Amgen Tour of California May 15-22 2011

[Angliru]

I think this race will be good this yr. Everyone is in good form for it, it has some good PC dudes too. Leipheimer and Zabriskie are clearly the standout riders here. They are both good in ITT too ( which means we cannot criticise race going down to ITT ) and usually beat most people up a climb if the going gets tough.

...and who among real climbers does Zabriskie beat "up a climb if the going gets tough"? With this being the first mtf for the ToC I don't think Zabriskie is going to be able to challenge for the overall. Van Garderen should be able to finish ahead of him as should Horner provided he isn't relegated to playing valet for Leipheimer. I'd even rate Vande Velde ahead of Zabriskie if he's on form. I'm personally hoping he is on form and has an injury free year so we can see him back to the performance level from 2008. Hey, I can hope!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Hopefully, Brad weighs his beer before imbibing. Attention to details are what separate the contenders from the slacker pretenders. Burp.

This is the best Polish post in ages. Chapeau.

 

[Angliru]

It will look a bit silly for a team with Hesjedal, Vandevelde, Talansky, Martin and Danielson to have Zabriskie as their leader.

The only reasoning for that would be he's an American at the biggest event in the States. Ego stroking maybe? Vandevelde would be the more logical choice although I have no idea what his form may be right now considering the addition of Mt. Baldy (Is that the name of the mtf?). He seemed to be in pretty good form earlier in the year.

 

[Angliru]

I agree 100% and I've been saying the same thing since they decided to move it from February. The weather would be so much more predictable and it would open up virtually any Sierra climb they wanted to do. If it snows in Tahoe on Sunday it will be a bit of a fluke, but not unheard of in May.

Nobody seems to care about the Vuelta, so I doubt they'd get any flak for going against it.

Yes, they should just shut it down. ToC is of course more important.

 

[Angliru]

He has been, and so has Levi and the RS crew. It is a race that Levi SHOULD win, but with Andy and others...may not.

FYI- The Amgen Tour of California has been ranked the 3rd best stage race...period. Heard this on the pre race show the other day. Phil mentioned it, and many top riders said they consider it right after the TDF and Giro...some are hoping it grows in length...interesting.

I'm curious, who does this ranking and what criteria is used in this ranking? Phil saying it definitely makes it so, right? By the way, "Phil" who?

 

[Midnightfright]

Its just a shame Contador choose to ride the Giro over the TOC. I mean it would of been amazing for him to have a to become the 1st man to win all 4 Grand Tours.

 

[Midnightfright]

I Fancy TVG for the win. Feel he's got the best shot with his TT, climbing and team support . I also have a gut feeling that Ben Swift is going to take the 5th stage.

 

[mewmewmew13]

I think it would be great if some of the ProConti's get in some excellent stages and rides.
Pipp has been rolling all spring.
I personally would love to see Chris Baldwin and Tom Zirbel do some stuff in the TT.

And some of you older posters here should be nicer to others.

 

[*G*K*S*]

I think it would be great if some of the ProConti's get in some excellent stages and rides.Pipp has been rolling all spring.
I personally would love to see Chris Baldwin and Tom Zirbel do some stuff in the TT.

And some of you older posters here should be nicer to others.

Same here. Alexander Efimkin (Team Type 1) is my darkhorse to make the podium.

 

[The Hitch]

Its a good race, but I need another year to get over Mcquaids comments that the Giro and Vuelta should be destroyed as a race to accomodate this. Also im a fan of globalisation so long as it means spreading cycling throughout the world not just America, which is kind of what the TOC hype brigade tries to do.

But the great thing about the TOC for us gmters and gmt+1ers here in Britain and Europe (yes they are seperate) is that this race comes on about 11pm, perfect for before bedtime.

It kind of makes me jealous of Ferminal and the west coast Ozzies who get to see the Grand Tours at 11pm before bedtime. The best time to watch cycling no doubt.

This is the best Polish post in ages. Chapeau.

If you dont like my contributions you could have told me in a pm rather than out in the open like this.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

If you dont like my stuff you could have told me in a pm rather than out in the open like this.

awww, Hitchl, you know what I meant, don't go making me apologise like this

 

[Crunchy Frog]

For those in the UK who haven't noticed (i.e., me until half an hour ago) there's live coverage every night from 10 p.m. on ITV4.

Yay ! No squinting at the PC for once. Thanks ITV.

 

[El Pistolero]

Its just a shame Contador choose to ride the Giro over the TOC. I mean it would of been amazing for him to have a to become the 1st man to win all 4 Grand Tours.

Good one

 

[veganrob]

Its just a shame Contador choose to ride the Giro over the TOC. I mean it would of been amazing for him to have a to become the 1st man to win all 4 Grand Tours.

Awesome.


Let's get real people, Levi wins this thing most of the time. How good can this race possibly be?

 

[Polish]

Awesome.


Let's get real people, Levi wins this thing most of the time. How good can this race possibly be?

You have to give credit to Levi for being consistent

He has ridden and finished ALL 4 Grand Tours.
15 times.
Always in the Top20 (crashed out of a couple - dont count)
11 times in the Top10.
Top5 in all 4
Podiums in the Vuelta, TdF, and ToC.

 

[Scansorial]

Yes, they should just shut it down. ToC is of course more important.

That's not what I said at all.

Point is, the calendar is full as it is, so no matter where you put the race it's going to be going against something. Better the Vuelta than the Giro and it makes more sense later in the year for better weather and as a potential Worlds warm-up. I happen to enjoy the Vuelta, but it is lowest on the GT totem pole.

