Amgen Tour of California May 15-22 2011

[mastersracer]

I've never ever followed or watched the ToC. I must say I've enjoyed the controversy the ToC has on this board and it sounded justified to bash it really.

This year though it looks like a proper 1 week stage race with a nice diversity in stages and a good line up. I'm certainly looking forward to an overdose of cycling next week!

well, one way to compare races is to examine power files from riders. Hunter Allen did this last year and concluded "The Tour of California is arguably just as difficult as the hardest week of the Tour de France."

http://home.trainingpeaks.com/races...-saxo-bank/2010-tour-of-california-recap.aspx

 

[roundabout]

I mean shorter compared to last year in Los Angeles when it was 30 something km as far as I remember.

33.6 to be exact

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I liked the race when it was in february. Last year was a farce, also in terms of the course

Hopefully it will be better this year. Like in the past

 

[Astana1]

I liked the race when it was in february. Last year was a farce, also in terms of the course

Hopefully it will be better this year. Like in the past

It's too wet in Feb. It's hard to grow the race in those conditions. I know people who take a week off every year to go watch the race and ride. More people will make the trip in May.

 

[Cal_Joe]

I mean shorter compared to last year in Los Angeles when it was 30 something km as far as I remember.

33.6 to be exact

Yes, you are correct. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[Jamsque]

Moving it out of February also means that Levi Leipheimer can't stomp the field by training his *** off in January while everyone else is taking it easy.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

It's too wet in Feb. It's hard to grow the race in those conditions. I know people who take a week off every year to go watch the race and ride. More people will make the trip in May.

The race should have stayed in February. Nobody gives a f**k for ToC during the Giro.

 

[just some guy]

The race should have stayed in February. Nobody gives a f**k for ToC during the Giro.

Unless your an american team or a team with american sponsors or are using Cali and tour da swiss as your warm up to the tour - which is quite a few.

 

[Astana1]

The race should have stayed in February. Nobody gives a f**k for ToC during the Giro.

False.....

 

[Astana1]

Unless your an american team or a team with american sponsors or are using Cali and tour da swiss as your warm up to the tour - which is quite a few.

and here we go..

 

[Cobblestoned]

I liked the race when it was in february. Last year was a farce, also in terms of the course

Hopefully it will be better this year. Like in the past

I guess Floyd doesn't care about the date.
He would even show up in February.

Yeah, February is a lot of better. All that rain and snow.
So they then can avoid the big mountains then again, and then haters can complain about the course and missing mountains then again, too.

 

[Anonymous]

Honestly I dont care for it. Giro takes precedent, and to be honest, the fact that Sky are there meaning I will need to put coverage online is more trouble than its worth.

Would be perfectly happy if it was cancelled.

 

[taiwan]

All I have against it is that it clashes with the Giro (deliberately) and that it gets hyped too much for what it is because it's in America.

 

[Mr.DNA]

Looks like the weather for Stage 1 is going to be perfect... if it was a cyclocross race.

South Lake Tahoe, CA
Saturday Night
Breezy. Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Lows 22 to 27.
Sunday
Breezy. Snow showers likely. Highs 38 to 48.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It's a beautiful race in terms of surroundings and fan support, and it's reportedly a very hard race. Tjallingii said last year that he had done more altitude meters in the queen stage of California than in the queen stage of the Giro. The climbs are quite steep as well, but you barely notice because the roads are so wide. What this race didn't have, though, was an opportunity for the strongest guys to really make a difference. Now with a few uphill finishes I think that problem should be solved.

Last year's queen stage was farcically bad; it contained so much climbing that it was too tough for most of the national riders and too much for those who weren't interested in the race GC or anything, but it never got steep enough where it mattered to break the field up. Last year's route was pretty terrible considering the hype and circumstance given the race.

This year, they may not have learnt the hype lesson, but it looks like they've learnt the course planning lesson. This year's parcours looks very good, and I didn't expect to say this in January, but I think it'll be a better race than Paris-Nice for sure.

 

[Astana1]

I love getting two stages a day in May. These people asking for less racing are Debbie Downers/haters.

 

[taiwan]

I love getting two stages a day in May. These people asking for less racing are Debbie Downers/haters.

Dilutes the field of the Giro.

 

[Astana1]

Dilutes the field of the Giro.

Weren't going to be there/didn't want to be there anyways.

 

[jaylew]

I would like to see Zabriskie finally take this.

Don't think there's much chance of that with the Baldy stage added.

I love getting two stages a day in May. These people asking for less racing are Debbie Downers/haters.

Agreed. I love multiple-race days.

The parcours is really nice and well-balanced this year. A shame RealCyclist didn't get a spot as I'd like to see Mancebo in this one.

Levi and Horner are the favorites for me, with TJVG and Tommy D also possibilities. If they are fit and targeting GC, I'd add Fuglsang and Peter Velits. Talansky should be interesting to watch.

 

[cineteq]

Levi and Horner are the favorites for me, with TJVG and Tommy D also possibilities. If they are fit and targeting GC, I'd add Fuglsang and Peter Velits. Talansky should be interesting to watch.

It seems an American will win.
Garmin vs. Radioshack
Garmin is a powerhouse! (You forgot Ryder Hesjedal)

 

[131313]

Dilutes the field of the Giro.

no it doesn't

the TDF dilutes the Giro field

 

[Midnightfright]

no it doesn't

the TDF dilutes the Giro field

Just like the TOB dilutes the Vuelta field.

 

[Scansorial]

I'll be there in person for Stages 1 & 2. I'm hoping for a van Garderen victory.

Yes, they do hype the race more than they should, but that's no reason not to enjoy it.

 

[Boeing]

The hype blahblah blah, American bla blah blah, Giro is the best blah blah bal, National Teams blahblah blah... what next Regan bush blah blah. imperialism blah blah

 

[Anonymous]

Just like the TOB dilutes the Vuelta field.

Pah, nobody ever complains when all the top riders skip the Tour de France to ride the Brixia Tour.