging 8% with steeper bottom. That area is always HOT so 35C is expected.

If we dont have successful break similar to Nibali/F.Schleck in 2009 I would expect max 20-30 riders to finish together. This stage has more climbing than the 2009 edition, but again, they were doing the Palomar from south, which is harder.

Agreed on Mesa Grande. Rode the Etape today and saw a very bad crash there

Was a bit surprised by the course. I thought it was pretty easy. A lot of rolling, gradual, climbing. The loop around Wolford with the wind could kill a break fast.

Could be sprint with 30-40 guys

 

[Jancouver]

Agreed on Mesa Grande. Rode the Etape today and saw a very bad crash there

Was a bit surprised by the course. I thought it was pretty easy. A lot of rolling, gradual, climbing. The loop around Wolford with the wind could kill a break fast.

Could be sprint with 30-40 guys

Yes, Palomar is steeper from the south grade but I think the heat and those almost invisible 11K of climbing will take its toll. If not tomorrow, on Monday for sure.

As per Mesa Grande, I did that descend so many times and almost crashed every time. Their advantage is that they can take the full road, but again, they will be going much faster so I think it will be sketchy. The first time I overcooked one of the switchbacks and went strait but didnt go down. Since then I always go very slow and even that its tricky.

 

[pastronef]

As of now, doesn't look like it. Should be sending Talansky at least.

it looks like Talansky will ride Dauphine and the Tour

is he at home now? or at some training camp?

 

[Afrank]

it looks like Talansky will ride Dauphine and the Tour

is he at home now? or at some training camp?

Altitude training looks like.

Then it’s a return to the Tour de Romandie, where he had a breakout second place to winner Bradley Wiggins last year, and then training at altitude, most likely at Lake Tahoe, California, before the Critérium du Dauphiné.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013...alansky-racing-to-win-en-route-to-tour_274329

 

[Afrank]

I'll be expecting to see some impressive performances by these boys.
Stuyvens, Mannion, and Craddock to go head to head with the seasoned pros and beat a couple.

 

[diorgen]

The other day I saw a road crew pulling fenceposts off the side of Lake Wohlford Rd. (the downhill part into Escondido) but not sure if they resurfaced the road, it was potholed like crazy. I think the winner of stage 1 will probably attack on the descent there.

 

[maxmartin]

just read the news Rogers is back, he has been invisible this year

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Utah and Colorado can because they're 2.1-rated, but California as a 2.HC race can only take teams from the top 2 levels, and Continental-ranked teams from the host nation.

That only applies to .HC races in Europe, per page 3 of http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/g...&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=34028&LangId=1

 

[dolophonic]

the Baldy stage will be missed!

 

[manafana]

just read the news Rogers is back, he has been invisible this year

he was up their for while in the crit but thats been about it, rode little pace for contador too at some stage.

About TVG cracking on steep stuff, same could be said of alot of field here. his time trial is strong as any too.

 

[Lupetto]

Forecast for Palm Springs now says that 43C could be possible.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I really don't understand why Tony isn't doing this.
Would suit him so much more then races like Pais Vasco.
Really can't understand his season sheduling.
He could shine on this US GT type of stage and even battle for the GC realistically. I ean if Zabriskie can, so could Tony.
Instead he choses to go for the GC in races like Tirreno and Pais Vascoagainst al the southern european climbers.
Really can't understand that logic

 

[webvan]

Not much of a parcours, eh...no Sierra, no Baldy, only Palomar 60+ km from the finish...guess the ITT has a better parcours than usual ?

 

[SKSemtex]

As I do not know how to start the thread with pool, I want to ask somebody to start one with question: How many stages for Sagan this year. I think it can be quite interesting pool as we have a lot of fans but as well lot of haters haters of Peter.

I am really looking forward for this tour.

 

[Panda Claws]

I really don't understand why Tony isn't doing this.
Would suit him so much more then races like Pais Vasco.
Really can't understand his season sheduling.
He could shine on this US GT type of stage and even battle for the GC realistically. I ean if Zabriskie can, so could Tony.
Instead he choses to go for the GC in races like Tirreno and Pais Vascoagainst al the southern european climbers.
Really can't understand that logic

Who are we to question Tony's ways?

 

[Kokoso]

I'm rooting for Leo. But with the long ITT his chances for podium are in doubt. So if he isn't going for GC, than Mt. Diablo stage win. Although improved TT Leo could be one of the best

 

[webvan]

Leo...? Not Luis Leon I take it?

 

[roundabout]

König.

not Luis Leon

 

[webvan]

ok, must admit I haven't heard of him, time to read up!