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

[thirteen]

Inside Vail, 'downtown'.

yes, thank you.

found a lot more information (and links to maps) here: http://www.vailgov.com/release.asp?nr_id=6494&type=0

eta: wish i was there.

 

[Bala Verde]

yes, thank you.

found a lot more information (and links to maps) here: http://www.vailgov.com/release.asp?nr_id=6494&type=0

eta: wish i was there.

me too. ITTs are fun for spectators on the ground, especially in the warm up area.

 

[dlwssonic]

Im not sure how well evans will do, at this moment leipheimer is the favorite.

 

[movingtarget]

Im not sure how well evans will do, at this moment leipheimer is the favorite.

He didn't ride like the favourite yesterday. It seems a cattle grid caused the fall. Basso continued riding but the race doctor was looking at his wrist. Not sure whether he will start. The worst injured rider, whose name escapes me broke both hands and his nose. The coverage was ruined by equipment on the aircraft icing up and losing the signal. This could be an ongoing problem at such altitudes when the weather turns bad. First year for the race but I really think the route needs a makeover but so far it has not been too bad apart from losing the pictures yesterday. I noticed Andy Schleck hitting the line a long time after the leaders. Those wet descents again. Glad George had a win anyway. The Yanks love him ! Be interested to see how Van Garderen and Rory Sutherland go, in the TT.

 

[benpounder]

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.)

There are two main areas of Vail proper, Lions Head and Vail Village. Todays stage starts between them (essentially right off the Interstate) and does a trip through Vail Village. It comes around the main transportation center then east onto the frontage road (that is the supershort uphill right hander Bala mentioned).

 

[Escarabajo]

Go Henao (10 char).

I am also cheering for Henao, but I don't think this profile fits him very well. Besides he is not a top TT. Sevilla might do better.

 

[patrick767]

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.

I wouldn't say that. The TdF podium are having difficulty keeping up with top Americans more accustomed to the elevations. The Americans currently hold the top 5 GC places and Cadel is the only TdF podium rider in the top ten. Some top American riders live and/or train in Colorado at elevation, so they seem to be coping better.

Andy Schleck might be spending too much time in the pubs, but Cadel and Frank would normally be capable of riding away from the others.

 

[Michele]

Start list with timing?

 

[cineteq]

Start list with timing?

Starts at 13:00 and finish at 15:45 local time.
Local time = GMT-7

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

I wouldn't say that. The TdF podium are having difficulty keeping up with top Americans more accustomed to the elevations. The Americans currently hold the top 5 GC places and Cadel is the only TdF podium rider in the top ten. Some top American riders live and/or train in Colorado at elevation, so they seem to be coping better.

Andy Schleck might be spending too much time in the pubs, but Cadel and Frank would normally be capable of riding away from the others.

Cadel has never been able to ride away on a climb, and he has done nothing for the last three weeks but celebrate. Frank is not riding away from anyone other than Cavendish on a 4% climb.

Tour of Colorado. Worst. Route. Ever.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yeah all hail the americans, kings of the 4% climbs...

 

[benpounder]

The Official Start list can be found here (PDF)

Race starts in 1:45hrs

 

[BillytheKid]

Yeah all hail the americans, kings of the 4% climbs...

...kings of the 4% climbs above 3000 meters!

Our road engineers have always prided themselves on serpentine routes that have lower gradients. Actually, I won't be surprised if it's not required in most major routes. Today's route follows some of I-70. For the Interstate Highways they literally cut through stuff to avoid steep grades... that's not to say they can't be found.

 

[TRDean]

Yeah all hail the americans, kings of the 4% climbs...

You every have anything positive to say??? Why are you even watching then? I guess just another crap race that Rabo can't even perform in...Pro Continental at best eh?

 

[Deagol]

Maybe the climbs in the Netherlands are steeper, or the altitude higher

 

[BillytheKid]

Pointless to talk about the gradient in a ITT unless your talking about the type of rider it favors. They are all hard. In regards to today's, you can note there's no respite. Almost always gaining in grade. Watch the faces at the end. They be plenty o' gasping.

 

[benpounder]

Hey D,

Nice photos and commentary yesterday.

 

[Nielsa]

You every have anything positive to say??? Why are you even watching then? I guess just another crap race that Rabo can't even perform in...Pro Continental at best eh?

Lol, someone in today's Vuelta stage thread asked about the difference between Dutch and Belgians. Interacting with Dutchies requires a thicker skin From random Dutch football fans trolling French TV reporters in South Africa 2010, to vandalizing cars with German license plates in Amsterdam, etc...
Edit: Last part not serious!

 

[Deagol]

Hey D,

Nice photos and commentary yesterday.

The stage sucked, wasn't steep enough.

 

[theyoungest]

Lol, someone in today's Vuelta stage thread asked about the difference between Dutch and Belgians. Interacting with Dutchies requires a thicker skin From random Dutch football fans trolling French TV reporters in South Africa 2010, to vandalizing cars with German license plates in Amsterdam, etc...

Dekker_T is barely Dutch, he's from the Dutch outback, so to speak

Also interesting is the fact that you use football hooligans as indicative of an entire nation.

You every have anything positive to say??? Why are you even watching then? I guess just another crap race that Rabo can't even perform in...Pro Continental at best eh?

Rabo and Skil fanfight!

 

[TRDean]

Lol, someone in today's Vuelta stage thread asked about the difference between Dutch and Belgians. Interacting with Dutchies requires a thicker skin From random Dutch football fans trolling French TV reporters in South Africa 2010, to vandalizing cars with German license plates in Amsterdam, etc...

Yes...I did see that in the thread!! LOL.

 

[TRDean]

Dekker_T is barely Dutch, he's from the Dutch outback, so to speak

Also interesting is the fact that you use football hooligans as indicative of an entire nation.


Rabo and Skil fanfight!

Not at all...I like Rabo...but if the race in Colorado is so darn easy...why isn't Rabo making any impression? Skil are performing worse eh?

But yes Skil is the better team...

 

[theyoungest]

Not at all...I like Rabo...but if the race in Colorado is so darn easy...why isn't Rabo making any impression? Skil are performing worse eh?

But yes Skil is the better team...

Skil are not doing so great, apart from that new Swedish guy Ludvigsson... that's a quality rider right there. And maybe we'll now get some stages for Kamikaze Kenny.

Rabo will probably have two guys in the top-10 by tonight, which is an okay result, I guess. Better than Leopard or Liquigas, for instance.

 

[benpounder]

...kings of the 4% climbs above 3000 meters!

funny that the low-landers usually ignore this aspect when belittling this race...

Our road engineers have always prided themselves on serpentine routes that have lower gradients. Actually, I won't be surprised if it's not required in most major routes. Today's route follows some of I-70. For the Interstate Highways they literally cut through stuff to avoid steep grades... that's not to say they can't be found.

I have made this point a number of times, it just doesn't penetrate some of the thicker skulls around here. While modest grade on the major US and state highways is not required to be below 8%, if you want the highway to be usable year-round, you dont put in 12% grades over 6000ft.

In a related note, given that the organizers did put in the hardpack of Cottonwood Pass, if this race is successful I'm sure we will see other less traditional routes. There are plenty of dirt roads to the top of summer-time lift accessed ski stations - you know, like this one:

 

[Nielsa]

Dekker_T is barely Dutch, he's from the Dutch outback, so to speak

Also interesting is the fact that you use football hooligans as indicative of an entire nation.

Of course I'm not serious. The point was some people can give you comments/prods/jokes that seem rude to others. But often, it's just their idea of being brutally honest/direct. Have been to NL many times and I'm aware Dutch are super nice people...