Amgen Tour of California 2019, May 12-18

[Max Rockatansky]

Re:

The route has all manner of diseases. Like a return to 2010 level bad, especially without an ITT. At least the women get to climb Mount Baldy, I guess.

Please do a proper race design. I'd love to see that.

 

[Unchained]

Re:

No TT... George Bennett could be winning this again. He loves those Californian climbs. Pogačar makes a decent chance as well and I don't see Porte's focus on this race. He'll be picking one stage he likes and that's it.

I agree. I was hoping that Sepp Kuss got a chance. I don't think Quick Step has the best..I think that the lack of a ITT will take lots of pressure off of Rally..and also give American teams a chance. Tahoe and Mt.Baldy will have a big selection.
I will be roadside for Baldy ..I wished for Alaphilppe..but no luck. I like Sagans press..saying going after the leaders Jersey is not his goal. I think that American organization is different. They think point to point is too confusing for the fans..crits and crit style is all they know..if they could have all circuit races that would be their preference.
Rally has been in Europe and did OK. They stayed away from the very few decent American races and w the implosion of United Health,Jelly Belly, Silber ..this race is ultra important to Rally..
the talent goes way down for the US's last big race Tour of Utah..I think that the men's schedule is pretty weak..no Colorado Classic.
.I am not sure if the TOC is helping or hurting US cycling? I really don't know? Rally had no presence at Redlands, or Gila..Sea Otter is smaller this year also...?
Sagan in Sacramento for a yellow jersey..prediction

 

[Frankschleck]

Normally in a week long stagerace like this, and if porte doesnt crush everything, spilak would be a good bet, but he sucks in the hot.

 

[Leinster]

Heading over to Sac in the morning for the kids’ Strider Bike race. I doubt we’ll be able to mobilize in time to get there before the start, but I can aim for that and see what happens.

 

[Lequack]

Meanwhile on Twitter:

 

[Lequack]

I wonder why they start the stage so late, given that a lot of the viewers are also European. The stage starts in Sacramento (23:15 CET) and ends in Sacramento (2:40 CET). Eurosport coverage should start at 1:00 CET.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

I wonder why they start the stage so late, given that a lot of the viewers are also European. The stage starts in Sacramento (23:15 CET) and ends in Sacramento (2:40 CET). Eurosport coverage should start at 1:00 CET.

Not sure why it's starting in the middle of the afternoon there. It's early evening east coast time. Also east coast it'll on during prime time and that might be what they are going for. It starts 6pm EST (17:00) which is 3pm (15:00) PST. (At least that's when live coverage starts). California and Utah always start in the afternoon.

 

[Lequack]

“For the fame and the glory!”
https://twitter.com/AstanaTeam/status/1127692769781096448

 

[Lequack]

Live coverage Europe:
In Europe Eurosport coverage starts @ 1:00.
Live coverage US:
https://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/waystowatch

Live video coverage online via tour Tracker (US restricted):
https://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/watchattend/mens-tour-tracker

 

[johnymax]

Kirby again? Wtf!?

 

[Unchained]

Re: Re:

I wonder why they start the stage so late, given that a lot of the viewers are also European. The stage starts in Sacramento (23:15 CET) and ends in Sacramento (2:40 CET). Eurosport coverage should start at 1:00 CET.

Not sure why it's starting in the middle of the afternoon there. It's early evening east coast time. Also east coast it'll on during prime time and that might be what they are going for. It starts 6pm EST (17:00) which is 3pm (15:00) PST. (At least that's when live coverage starts). California and Utah always start in the afternoon.

Are you guys very rich?
Afternoon starts for weekday races..?
What American..other than me..is taking a couple of days off work and spending a couple of hundred dollars to see a bicycle race?
Afternoon starts are a way to get interest from the local fan base..and by local fans..I mean people who want cheap food and drink and have absolutely nothing else to do..
American racing needs" fake fans" for years..
Roped off area from local brewery or restaurant, other business..offer free transportation,food and fun to get some interest and momentum for the race.
Learn from the velodrome..learn from the 6 days..get a marginal band or 6..dump cheap drink and get people having a good time..seeing a bike race pass at 20-30 mph for @5-30 seconds will not amuse an American spectator..
Our sports teams are installing swimming pools, shopping,gourmet food,sushi..top shelf service and alcohol to keep the interest of American sports fans..and that's w national television coverage and hype from every type of media.
Have you seen the stuff available for sale at major league sporting events?
I ride motorcycles..I see guys that buy a t-shirt from a Harley Davidson dealership somewhere worldwide and that was the vacation highlight. Bike racing better start meeting US fans way way more than halfway..
And Amgen is great!! EPO and all!!
Get TV sponsorship..no matter what..if the TOC is covered by local news..we are sunk..
There is no prime time for bicycle racing..having a race in the prime viewing will probably make people mad

 

[Aristarchus]

Ineos leads out Sagan for the win

 

[johnymax]

You can always count on Sagan to accumulate wins in Tour of California and Tour de Suisse.

 

[Jancouver]

Nice win by Sagan.

McCabe should be on a WT team ... I guess he is too old for that now.

 

[WKA311]

Jakobsen nowhere to be seen after all that Deceuninck work.

 

[sir fly]

That was a good sprint from Sagan.
Seems like he feels good in California. Always performs well there.

 

[This Charming Man]

Re:

Ineos leads out Sagan for the win

Incredibly fast sprint

 

[Screecher]

That wasn't a "good sprint" from Sagan since he was almost beaten by a rider from a continental team. It's however good for his confidence.

 

[sir fly]

That wasn't a "good sprint" from Sagan since he was almost beaten by a rider from a continental team. It's however good for his confidence.

O.K.
Almost good sprint.
Better than Jakobsen's, Van Poppel's's and of some other renowned sprint specialists... After not that successful spring campaign.

 

[robertcatuara]

Anyone know why Cav finished 100ish?

 

[tobydawq]

That wasn't a "good sprint" from Sagan since he was almost beaten by a rider from a continental team. It's however good for his confidence.

Well, given that Walscheid is often talked up as the fastest of the fast on an easy day, I would say it was a fine performance. McCabe was impressive, though.

Nice surprise to see Sagan win such a stage.

 

[RedheadDane]

So... what happened to Jakobsen? It's not exactly customary for the leadout man to finish almost 40 places ahead of the sprinter.

 

[Robert5091]

Good for Sagan's confidence - let's see how the other stages go.

 

[Salvarani]

That wasn't a "good sprint" from Sagan since he was almost beaten by a rider from a continental team. It's however good for his confidence.

Give him a break for once

 

[ingsve]

I was very surprised to see the results on CQ Ranking. Apparently a 34 year old swedish amateur who hasn't raced in 10 years finished well in the sprint.

leader SVK SAGAN Peter BOH
1. SVK SAGAN Peter BOH
2. USA MCCABE Travis FPC
3. GER WALSCHEID Maximilian SUN
4. SWE HALVARSSON Martin -
5. DEN MØRKØV CHRISTENSEN Michael DQT
6. GBR DOULL Owain INS
7. GER DEGENKOLB John

Turns out it should be Kristoffer Halvorsen.