USAPCC Stage 5: Steamboat Springs to Breckenridge, 170.2km (27/8/2011)

[roundabout]

Yes, just wanted to post the same thing.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Yep. So many on this forum seem to want to be dismissive of the race.

Simply put, it isn't the race, just this first edition that is being criticised.
Criticism is a positive tool for improvement. Argue against it and repeat the mistakes of this inaugural effort.

IMO, the race organizers should look to model next year's Colorado, along the lines of this year's Utah.

Seems like there's some interesting racing going on. Well what do you know, no live images.

Ten Dam I take it?

Certainly, the start of this stage promises more that the finish.

 

[LaFleur]

Simply put, it isn't the race, just this first edition that is being criticised.
Criticism is a positive tool for improvement. Argue against it and repeat the mistakes of this inaugural effort.

IMO, the race organizers should look to model next year's Colorado, along the lines of this year's Utah.



Ten Dam I take it?

Certainly, the start of this stage promises more that the finish.

Yeah Ten Dam, but Schleck, Basso and 2 GOB riders are in the break ATM...

 

[goggalor]

Another reason why putting the climbs so early in the stage is pointless: Even if there is action, we don't get to see it.

 

[just some guy]

Yeah Ten Dam, but Schleck, Basso and 2 GOB riders are in the break ATM...

and Thomas Peterson

edit Jeff Louder having a go to get in the break

 

[theyoungest]

Ten Dam I take it?

Last time I checked, Andy Schleck was on the attack.

edit: ah, now I see what you mean. Yeah, I'm Dutch, so all I care about is Dutch riders, right? Or isn't that how your mind works.

 

[roundabout]

Acevedo again?

Pretty good riders for a rather hopeless break

 

[LaFleur]

Why is Radioshack letting this one go? They have Ten Dam, Peterson, Schleck, Basso and a Gobernacion rider who is only 2.30 down on the GC!
E: Ok, apparently the peloton was down to 20 riders. That makes sense then Still: Why the hell can't we see it?

 

[Phoenix23]

Chris Baldwin (+2:38 on GC) and Dave Z are about 15 seconds behind the Basso/Schleck break.

EDIT: And now those two only have 10 seconds on the peleton??? The main break seems to have about 1:45 on the "peleton" at this point.

 

[just some guy]

Chris Baldwin (+2:38 on GC) and Dave Z are about 15 seconds behind the Basso/Schleck break.

Think the tracker messed up again

now they are 10 seconds in front of the peloton which is 150 behind the break

 

[Mellow Velo]

Last time I checked, Andy Schleck was on the attack.

edit: ah, now I see what you mean. Yeah, I'm Dutch, so all I care about is Dutch riders, right? Or isn't that how your mind works.

I have it on good authority that my mind doesn't work.
Proof: I hadn't noticed Schleckette, Basso and co.
I only saw the tracker had Ten Dam on the little pointy thingy, so I assumed.....
.........quickly leaves the room.....

 

[LaFleur]

So Acevedo is dropped according to the tracker. Is he too tired and the pace was too fast, or is Gobernacion up to something?

 

[theyoungest]

So Acevedo is dropped according to the tracker. Is he too tired and the pace was too fast, or is Gobernacion up to something?

Maybe they kindly asked him to remove his sorry a$$ from the break, so they'd get free rein?

 

[Lupetto]

Maybe they kindly asked him to remove his sorry a$$ from the break, so they'd get free rein?

Andy gave him his angry hate look from stage 1, so Acevedo was scared to death and returned to the peloton.

 

[woodburn]

Radio Shack should want this break to succeed. No time bonuses in play if it does.

 

[mewmewmew13]

Go chris baldwin!!!

 

[just some guy]

apparently thunder and lightning and rain.

Iamtedking pulled the plug.

 

[jobiwan]

If it rains on the descent of Swan Mountain, Andy has no chance!
That said, GO ANDY!!

Shame I'll probably miss the rest of this stage!
Hope the weather doesn't take out the ShackTracker!

 

[LaFleur]

If it rains on the descent of Swan Mountain, Andy has no chance!
That said, GO ANDY!!

Shame I'll probably miss the rest of this stage!
Hope the weather doesn't take out the ShackTracker!

What?? Surely Andy has some of the genes of his brother "The Great Descender Frank Schleck"???

 

[theyoungest]

If it rains on the descent of Swan Mountain, Andy has no chance!
That said, GO ANDY!!

Shame I'll probably miss the rest of this stage!
Hope the weather doesn't take out the ShackTracker!

Basso and Ten Dam, on the other hand, are great descenders...

It will probably be a matter of the last man standing

 

[Mellow Velo]

Radio Shack should want this break to succeed. No time bonuses in play if it does.

Would be a smart move. Good for everybody.
The organizers would love a big named Euro rider to take a stage, I would imagine.
Under 50 miles left, all uphill, at an average of 0.5%.

 

[just some guy]

does anyone else think it is a bit weird that United health cares Rory promoting the use of music head phone will riding, which would reduce the likelihood of hearing traffic and therefore be more dangerous.




Sorry about that.

 

[just some guy]

live pictures

 

[trevim]

Wow that's what I call an high profile breakaway.

I don't know much about Thomas Peterson (domestique, former leader of Tour of Turkey right?) but am I right to assume that he's the best sprinter, descender and perhaps time trialist of the group?

About Radioshack, yeah maybe they should let this one go. Garmin wouldn't care and the others wouldn't probably care to.

 

[benpounder]

Another reason why putting the climbs so early in the stage is pointless: Even if there is action, we don't get to see it.

Some of us did!

I'm positioned about 700m shy of the finish of Rabbit Ears KOM. First we saw Laurens ten Dam:

Followed by the Radio Shack leaders group:

Then came George Hincapie and some others:

and then was Ryder Hesjedal:

Snapshot quality is poor because I was also videotapping the race. I'll upload any decent screencaps I find.