 

[Anonymous]

A lot of nonsense in this thread, for sure. First off, if you can't find a start list, you probably didn't look too hard... http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/amgen-tour-of-california-start-list-1

The ToC got a boost from Lance's participation, just like the TDU, but it was started when LA was retired, and it'll get on just fine without him. AEG isn't some bush league outfit, and they have ties to the Tour. Their plan is to build the race as a premier tour-prep race and showcase for the top American teams. That's a solid plan.

It's funny, much of hate seems to be directed at the race as if it's an extension of LA, and therefore it must be hated, too. Honestly, the only 'hate' I hear of the race is from some posters on this forums, and a couple locals stuck in traffic. It's a good event, and it'll continue to grow. Tales of its demise seem a tad bit premature.

As far as 'over-hyped', well...excuse them for promoting the race! I mean, what should they say? "It's not the Tour or the Giro, but it's OUR RACE!". Gimme a break. They're trying to build interest in a relatively new race without much history. So far the organizers have done a great job. Some folks are going to hate it for what they think it represents, regardless of the quality of racing, which is actually damn good. Their loss.

That's a fair criticism, and in my case, it certainly does add to my overall opinion about the race. I do think that they certainly used Comeback 2.0 heavily, but from a business standpoint, who wouldn't.

I will also say that to me, the racing has not been all that great. I really do liken it to the TdSuisse (where they tailored it to Canc) last year in that they tailor it to American riders, and specifically Levi. But that is just my opinion.

I also think that if it is a Tour prep race, they need to then go head to head with the TdSuisse or Dauphine instead of the Giro.

 

[benpounder]

I also think that if it is a Tour prep race, they need to then go head to head with the TdSuisse or Dauphine instead of the Giro.

It is prep for the Tour insofar as it is prep for the real prep races, the TdS and Dauphine. The Giro is just too punishing to fit that bill. (said only partially in jest.)

Personally, I think the powers of US cycling are more interested in creating another major stage race that truly rivals the Vuelta, Giro and Tour. We will see how the Quiznos race goes, but it wouldn't surprise me (if all goes well here in Colorado this year) to see the two link up for a two week tour in August several years down the road.

 

[veganrob]

You have to give credit to Levi for being consistent

He has ridden and finished ALL 4 Grand Tours.
15 times.
Always in the Top20 (crashed out of a couple - dont count)
11 times in the Top10.
Top5 in all 4
Podiums in the Vuelta, TdF, and ToC.

I will give you that. He has been consistent. However then he also has been a consistent disappointment. How many times has he been mentioned as a real threat to win a Grand Tour and always an excuse. He's the biggest wheel sucker in the peloton. I used to like him, supposedly vegetarian and all, and his wife has the animal sanctuary. What killed it for me was when he joined Lance. Knew then he was just another doper.

 

[benpounder]

I will give you that. He has been consistent. However then he also has been a consistent disappointment.
[...]
What killed it for me was when he joined Lance. Knew then he was just another doper.

Have you considered that the reason he seems to you a wheel sucker, that the reason that he has been a consistent disappointment, is that he, unlike the 'heros' of the peloton, isn't doped?

Kinda funny how Levi, somewhat like Menchov, always seemed to get blown off the back wheel by the likes of Heras, Vino, Boltero, Rasmussen, Basso, Di Luca, Sella, Ricco, Armstrong, Landis, Valverde...

Just saying, there may be another explanation.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Have you considered that the reason he seems to you a wheel sucker, that the reason that he has been a consistent disappointment, is that he, unlike the 'heros' of the peloton, isn't doped?

Kinda funny how Levi, somewhat like Menchov, always seemed to get blown off the back wheel by the likes of Heras, Vino, Boltero, Rasmussen, Basso, Di Luca, Sella, Ricco, Armstrong, Landis, Valverde...

Just saying, there may be another explanation.

There may be an explanation, Ben, but that's not it.
Remember, Levi's finished on podiums several times in the hardcore doping era.

I have no doubt that Levi has been doped to the gills in past Tours and will be the same come this one.

 

[flicker]

Have you considered that the reason he seems to you a wheel sucker, that the reason that he has been a consistent disappointment, is that he, unlike the 'heros' of the peloton, isn't doped?

Kinda funny how Levi, somewhat like Menchov, always seemed to get blown off the back wheel by the likes of Heras, Vino, Boltero, Rasmussen, Basso, Di Luca, Sella, Ricco, Armstrong, Landis, Valverde...

Just saying, there may be another explanation.

Levi's riding has always convinced me that he is clean. He rides within his capabilities, which are massive. Papp said one thing but Levi in Europe and the USA(been watching him since Vuelta, 2001) looks mighty tiity whitey.
Good bet he will win this one, he deserves it!

 

[benpounder]

When Landis was busted, I lost all hope that any in the peloton was clean. I finally admitted to myself that it was damn near impossible that LA wasn't doped for his 7 titles. Yea, they are still doping, just not using the high octane stuff that Riis, Pantani, Ullrich, Armstrong, Vino, Basso, Heras, Valverde, etc used. One step ahead of the testers.

There may be an explanation, Ben, but that's not it.
Remember, Levi's finished on podiums several times in the hardcore doping era.

I have no doubt that Levi has been doped to the gills in past Tours and will be the same come this one.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Dope chat belongs in the Clinic.

 

[Astana1]

Which big pro bike races are not commercial enterprises? I guess races in Europe are all altruistic ventures that send their proceeds to the children in Somalia.

Nice sarcasm a few pages back about Phil and the 4th GT. Very funny. He IS the master of overhype and hyperbole. Just look at his fanboy Brit magazine. Three articles about Sky and another blurb discussing the color of Brailsford's pubes.