Amgen Tour of California 2019, May 12-18

[Lequack]

More hot racing this year. Last year Bernal won it over Teejay, Martinez, Adam Yates. This year the field is a bit less spectacular but it should also probably make for more unpredictable and hopefully exciting racing. also no timetrial of any kind this year.

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-of-california/2019/overview
https://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/

Live coverage Europe:
In Europe Eurosport will be covering the race.

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

Full startlist: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-of-california/2019/stage-1/startlist

 

[Lequack]

DISCOVER THE 2019 ROUTE | AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnOdhzAf3mY

Stages quickview:

Stage 1:

Stage 2:

Stage 3:

Stage 4:

Stage 5:

Stage 6:

Stage 7:

 

[Lequack]

Some news.

Pogacar leads young UAE Team Emirates roster in California
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pogacar-leads-young-uae-team-emirates-roster-in-california

Kittel withdraws from Tour of California
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/kittel-withdraws-from-tour-of-california

Uran to return to racing at Tour of California
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uran-to-return-to-racing-at-tour-of-california

 

[Koronin]

Would prefer they end at Laguna Seca than start there.

 

[Lequack]

Re:

Would prefer they end at Laguna Seca than start there.

Agree. Last year's stage when the did that brutally steep climb up to the raceway and then finishing on the circuit was the best.

 

[Laplaz]

Grossschartner is my pick for the win

 

[Lequack]

I wonder how Uran and Porte go here.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

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.

 

[Mayomaniac]

For me it's gonna be Pogi vs Porte

 

[Sestriere]

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.

Yeah, unless someone goes loco on Mt. Hamilton with 70 km to go, GC action will pretty much be restricted to Mt. Baldy and the Lake Tahoe uphill sprint (if you can call a second here or there "GC" "action").

 

[Pricey_sky]

Quite liked watching this over recent years, but this years route is a bit of a shambles. As mentioned earlier, even a finish at Laguna Seca instead of ending there would have made it slightly better.

 

[Koronin]

Agreed this is not a good route. Usually I look forward to watching this race and with this route I'm not sure I care about bothering except for the Mt Baldy stage.

 

[Anderis]

Pretty sure there was at least one edition with even worse route in recent years. 2015 had 6 pancake flat stages.

 

[zlev11]

stage 3 would be great if they finished in san jose like they did in 2015, that last 20k of flat is going to kill the whole stage

 

[HelloDolly]

Porte will smash Baldy

 

[Bavarianrider]

No time Trial, what a shame.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

Quite liked watching this over recent years, but this years route is a bit of a shambles. As mentioned earlier, even a finish at Laguna Seca instead of ending there would have made it slightly better.

You wanna repeat that? You think they should finish at Laguna Seca instead of ending there?

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

Quite liked watching this over recent years, but this years route is a bit of a shambles. As mentioned earlier, even a finish at Laguna Seca instead of ending there would have made it slightly better.

You wanna repeat that? You think they should finish at Laguna Seca instead of ending there?

:lol: Of course I meant ‘ending the neutral zone there’

 

[Lequack]

2019 Official Preview Show (44:56 English) — AmgenTourofCalifornia
http://www.steephill.tv/players/youtube3/?title=2019+Official+Preview+Show&dashboard=tour-of-california&id=6FxbqKlJiVE&yr=2019

 

[Mayomaniac]

Yeah, the route is a step backwards. Without the 2 laps at the end the final stage would be ok.
Interesting that Katusha are sending Spilak to this race.
The Ventura stage could be interesting to watch.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Yeah, the route is a step backwards. Without the 2 laps at the end the final stage would be ok.
Interesting that Katusha are sending Spilak to this race.
The Ventura stage could be interesting to watch.

Very unexpected possible CQ game bonus. Let's hope it will not be too hot.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

Yeah, the route is a step backwards. Without the 2 laps at the end the final stage would be ok.
Interesting that Katusha are sending Spilak to this race.
The Ventura stage could be interesting to watch.

Maybe he requested vacation time.

 

[Cinemaniak]

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.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Katusha are actually bringing a decent team.
Zabel with a few guys to help him for the sprints, Haas and Goncalves for the hilly stages, Spilak for the gc and maybe Fabbro can also ride a decent gc, he had to take a break from racing because he got his Appendix removed.

 

[Lequack]

Teams are getting ready.