USAPCC Stage 1: Salida to Crested Butte 159.9km (23/8/2011)

[benpounder]

Off-topic again: Ben, sounds like you have done the Grand ?

[...]

Wait, is this a cycling forum ?????

Several times. This is me in Lava Falls - I'm not the blond.

Rafting/kayaking the Grand is the one trip that I think everyone should make at least once in their life. And an 18-21 day trip will span new moon to full moon - the stars on a new moon night are unbelievable, and the hikes on full moon nights are stellar.

40 minutes till race start!

Let's ease back on topic. Cadel is a good pick for todays route, though I think someone else will win from a group of twenty or so.

[my edit] photo added

AND

Ned Overend and Tinker Juarez place first and second last Saturday in the 39th Mt Washington Hill climb. Ned is 55, Tinker is 50. Mt Washington is one of the most brutal climbs in the States.

 

[Deagol]

Thanks. It is some cold water. I have know idea how this stage is going to play out. I am hoping for a good break off the first climb and some good attacking in the lead up to the final climb. Too far for the break to stay away. I hope they don't just ride tempo on the pass.

My guess (and it's only a guess) is that the Columbians will break away and get KOM point on top of the pass, then get caught on the flats afterward. Who will take the win? I don't know. It's weird to have a sprint so close to the finish. I think maybe another Columbian may burst out of the pack on the last climb after the CB sprint if the group is all together for the sprint in Crested Butte. The Climb from CB to Mount CB isn't that long, but considering how they climb, maybe they could burst out? So for me, it's the Columbians, I just don't think they will be able to stay out on their own all day. We will see ....

Edit: the Monarch Pass downhill will be super fast .
Should be interesting to see what the top speeds are there....

 

[LaFleur]

Several times. Also the hike from the south rim down to Phantom Ranch and back.

Rafting the Grand is the one trip that I think everyone should make at least once in their life. And an 18-21 day trip will span new moon to full moon - the stars on a new moon night are unbelievable, and the hikes on full moon nights are stellar.

40 minutes till race start!

Let's ease back on topic. Cadel is a good pick for todays route, though I think someone else will win from a group of twenty or so.

The big question is, will we see fireworks on the 1st climb like we saw in the Tour of Utah?

 

[jens_attacks]

the colombians will send up the road at least 3 guys(acevedo is a good bet),the other teams will chase hard...i think they will catch them just in time at the end where guys like baez,sevilla,henao,pedraza will go.
i think basso,gesink and the schlecks won't go hard but i'd like too,i'd love to see a confrontation between europeans and colombians at high altitude.

 

[Deagol]

The big question is, will we see fireworks on the 1st climb like we saw in the Tour of Utah?

my vote is YES

 

[benpounder]

The big question is, will we see fireworks on the 1st climb like we saw in the Tour of Utah?

I think we will see a break form on the first climb. If there are any GC threats in this break, it will be gobbled up on Monarch Pass. Although this race is in the high country of Colorado, I suspect several teams and riders covet the Points Jersey. While not a sprint finish (Steamboat and Denver are the only likely sprint finishes) the points available today are worth the effort. I think we will see a peloton of 60-80 charging into the narrow streets of Crested Butte, followed by an elite group of 20 or so emerging on the last 2.5 miles - uphill and at altitude.

 

[just some guy]

Tracker showing a picture of ITT specialist Andy Schleck makes sense.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

the colombians will send up the road at least 3 guys(acevedo is a good bet),the other teams will chase hard...i think they will catch them just in time at the end where guys like baez,sevilla,henao,pedraza will go.
i think basso,gesink and the schlecks won't go hard but i'd like too,i'd love to see a confrontation between europeans and colombians at high altitude.

i don't know about the schlecks or basso, but Gesink is very motivated to get good results here

 

[Deagol]

Tour Tracker is up (text at least, no video yet for me ), the comentators are indirectly correcting Paul Sherwin's mis-pronunciation of Salida

 

[just some guy]

Tour Tracker is up, the comentators are indirectly correcting Paul Sherwin's mis-pronunciation of Salida

Ive got ads ?

 

[jobiwan]

Ive got ads ?

It was in the text tracker.

The town is not pronouced the way your Spanish teacher would suggest. It's Sa-LIE-da.

 

[Deagol]

Ive got ads ?

Yeah, me too. I got ahead of myself- it was only text updates on the right side. Was reading them....

EDIT: Ugg, they are rolling already and Tour Tracker video still not working.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

If I read well than officially they begin at 22:00 CET (14:00 local time colorado)

 

[just some guy]

If I read well than officially they begin at 22:00 CET (14:00 local time colorado)

According to tracker texts there are rolling in the neutral zone now

 

[Deagol]

According to tracker texts there are rolling in the neutral zone now

and on their map, too

 

[this_is_edie]

According to tracker texts there are rolling in the neutral zone now

Yep, 1.2 miles in but no video.

 

[jobiwan]

If the times are Mountain Time, then we might not get video for an hour or two.
Of course, they're just in a neutral start right now.

 

[benpounder]

Yep, 1.2 miles in but no video.

they are doing a couple of processional laps in Salida. Once they hit airport road the race will start.

 

[Lupetto]

i don't know about the schlecks or basso, but Gesink is very motivated to get good results here

And he showed it yesterday, he is in good shape.

Basso is motivated and was in good form last week at the TVV , but he arrived too late to acclimate.

 

[jobiwan]

Early attempts at break

Thomson (Bissell)
White (UHC)
Dickeson (Jelly Belly)
Beltran (EPM)

 

[benpounder]

For what it is worth, I did not get coverage of the Vuelta this morning till 45km from the finish.

 

[Anonymous]

AS got a nice set of teeth.

 

[Deagol]

Early attempts at break

Thomson (Bissell)
White (UHC)
Dickeson (Jelly Belly)
Beltran (EPM)

Are you watching this on TV ?

 

[jobiwan]

Are you watching this on TV ?

Nah. Tracker.
Evidently they now have 40 seconds.

 

[just some guy]

For what it is worth, I did not get coverage of the Vuelta this morning till 45km from the finish.

Its worth nothing the family is away and I get to watch cycling at home without being nagged to death - but now Ive got 2 hours to kill


just joking Ben your enthusiasm for the event is rubbing off would like to see it.