Tour of California Stage 4: Livermore - San Jose/Sierra Rd, 131.6 KM

[Parrulo]

don't be ignorant.

6.9km @ 8.4%.
Cat 1. would have been acceptable. It is steeper then Etna (avg) just not as long. Agree it's not a Hors climb, but there is no need to belittle this climb, which looks pretty good. Certainly worthy of a Cat 1.
A race like Basque rewarded a lesser climb (then this) a Cat. 1.

The sierra rd climb is even better (9.4%). And is only a Cat 1. I suspect Giro would reward it with a Cat 2 also.. the equivalent.

Similar climbs in races receive similar results.
Giro are maybe a bit more hesitant on what they categorize.. I've noticed some steep ramps that last a couple km that get nothing. At the tour they'd be cat4 or something)

---

I totally get the anti-TOC, with the attitude and media attention it gets (not to mention comparisons and ridiculous statements). But no need to bad mouth some climbs which people would be praising if it was on the other side of an ocean.

hint: hyperbole

 

[hrotha]

Is it me, or 1 Cat Sierra looks harder than HC Cat Mt Hamilton on paper?

Nasty climbs for a one-week race, that's for sure.

Oh wait, this is the Tour of California. I forget. In that case, uh, this course sucks and I hate it.

 

[Ferminal]

Is it me, or 1 Cat Sierra looks harder than HC Cat Mt Hamilton on paper?

They are very similar.

Hamilton is a bit longer, but Sierra is steeper.

The interactive profile is a better guide.

http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages/stage4.html

 

[El Pistolero]

If you want to talk elevation, the highest paved road in the Alps is the Ötztal Glacier Road in Austria, at 2,829 meters (9,281 feet). The highest in Italy is the Stelvio at 2,758 meters (9,048 feet).

By comparison, the highest paved road in America is the Mount Evans Scenic Byway in Colorado which tops out nearly a MILE higher at 14,130 feet (4,306 meters):

Oxygen anyone? Hey, kinda looks like...

How can a country the size of Europe have bigger mountains than an individual small country of Europe?!!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Isn't this the climb where in the past Gesink got away with Leipheimer and then they had a downhill and they just held on against a chasing peloton?
Then it's a nice climb to finish on.

I expect a strong Leipheimer again

 

[Fus087]

How can a country the size of Europe have bigger mountains than all of Europe?!!

Fixed it for you.
No road in Europe even gets close to those Rocky Mountain passes in elevation.
However, I think that many of the ultra-high passes aren't that steep - very, very long though.

 

[koolkinks]

If you want to talk elevation, the highest paved road in the Alps is the Ötztal Glacier Road in Austria, at 2,829 meters (9,281 feet). The highest in Italy is the Stelvio at 2,758 meters (9,048 feet).

By comparison, the highest paved road in America is the Mount Evans Scenic Byway in Colorado which tops out nearly a MILE higher at 14,130 feet (4,306 meters):

Oxygen anyone? Hey, kinda looks like...

You can't just categorise climbs by height. I have done rides in Himalayas in India at 17,582 feet at a place called Khardung La. Plus I have some images some climbs I have done in Asia. Theres no point in bickering over climbs. A good climb is a good climb irrespective of which continent it is in.

 

[greenedge]

nice conclusion and photos

 

[koolkinks]

nice conclusion and photos

Thanks greenedge. I actually had to borrow the images from wikipaedia and google images. My images of these trips are of very high resolution in raw format and difficult to upload.
But we should stop making this Europe vs America and end this incessant bickering. As I have said a good climb is a good climb irrespective of continent.

 

[kukiniloa]

Mountains?

It doesnt matter. I've seen this race before so i know what to expect...more boredom.

Whwn is Cav going to win something? Oh wait, thats the third biggest race.

Or not, i do believe i heard JB say it was the second biggest...

 

[Astana1]

It doesnt matter. I've seen this race before so i know what to expect...more boredom.

Whwn is Cav going to win something? Oh wait, thats the third biggest race.

Or not, i do believe i heard JB say it was the second biggest...

Thank you for your interest in the Tour of California.

 

[Astana1]

My dark horse for the overall is Talansky. I can see Garmin sending him up the road today and I think he might be able to make it stick. I really hope that Garmin doesn't play this conservative and try to get him in the best young rider jersey in Solvang and just play it safe.

And I think the same could apply to Dan Martin who is a more proven quantity at this point.

 

[El Pistolero]

It doesnt matter. I've seen this race before so i know what to expect...more boredom.

Whwn is Cav going to win something? Oh wait, thats the third biggest race.

Or not, i do believe i heard JB say it was the second biggest...

