Tour of California 2012

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WindLessBreeze

BANNED
May 3, 2010
359
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It's a trial&error gig, kiddo'

Caruut said:
Sorry, because I think the Tour of California is little more than a prep race, I should give my money to it? Tour of California gets enough sycophantic promotion for no particular reason at all. A bit confused as to why I should help enhance the reputation of the race - it has a poor rep because it's not a great race, that's their job, not mine.
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Most of the European 'MONUMENTS', semi-classics, The Big*Three stage races, etc. have been around for almost a century. In times when lots of races have been discontinued in Germany, Spain, etc. to just throw dirt on a great race is just preposterous. Luckily, you have plenty of choices. Just don't get disturbed by it. Concentrate on the Giro. But beat in mind that this is just the starting point of the 4th 3 week race, Pro-Tour; covering coast to coast. It's just a matter of finding the correct date, and working out a few details. Do not write them off just yet. When the Yankees set their sight on any given objective, they make it happen....& they make it happen BIG, Nation*Wide!! Do not worry about sponsorship. They'll be begging for a berth!
 
BillytheKid

BillytheKid

Jun 1, 2011
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Caruut said:
Sorry, because I think the Tour of California is little more than a prep race, I should give my money to it? Tour of California gets enough sycophantic promotion for no particular reason at all. A bit confused as to why I should help enhance the reputation of the race - it has a poor rep because it's not a great race, that's their job, not mine.
Click to expand...

True enough. The race did improve last year, however, especially with the addition of the finish on top of the Sierra Road. (5K at 9.5%). In my opinion, it could become an inconic finish, but the organizers like those in-town finishes and seem to think in the short term rather than build a buzz around great finishing climbs. Mt. Baldy is still in. It works for them becasue of it proximity to LA.

I hope Nibali gives it a go even after a great, targeted early season. I would rank him as the favorite. Horner is down playing his chances because he needs something like the Sierra Road, but the solo win there would be more difficult with a contending Nibal.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012...-baldy-at-the-amgen-tour-of-california_217740

As I've said before, Stage 2 offers an easy loop to finish up the Bear Creek Road and closer to the Semi Valley instead of coming back down to the coast.

Build it and they will come. This race deserves WT status if you look at the TdU of Bejing. The lack of WT status make for the negative aspects lamented here. I think the calendar argument is lame. There is enough depth in the top, pro peloton to run two WT stage races concurrent.

Talk of the Cali becoming a GT is ridiculous. I think there should only be the three GTs. Period. Shorter stage races are in an element all there own.
 
Escarabajo

Escarabajo

Apr 16, 2009
17,599
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jens_attacks said:
now that ryo is out,i have to take his role :p

so what do you guys think about the colombians?are they gonna be anemic once again?atapuma's ascent on pordoi was pretty extraordinary so maybe a repeat?will they be announced to come prepared because there are no cops or vampires in sweet cali?
i expect anyway papy horner and levi to smoke mt baldy once again.it'd be a chapeau performance no doubt but this time i'd like to see the colombians involved.maybe even nibali and gesink who knows..
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I only expect good things from Atapuma. Duarte as usual will be an unknown.
 
Catwhoorg

Catwhoorg

Aug 24, 2011
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BillytheKid said:
Build it and they will come. This race deserves WT status if you look at the TdU of Bejing. The lack of WT status make for the negative aspects lamented here. I think the calendar argument is lame. There is enough depth in the top, pro peloton to run two WT stage races concurrent.
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There are already plenty of overlaps at thew WT level

Catalunya and E3/GW
PN and TA
TdF and Poland (this year anyway)
Vuelta and 4 one day races


Its pretty embarrasing that there isn't a WT race in the USA. Its a huge market and revenue generator.

Now which of the candidates should get the nod is another matter.
 
Libertine Seguros

Libertine Seguros

Feb 20, 2010
33,064
15,264
28,180
BillytheKid said:
Build it and they will come. This race deserves WT status if you look at the TdU of Bejing. The lack of WT status make for the negative aspects lamented here. I think the calendar argument is lame. There is enough depth in the top, pro peloton to run two WT stage races concurrent.
Click to expand...

The problem was that this has already been discussed and rejected a year or two ago. The race in its present form can only afford to run 16 or so teams, as opposed to the 20 or more that they'd need to run; also Messick wanted an exemption from the "only ProContinental teams can be wildcard at WT races" rule, as only United Healthcare and Team Type 1 are ProConti teams from the US, and the financial requirements of ProContinental status (including signing up for the biopassport) are restrictive for many of the US domestic teams.

The race, at present, is probably better off not being WT. You get a good range of WT teams who have interest in the race, while not having those who would just be sending makeshift teams as the race is of no interest to them (such as the French teams, Euskaltel, Lampre, Lotto), while the field isn't too strong for United Healthcare or Team Type 1 to stick somebody in a jersey or the top 10, while the smaller péloton of 16 teams makes the race easier to manage and give them a bit more freedom of where they take the event, plus the péloton is less crowded, because the last thing a big contender using it as Tour preparation wants is to go down in a pile-up and miss the race they're working for.
 
