Tour of CA moved to May. Excellent.

[Animal]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/may09/may06news2

That's going to be much better for the US based fans, and for the participants.

The weather in May out there is usually beautiful.

It does rain in Feb!

The landscapes will be so much better. Vines will be out. In the north, the hills will still be green. It will be spectacular.

 

[pmcg76]

If the T of C is moved to May, there will be one huge change, a massive drop in the quality of the field. Feb was perfect time for Cali, no other major races to compete against.

Romandy, Giro & Dunkirk are on in May so the Euros wont be hotfooting it to California, remember Tour du Pont was always in May and apart from a few big teams, it was mostly domestic/ smaller Euro teams that participated. I think the quality of the field would be similar to the Tour of Georgia which wouldnt be too bad.

Perhaps, as long as Lance shows up, nobody will notice??

 

[ingsve]

I wonder if it's better or worse with regards to getting top names in the race though.I'm sure if top teams could avoid getting problems with jet lag in the middle of may they would.

I think it's easier for teams to take the trip over to race in california in the season opening when there is still alot of travelling to tour down under, tour de qatar or tour de langkawi instead of disrupting the season by travelling to the other side of the world when the season is in full bloom.

 

[Bala Verde]

We will be head-to-head with the Giro but frankly I don't think that will really affect us," Messick said. "The Giro is a great race, but very few cyclists who are serious about the Tour de France will also race the Giro."

Who is that guy? Did he miss the trend that more and more riders use the giro as a warm up for the TdF?

 

[Animal]

To me it just looks like they have another option in their May schedule.

Another high quality race with climbs and time trials.

I'm looking forward to seeing them do some climbs I'm familiar with in the Sierra. They should be able to get quite high in May if the passes are ploughed.

 

[Mellow Velo]

If the T of C is moved to May, there will be one huge change, a massive drop in the quality of the field. Feb was perfect time for Cali, no other major races to compete against.

Romandy, Giro & Dunkirk are on in May so the Euros wont be hotfooting it to California.
Perhaps, as long as Lance shows up, nobody will notice??

Don't forget the Tour of Catalunya. Another PT stage race.

The calander does seem to be getting a bit crowded at this point in the season.

I was all for a move away from February, but I can't figure out where it would be best placed.
I'd have been inclined to shift the cash strapped Basque Country to a week later, finishing the day before Amstel Gold and slipping Cali in, right at the end of March, beginning of April.

The trouble is, with an established calander, nobody wants to move.

Just a thought. Sore eyes, for viewing overkill!

 

[Bala Verde]

I thought the Vuelta wanted to retake its former spot on the calendar, during springtime. The organisers were concerned about the reduced field in September, after the TdF and before the WC. It's going to be crowded in April, May =)

 

[uh1vce160]

Who is doping now?

To think that TofC is going to have the same quality field as now has to be one the dumbest ideas ever. TofC has a good thing going being at the beginning of the year. It gets the riders longing for some nice weather after a long European winter. ProTour status is great though.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Sorry, Animal, but I have to agree with the general sentiment that this will decrease the quality of the field at ToC, and therefore the prestige of the race (which owed largely to the slot it occupied).

I do think a lot of the big US names will still come out, especially as they near their retirement, but it will lose it's international luster.

Then again, who knows? The race has been a big hit (at least in the news I have available, which is admittedly all english language and therefore carries a heavy anglo-bias), so maybe we'll still see some of those Euros over here.

 

[Pietro]

If the T of C is moved to May, there will be one huge change, a massive drop in the quality of the field. Feb was perfect time for Cali, no other major races to compete against.

Romandy, Giro & Dunkirk are on in May so the Euros wont be hotfooting it to California, remember Tour du Pont was always in May and apart from a few big teams, it was mostly domestic/ smaller Euro teams that participated. I think the quality of the field would be similar to the Tour of Georgia which wouldnt be too bad.

Perhaps, as long as Lance shows up, nobody will notice??

What he said. It is expensive to move the whole team mess to the US for a stage race and with the Giro, most if not all Pro teams of note will stay in Europe. Lots of minor US and perhaps European continental/local teams will race but the big boys will stay at the Giro.

 

[pmcg76]

Well, it seems as the dates announced for the T of C mean its going to clash directly with the Tour of Catalonia as well as the Giro. Hard to see the top teams splitting their squads over 3 ProTour stage races although I am sure Garmin/ Columbia/ Lance team and possibly Cervelo may give prefrence to California.

As I said before, I think the level will be similar to the Tour of Georgia field. Still ok for a US race in May, if only they could come up with a one day race like San Francisco close to TofC, it would create two events to attend and give the US a great one day race other than Philly.

 

[lburgess]

What about the ASO and Tour of California agreement?

PARIS (June 16th, 2008) – Amaury Sport Organisation (“ASO”) and AEG, owners respectively of the Tour de France and the Amgen Tour of California, have formed a multi-dimensional marketing partnership to grow and develop each other’s events it was announced by Yann Le Moenner, Deputy Director, Amaury Sport Organisation S.A. (ASO), Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France and Andrew Messick, President, AEG Sports.