Seeing as JB is at the Giro I think he knows which race is more important...

 

[Astana1]

Seeing as JB is at the Giro I think he knows which race is more important...

It also may not be a bad idea for him to stay out of the US at the moment. That could have something to do with it.

 

[Kwibus]

I don't know if any of the above posters have ridden either climb, but having done them many times they are both very hard. Sierra is short, but very steep. Those are most definitely averages.

No one ever said the climbs ain't hard. I probably won't reach the top
It's just that they call it an HC climb and an aToC HC doesn't compare with an TdF/Giro or Vuelta HC climb.
It certainly are nice climbs and I expect an entertaining race today.

 

[Kwibus]

If you want to talk elevation, the highest paved road in the Alps is the Ötztal Glacier Road in Austria, at 2,829 meters (9,281 feet). The highest in Italy is the Stelvio at 2,758 meters (9,048 feet).

By comparison, the highest paved road in America is the Mount Evans Scenic Byway in Colorado which tops out nearly a MILE higher at 14,130 feet (4,306 meters):

Oxygen anyone? Hey, kinda looks like...

Epic! It would be great to see the peloton go there for sure.
Don't get the euros wrong. I think everyone is aware that there are great climbs in the USA. The problem until this year was that the ToC didn't use them.
The US could provide a great course for a GT. It's just that it will never get as much people at the sides of the road and the transfers in between stages will be huge.

 

[hrotha]

It's just we Euros often don't comprehend just how big the US are. California is almost the size of Spain, and it's packed full with mountain ranges. You could do a good GT course in California alone.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

hint: hyperbole

You missed my point. No need to come I'n and belittle a climb. Your post contributed a lot to the thread tho, well done.

A shame i can't watch this. Looks interesting. Although I'n not that excited by the field, so meh

 

[igamogam]

We euros...

It's just we Euros often don't comprehend just how big the US are. California is almost the size of Spain, and it's packed full with mountain ranges. You could do a good GT course in California alone.

...also forget how big the Eurasian peninsula is and that it's cycling races mainly take place in a small corner with relatively small mountains.

 

[igamogam]

Is it me?

Cyclingnews.com seems to be making some pretty silly mistakes. Needs a little more editorial control, for instance: "Defending champion Chris Horner (RadioShack) rides alongside GC contender Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek)." the photo caption for the article http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/horner-anticipating-fireworks-on-final-two-climbs-of-stage-four.

Is not Michael Rogers the 2010 winner and has Horner actually won the ToC?

 

[auscyclefan94]

I wonder what time gaps we can expect from this stage? I think I'll record this stage to watch it later as it could be interesting.

 

[just some guy]

Cyclingnews.com seems to be making some pretty silly mistakes. Needs a little more editorial control, for instance: "Defending champion Chris Horner (RadioShack) rides alongside GC contender Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek)." the photo caption for the article http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/horner-anticipating-fireworks-on-final-two-climbs-of-stage-four.

Is not Michael Rogers the 2010 winner and has Horner actually won the ToC?

They are quite funny sometimes. the other day they had

BMC Racing Team: Behind the scenes at the service course
By: James Huang

Cyclingnews visits team of Evans, Phinney, Hincapie and King

Which King it that then - Ben King who rides for Radioshack or Ted King who rides for Liquigas-Cannondale

simple things which put a smile on your face.

 

[Astana1]

Epic! It would be great to see the peloton go there for sure.
Don't get the euros wrong. I think everyone is aware that there are great climbs in the USA. The problem until this year was that the ToC didn't use them.
The US could provide a great course for a GT. It's just that it will never get as much people at the sides of the road and the transfers in between stages will be huge.

Agree on the longer transfers. Disagree on the bit about getting enough people on the sides of the road. If the race were moved to the summer there would be many more people. California has never had trouble attracting crowds.

 

[igamogam]

Editorial control.

They are quite funny sometimes. the other day they had

BMC Racing Team: Behind the scenes at the service course
By: James Huang

Cyclingnews visits team of Evans, Phinney, Hincapie and King

Which King it that then - Ben King who rides for Radioshack or Ted King who rides for Liquigas-Cannondale

simple things which put a smile on your face.

Cycling news the Fox news for cycling?

 

[Kwibus]

Agree on the longer transfers. Disagree on the bit about getting enough people on the sides of the road. If the race were moved to the summer there would be many more people. California has never had trouble attracting crowds.

Well I certainly hope so. Cycling isn't a real big sport in the US so I'm not sure we can expect Zoncolan/Alpe d'Huez kind of numbers. If I'm wrong then please correct me. I've never ever seen a stage of the ToC so far, besides some short clips of last year. I will probably watch todays stage tomorrow.