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Official: Tour of California route announcement

Page 4 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Jul 23, 2009
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luckyboy said:
Maybe I'm missing something, but the Tour of California route announcement thread gets stickied, but the Tour de France rout announcement doesn't?

Stickies are for Real Tour news ;)
 
luckyboy said:
Maybe I'm missing something, but the Tour of California route announcement thread gets stickied, but the Tour de France route announcement doesn't?
Yes.....this hadn't escaped me either. Giro route out today, although you'd hardly notice, in amongst all the Cali hype.
It's certainly winning the forum battle, although, I did read this from a US poster elsewhere:
This race will be dead in five years.
 
Mellow Velo said:
Yes.....this hadn't escaped me either. Giro route out today, although you'd hardly notice, in amongst all the Cali hype.
It's certainly winning the forum battle, although, I did read this from a US poster elsewhere: this race will be dead in 5 years

What time is that announced?

Yeah, I can't imagine it doing that well once Lance retires again, especially up against the Giro
 
Jul 23, 2009
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luckyboy said:
What time is that announced?

Yeah, I can't imagine it doing that well once Lance retires again, especially up against the Giro

I think that depends on whether there is a '"next" American superstar - some seem to think that will be Tyler Phinney which is possible (though a little early for him to be dominant).
 
Everything from Bakersfield to Redding, including 50+ miles in each direction, is blisteringly hot in the summer. Actually, even Ridgecrest to Lee Vining can get very hot. Even towns along 101, not to mention east of the valley, along I-70 and I-10.

A TOC in August would have to be entirely in the Sierras, and as Cal says, it even gets hot there. This only leaves the coast, and true Northern California, where almost no one lives.

I was advocating for June, or September, in case anyone was curious. I was thinking that competing with the Dauphine or Vuelta would be better than competing with the Giro.

The Pacific Northwest is the place that needs to have it's own professional tour held each August. Imagine a 7-9 day stage race through the Cascades? The scenery from Lassen and Shasta through Oregon and Washington is stunning, and and there are absurd amount if bicyclists in this area. Portland is like the cycling capital of the US. The weather in August is much more reasonable there as well, perfect actually.

There are already a few races in the PNW (Cascade Classic, Mt. Hood Classic) but these people need to get together and put on one big race.
 
For California, Rocktober (as the Sac rock climbing scene used to call it) would be best.

The weather is still pretty stable, the temperatures are moderated, and it wouldn't be up against any other big stage races.
 
Anyone here from Napa or Sonoma counties? I'm from St. Helena, and while I'm happy that the TOC has been a regular passer-through, I think the race might be even better served by a stage that loops around Naps, Sonoma, and Lake Counties and hits a bunch of the narrow, windy little climbs we've got. What if you had a stage that took on the Trinity Grade, Spring Mountain Road, Mount Veeder Road, HWY 29 over Mt. St. Helena, and Howell Mountain Road? For that matter, can you imagine a stage finishing with the Oakville Grade as a sort of horrible slow-motion spring, a la the Mur de Huy (or even the old Morgul-Bismarck stage of the Coors Classic)?

The fact is that these climbs, though shorter than passes in the Sierra Nevada, tend to be steeper and windier, much closer to the quality of climbs you have in Europe.
 
Apr 29, 2009
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The press release mentioned the stage route going past Crystal Lake and then onto Highway 2. The climb is long and has a couple of steep sections. Too bad it's way too early in the stage for a major selection to occur.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/azusa/431439222578



noflyzone_allstars said:
A few notes about the "new" stages at the end:

Stage 6 will not include the climb to Mt. Baldy ski lifts. It's an awesome climb but it dead ends in a dirt parking lot with a couple porta potties and it's in an entirely different mountain range than Big Bear.

This "Queen Stage" (route rumor: http://www.bikemap.net/route/340645?125623319557230#lt=34.25324&ln=-117.12387&z=11&t=0) will have a ton of climbing but generally not that steep. In fact a lot of rolling sections up the last climb and several miles of flat into the finish.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Big Bear stage is one of those over-hyped, under-dramatic days where guys watch each other and save it for the next day's TT and the final day which sounds like it could be more selective and decisive.

On the last day, Decker Canyon is 1600+ vertical feet at 7% and the finishing circuits are said to include "Rock Store Hill" which is about 900 vertical feet and probably around 6%. These are my home roads and that would be a brutal race, great for attacking and horrible for organizing a chase.
 
Oct 22, 2009
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Crystal Lake/Hwy 39 has got to be a mistake or hopelessly wishful thinking. The upper section is still badly damaged from landslides and avalanches (yes Los Angeles County can get some pretty big avalanches some years). You can sneak up there on a bike but a race caravan would be dangerous/impossible. There have been some workers puttering around up there but I would be shocked if it's ready for vehicles by May. It is a nice little spin though, 6000 vertical feet in 30 miles.

They've got to be planning on Angeles Crest end-to-end and even that might not be possible after the big fire and this winter's likely mudslides.
 
Jul 1, 2009
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Alpe d'Huez said:
The Pacific Northwest is the place that needs to have it's own professional tour held each August. Imagine a 7-9 day stage race through the Cascades? The scenery from Lassen and Shasta through Oregon and Washington is stunning, and and there are absurd amount if bicyclists in this area. Portland is like the cycling capital of the US. The weather in August is much more reasonable there as well, perfect actually.

Looking at the Pro Tour schedule, the US, like Australia, has one shot at having an attended event each year. California has the best terrain and scenery and population/draw/mix. You run a ITT through New York City and everyone wonders why the guys don't have messenger bags over their shoulders.

I am surprised the organizers can't get some of the monumental landmarks in with a May start. How about Shasta in the north, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite to name a few.

Maybe in time.