2014 Tour of California May 11-18

[trevim]

Howson was better than I thought. 16th at 1.29min is really good performance for him, better than anything powerhouses like Durbridge or Hepburn have shown in the mountains.
Will Orica try to turn him into a GC rider like they did with Cameron Meyer? They didn't have a lot of success with Cam so...any thoughts?

 

[icefire]

It finally happened. I fell asleep during a mountain finish stage..

Cycling has stopped exciting me I guess

You run out of excitement after the Giro stage

 

[Kwibus]

Wiggo suffered more that others in the heat. there's a pic of him gasping to the finish line with dry white lips
here http://www.teamsky.com/gallery/0,27401,17548_9310747,00.html#photo=14

Obviously, since he was pulling with 10km on an 5-6% climb in the wind. Everyone drafting had to make a smaller effort than he did. What he did was quite impressive really if I read well. I didn't see it, but pulling with 10km to go on a climb like this is really hard.
It's all he could do though. Do a TT up the mountain.

 

[Kwibus]

It finally happened. I fell asleep during a mountain finish stage..

Cycling has stopped exciting me I guess

Well it wasn't the most exciting stage lol.

 

[Kokoso]

JV also said Slagter was Purito 2.0, but these young riders still have a long way to go. Dennis's climbing has to improve on multi-mountain stages, much like Kwiatkowski for example. And he will probably never be the best climber in a GT, like Wiggins, so he's dependent on a favourable course with plenty of time trials.

Everybody is dependent on favourable courses. If there is favourable course, even Cav could win GT

 

[Kokoso]

Wiggo suffered more that others in the heat. there's a pic of him gasping to the finish line with dry white lips
here http://www.teamsky.com/gallery/0,27401,17548_9310747,00.html#photo=14

Gasping isn't proving that somebody suffered more since lot of riders are gasping at the finihs line. Ans white lips could be lip balm, probably sun protecting.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Fun fact

Machado now only has 250 CQ points less than Costa (300 vs 550), while riding a much lesser program.
Can he bounce back in the battle of best Portuguese rider?

Machado for TDF Win

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Stage 4 reminder.

Not a bad profile for a flat stage, but we probably on a big highway again.

Any life in Voigt at this point?

 

[Morbius]

Stage 4 reminder.
Not a bad profile for a flat stage, but we probably on a big highway again.

Straight down Highway 1. Should be good for scenery

 

[Wallace and Gromit]

http://app.strava.com/activities/140881117

Strava data from LTD yesterday. Interesting as he was in the lead group on the final climb.

Boswell and Terpstra also "Strava'd" the stage.

 

[trevim]

Fun fact

Machado now only has 250 CQ points less than Costa (300 vs 550), while riding a much lesser program.
Can he bounce back in the battle of best Portuguese rider?

Machado for TDF Win

You can also see this as a proof that Machado has half the talent of Rui, so I guess this ends the discussion
Seriously though I hope Machado keeps making the best out of the freedom he has now because soon he'll be on domestique duty for Konig.

 

[Afrank]

Stage 4 reminder.

Not a bad profile for a flat stage, but we probably on a big highway again.

Any life in Voigt at this point?

Got to say, that's the thing I hate the most about Tour of California. A large part of the route is on giant and boring highways. You won't see that in the Giro d'Italia. Can't they send them along country roads or something, would be a lot better the highways. And I'm sure they could find some.

Anyways, Sagan for the win.

 

[willbick]

Got to say, that's the thing I hate the most about Tour of California. A large part of the route is on giant and boring highways. You won't see that in the Giro d'Italia. Can't they send them along country roads or something, would be a lot better the highways. And I'm sure they could find some.

Anyways, Sagan for the win.

I very much doubt there is much in the way of 'country roads' in California. The road system developed in a very different and more recent way to european roads

 

[murali]

chance for cav today?

 

[whittashau]

Apparently James Oram finished yesterday stage with a broken wrist and elbow.

 

[BigMac]

chance for cav today?

Yes.

And he will win.

 

[trevim]

Apparently James Oram finished yesterday stage with a broken wrist and elbow.

That's why he finished last then. I was looking forward to see what he would do but then he crashed before the final climb. Hats off for him to finish in those conditions.

 

[SKSemtex]

This stage could be great. It is just 40 km too long.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Stage 4 reminder.

Not a bad profile for a flat stage, but we probably on a big highway again.

Any life in Voigt at this point?

Highway 1 in that area is not a "big highway." It's two-cars wide plus a little and twisty. Not too hilly though. Wind might be a factor later, maybe.

 

[christopherrowe]

I really like how the smaller teams are showing themselves in this race. Will Routley is really going after that Mountains jersey, for example.

 

[VeloHuman]

Yes.

And he will win.

Especially with the way Sky is handling leadership duties and allowing sprinters' teams some time to store up energy.

 

[Afrank]

Apparently James Oram finished yesterday stage with a broken wrist and elbow.

That there is one tough kid.

 

[One Eyed Aussie]

What's with the constant picture break-up? Beautiful clear sunny day and clear roads.

 

[red_flanders]

Could be the mountains. This area is remote, believe it or not, nothing around. Don't know.

That said, this race has the best online coverage of any race I've seen.

 

[manafana]

coverage is decent as mentioned it can be bit remote and the relay cuts out a little lovely scenery at times degenkolb can push it again