USAPCC Stage 3: Vail ITT 16.1km (25/8/2011)

[benpounder]

I'm stuffed, and exhausted. I picked George Hincapie to win the prologue, and I can't say how delighted I am to have picked him on the wrong stage.

Tomorrow will be very interesting.

While Tejay is now in the drivers' seat, both George and Levi can win this race.

Thursday's uphill ITT will tell much, but Saturday's race into Breckenridge will tell the final tale.

Here is the preview of Thursday's Vail ITT

The stage that least interests me will probably be the most significant. What a boring profile for an ITT:

While I say it is a boring profile, I have ridden this. It is, in fact, neither boring, nor easy.

Again, you lowlanders have little clue how much the altitude drains not just your strength, but your breath. Imagine a Ferrari running on only two cylinders.

This one starts out in Vail, home of the 1989 and 1999 FIS World Ski Championships. At a modest base elevation of 8150ft (2484m), this track rolls slightly uphill along the I70 frontage roads till the East Vail interchange – roughly 2/3’s through the length of the race. It then goes uphill. While not steep, the road is heavy. And after Monarch Pass, Cottonwood Pass, and Independence Pass, this climb to the relatively low altitude of 9647ft (2939m) will seem unending… and punitive.

They will be thankful that the course does not continue to the top of Vail Pass.

The true high altitude mountain goats will shine today. Levi will likely win this, Tejay will still have the lead.

 

[Havetts]

500 meters altitude gain in 16.1 kilometers is a 3% average for the whole course. The powerhouses will win this TT, will be fun though and I hope with some TV coverage! .

 

[benpounder]

Sorry...

I'll add the color coordinated profile showing gradients when Flickr is more willing..

Added:

 

[Havetts]

No need to apologize Ben . I'm really gratefull you are willing to do this already.

 

[Jamsque]

Tejay is gonna kill it.

 

[Swede1]

Ill say Levi will win, Tejay to be close enough to keep the lead, and Hincapie will do a top 5 TT to keep him in the Top 3.

 

[Tank Engine]

500 meters altitude gain in 16.1 kilometers is a 3% average for the whole course. The powerhouses will win this TT, will be fun though and I hope with some TV coverage! .

The first half is almost flat. The second half is about 4.5%. Not huge, but tough at this altitude. I think TJ will have the measure of Bottle and Tommy D to overtake big George in the GC.

 

[luckyboy]

As long as Bottle doesn't win I don't care what happens.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

Forza Tommy D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bala Verde]

The first part is mainly flat/rolling, but at times it actually feels like a slight downhill. The climb proper starts with a rather steep section (the loopy U shaped underpass, at 2/3 of the TT, curving left under the I70).

The road surface is a little coarse/rough on the climb. The climb itself also features a false flat section, which in the topo map would be the straightest section alongside the I70 in the latter half. Or so I experienced it. It's a bit of an uneven climb (Is that common in CO, because the climb up to independence pass was very uneven too; great views though!)

Given that they have been at altitude for a little while it shouldn't really be too hard anymore, but the climb is certainly not easy. For me, having never been at that altitude before, it felt like I hadn't ridden a bike for an entire year. When I arrived at the cul-de-sac at the top, I had to eat something, because strangely, I thought I was about to bonk... After 11 miles only!!!

If I followed the TT route properly in Vail town, there is a supershort uphill corner just before you leave town.

Did teams bring their TT bikes to the race?

 

[hfer07]

I only have one wish.......













a decent video broadcasting-that's all

 

[just some guy]

as long as bottle doesn't win i don't care what happens.

+1000000000000000000000000

 

[just some guy]

The first part is mainly flat/rolling, but at times it actually feels like a slight downhill. The climb proper starts with a rather steep section (the loopy U shaped underpass, at 2/3 of the TT, curving left under the I70).

The road surface is a little coarse/rough on the climb. The climb itself also features a false flat section, which in the topo map would be the straightest section alongside the I70 in the latter half. Or so I experienced it. It's a bit of an uneven climb (Is that common in CO, because the climb up to independence pass was very uneven too; great views though!)

Given that they have been at altitude for a little while it shouldn't really be too hard anymore, but the climb is certainly not easy. For me, having never been at that altitude before, it felt like I hadn't ridden a bike for an entire year. When I arrived at the cul-de-sac at the top, I had to eat something, because strangely, I thought I was about to bonk... After 11 miles only!!!

If I followed the TT route properly in Vail town, there is a supershort uphill corner just before you leave town.

Did teams bring their TT bikes to the race?

All did except some of the Rabo guys I think.

Guess it is because of the american bike sponsors

 

[jens_attacks]

it seems like all this altitude thing is mega overrated,fucc that... even guys living near the sea are ripping it,there is oxygen for everyone bloods here.and please don't compare our rides with the proffesionals.
it will be probably between levi and van garderen.

 

[Nearly]

Evans will get close after this - with some oxygen in the lungs after a little acclimatisation it will be like the drag up the Galibier.

 

[Kwibus]

Battle between Leipheimer and van Garderen.

Leipheimer will win the TT, but van Garderen will have about 10 seconds left on the GC after the TT.

 

[theyoungest]

Leipheimer will probably take this, Cadel and Tejay will be close. Hoping for a top-5 for Clement, which would get him into the top-10 on GC.

 

[auscyclefan94]

This is a good tt for Cadel. I expect him to go well in this.

 

[craig1985]

Go Henao (10 char).

 

[thirteen]

I'm stuffed, and exhausted. I picked George Hincapie to win the prologue, and I can't say how delighted I am to have picked him on the wrong stage.

Tomorrow will be very interesting.

ben, i'm still salivating over the thought of your crab last night

question -- where exactly does it start in Vail? in town or just outside? if in the city limits, where exactly?

(it's been years, but i went enough growing up that i still know where most of the landmarks are... i miss it, sigh.)

 

[auscyclefan94]

I wouldn't expect much from him Henao tbh. Even though he won the prologue in Utah, I think the field and the course will suit the top tt guys who can climb in the world and they will ride really quick times.

 

[thirteen]

I wouldn't expect much from him tbh

then i'm open to anyone who may know.

eh, never mind, off to search Vail Daily...

 

[auscyclefan94]

then i'm open to anyone who may know.

eh, never mind, off to search Vail Daily...

oops, I quoted the wrong post. My apologies ben!

 

[thirteen]

oops, I quoted the wrong post. My apologies ben!

it's okay -- well, not for ben, but me... i found out something i likely wouldn't have known for a long time...

yesterday's stage went over Independence Pass and i mentioned in the thread that the owner of the inn we used to stay at when i was a kid was in a very bad cycling accident there... and, now, it seems, he has passed: http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20110823/NEWS/110829908/1078&ParentProfile=1062

 

[Bala Verde]

ben, i'm still salivating over the thought of your crab last night

question -- where exactly does it start in Vail? in town or just outside? if in the city limits, where exactly?

(it's been years, but i went enough growing up that i still know where most of the landmarks are... i miss it, sigh.)

Inside Vail, 'downtown'.