M

mb2612

Aug 26, 2011
504
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Libertine Seguros said:
The problem was that this has already been discussed and rejected a year or two ago. The race in its present form can only afford to run 16 or so teams, as opposed to the 20 or more that they'd need to run; also Messick wanted an exemption from the "only ProContinental teams can be wildcard at WT races" rule, as only United Healthcare and Team Type 1 are ProConti teams from the US, and the financial requirements of ProContinental status (including signing up for the biopassport) are restrictive for many of the US domestic teams.

The race, at present, is probably better off not being WT. You get a good range of WT teams who have interest in the race, while not having those who would just be sending makeshift teams as the race is of no interest to them (such as the French teams, Euskaltel, Lampre, Lotto), while the field isn't too strong for United Healthcare or Team Type 1 to stick somebody in a jersey or the top 10, while the smaller péloton of 16 teams makes the race easier to manage and give them a bit more freedom of where they take the event, plus the péloton is less crowded, because the last thing a big contender using it as Tour preparation wants is to go down in a pile-up and miss the race they're working for.
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Also being just an HC race allows this.
 
Caruut

Caruut

Oct 30, 2011
2,639
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BillytheKid said:
True enough. The race did improve last year, however, especially with the addition of the finish on top of the Sierra Road. (5K at 9.5%). In my opinion, it could become an inconic finish, but the organizers like those in-town finishes and seem to think in the short term rather than build a buzz around great finishing climbs. Mt. Baldy is still in. It works for them becasue of it proximity to LA.

I hope Nibali gives it a go even after a great, targeted early season. I would rank him as the favorite. Horner is down playing his chances because he needs something like the Sierra Road, but the solo win there would be more difficult with a contending Nibal.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012...-baldy-at-the-amgen-tour-of-california_217740

As I've said before, Stage 2 offers an easy loop to finish up the Bear Creek Road and closer to the Semi Valley instead of coming back down to the coast.

Build it and they will come. This race deserves WT status if you look at the TdU of Bejing. The lack of WT status make for the negative aspects lamented here. I think the calendar argument is lame. There is enough depth in the top, pro peloton to run two WT stage races concurrent.

Talk of the Cali becoming a GT is ridiculous. I think there should only be the three GTs. Period. Shorter stage races are in an element all there own.
Click to expand...

I think you have to consider the fact that both TdU and Beijing are special cases - though for different reasons. The TdU is more of a ceremonial season-opener than a proper race. I know I said Cali had a small field competing for the GC, but there's still some proper racing going on there. With Beijing, what makes it "special" is that it feeds into the pockets of the UCI's top dogs.

WT status is both a blessing and a curse - for the reasons already highlighted. In some senses, it's good because you guarantee the top teams will come. However, in many cases, you're going to end up with a squad of guys who are just making up the numbers and don't care. Better to have 10 small teams who are actually going to race than 10 big teams who don't want to be there.

I agree that the way the WT is set out, having an American race makes sense. I think America needs to find itself a proper slot on the calender, though.
 
W

WindLessBreeze

BANNED
May 3, 2010
359
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Cantina Abierta'

Caruut, the ToC is Open for cheaters. No tests will be conducted, either by UCI, USADA, or WADA. So that levels off the field. The Conti' teams not held under the Bio'Passport standard could get even with the Bigger Folks. They will not get dropped easily. But beware, the Dude who ran this system already quit, or was fired, when values were unexplainable after last year's race.
I come from a place where some of the times performed on the track are closed to world class in local races. When some of those dudes are called upon to travel abroad, they just refuse. I've heard all the excuses imaginable now. Why bother then? It's just a hobby for them. They don't want to make a living out of it, will all the rules and regulation. They just want to feel the speed!!!
 
G

Gavatron

Aug 12, 2011
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Am I reading this right?

"The thought of not starting in Santa Rosa after working so hard to make it happen would just kill me," Leipheimer said at the opening press conference. "It was important that when the team got here that I could show I wouldn't be a burden or a weak link - that I wouldn't do the first stage, get 50km in and quit. That wouldn't be fair to the team."

However, having only been able to train for the past two weeks, Leipheimer admitted that it would not be in the cards for him to be competitive for the overall victory. ..."It's taken me a lot of hard work just to be able to take the start and I don't think you should count on me for the overall."

The team will I'm sure be pleased to hear he's not going to be a "burden and a weak link" but I would have thought they would have been happier to have someone who stressed he was going to work his **** off for his team leader (and maybe get some quality training in).
 
Don Johnson

Don Johnson

BANNED
May 3, 2012
119
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Looking forward to getting over to one of the stage starts. What a field. Nibali, Horner, Haussler, Boonen, Kittel Cioelk, so many great riders.
the grenedge boys. Killer spring weather in California now too.
Nice to see the Exergy team, they are putting a lot into cycling.
I havn't in 40 years of cycling seen the publicity, including time checks and stage reports by radio stations, which don't carry sporting events. Very encouraging for US cycling.
 
G

greenedge

Mar 27, 2011
6,135
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I think Nibali will take this over Horner ( Nibali this year has looked great ) and even though he may not be in top form ( because of the TDF ) i still think he can win.

Boonen will own the sprints ( not stock standard pure sprints ).

I hope McEwan can go out on a high ( maybe a podium place on a stage )???
 
Moviefan1203

Moviefan1203

Apr 17, 2010
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Horner has a stacked team for a race like this. As long as he's in good form and can limit his losses in the time trial, I don't see how he won't win this race. I think Nibali and Van Garderen will round out the podium with Talansky being the wild card.
 
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