 

[cyclelicious]

PARIS (June 16th, 2008) – Amaury Sport Organisation (“ASO”) and AEG, owners respectively of the Tour de France and the Amgen Tour of California, have formed a multi-dimensional marketing partnership to grow and develop each other’s events it was announced by Yann Le Moenner, Deputy Director, Amaury Sport Organisation S.A. (ASO), Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France and Andrew Messick, President, AEG Sports.

Yes, the TOC move to May is the first major shift as a result of the melding of the minds between the ASO and AEG. This insures the further development of the TOC into a world class event.

I thought Catalunya was having some financial difficulties as well.

 

[Juan Pelota]

This sucks. No americans in the Giro..No Garmin no astana (or livestrong) ..No ivan Basso

 

[Dr. Wattini]

Bad Move

List,
I actually agree with the general sentiment that the ToC will be negatively impacted by this move. There is too much going on in Europe to think that the A squads will be flying to California to race.
Now, we are forgetting one thing that could make a difference and that is the influence of the sponsors.
Astana is a slam dunk in the ToC due to Trek.
Saxo riding Specialized
Liquigas riding Cannondale
Columbia is a slam dunk as it is a USA registered team and people loves George.
Quickstep is riding Specialized
AG2R/BH. BH is really interested in breaking into the US market. AG2R participated in the TOC mandated by BH.
That is about 7 ProT teams, add 5 or so Continental teams and there you have a full 11-12 team race.
The real question is that if the team's top figures will come to the US to race.

 

[*G*K*S*]

Yes, the TOC move to May is the first major shift as a result of the melding of the minds between the ASO and AEG. This insures the further development of the TOC into a world class event.

I thought Catalunya was having some financial difficulties as well.

Correct.

http://www.velonews.com/article/88652

 

[jaylew]

Actually the quality of the field is guaranteed to increase after 2010.

According to the statement, ToC will be a ProTour event starting in 2011, which guarantees the Pro Tour teams' participation and prohibits most domestic teams' participation. That tells me Catalunya will be moved after 2010.

So, next years race might see a dip in field quality but after that it will be all the top teams.

And we'll finally see a mountaintop finish! All the wonderful climbs in Cali and never has the race finished on one.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Yes, I too thought Cataluyna was in financial difficulties. I believed I had read that the 2009 edition had been cancelled. Apparently not.
If the recession lightens up by next season, it should be safe.

However, another thought occured to me.
Catalunya is a PT race, so the PT teams have to send squads, no?
I'm not sure where the Giro stands, as a "HIS" event, but it may also be a requirement that the PT teams attend, if invited.

If this is the case, then won't teams be unable to send a third squad to the US?
Maybe teams of fewer riders?

Whatever the situation, I think the Giro has seen that last of Bruyneel's star men, as a result.

 

[jaylew]

This sucks. No americans in the Giro..No Garmin no astana (or livestrong) ..No ivan Basso

That is something I hadn't thought of. You're probably right. It will increase American riders'(and fans) focus on the Tour. Might not be another major American GC contender race the Giro for awhile...

 

[Dr. Wattini]

Source

Actually the quality of the field is guaranteed to increase after 2010.

According to the statement, ToC will be a ProTour event starting in 2011, which guarantees the Pro Tour teams' participation and prohibits most domestic teams' participation. That tells me Catalunya will be moved after 2010.

So, next years race might see a dip in field quality but after that it will be all the top teams.

And we'll finally see a mountaintop finish! All the wonderful climbs in Cali and never has the race finished on one.

Hey now,
can you post a link to your source? is there an statement from the organizers? I wonder how they can guarantee participation of teams. Also there can be guarantees of participation of teams, but I am wondering if the can guarantee the participation of the A list of cycling?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Scrap what I just said, having read Jaylew's post.
Catalunya will have to move. Otherwise, there will be 3 PT/HIS events running at the same time, which would mean not enough riders.
Just a few years back, didn't it used to be on at the same time as the Dauphine?
The Tour of Germany also was run in June.

However, the obvious spot would be at the end of August (although hot) as a Vuelta warm up.
(I don't know why I'm posting this, as something tells me folks aren't very interested in where the Spanish race ends up!)

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

According to the statement, ToC will be a ProTour event starting in 2011, which guarantees the Pro Tour teams' participation and prohibits most domestic teams' participation. That tells me Catalunya will be moved after 2010.

So, next years race might see a dip in field quality but after that it will be all the top teams.

Just because the top teams come, doesn't necessarily mean they will bring their top riders.

 

[jaylew]

Hey now,
can you post a link to your source? is there an statement from the organizers? I wonder how they can guarantee participation of teams. Also there can be guarantees of participation of teams, but I am wondering if the can guarantee the participation of the A list of cycling?

The original article says that the race will be ProTour in 2011. ProTour teams are required to enter all ProTour races.

 

[jaylew]

(I don't know why I'm posting this, as something tells me folks aren't very interested in where the Spanish race ends up!)

I do! I love Spanish stage races!

 

[franciep10]

Actually my nephew rides for them and he says that the conditions on that team are deplorable for riders who don't get many wins and because he wins a good amount of races he is given extra food more training time and more time in pictures, so while it's not bad for him for some it's worse.