Tour of California pics

[sellsworth]

Pro cycling may be down right now but my 11-year-old son and I had a great time at the Tour of California this year. We attended the prologue, the stage one finish, the top of Trinity Grade, and the intermediate sprint in Davis. We took our tandem along and rode the prologue course while many of the pros were warming up. Early on we rode behind the Quick-Step team and got to greet Boonen. We saw Hincapie and he told us that he was confident that he could finish in the top five (didn’t happen). We rode behind the whole CSC team and when Riis fell behind we were able to chat with him briefly. He didn’t seem all that happy to be talking with us. We rode next to Betini and he wouldn’t look our way when we greeted him – same for Cipollini. We were able to get a great spot at the finish and I got lucky and guessed the winning time for Cancellara (3:51). That night we camped north of Bodega Bay and then rode up the Coleman Valley climb to Occidental. One of the nicest rides that I’ve ever done. We went to Santa Rosa for the finish but it was so crowded we didn’t end up with a very good spot to see the sprint unfold. Santa Rosa seems to be a really good cycling town. On Tuesday we rode the Trinity Grade climb to the KOM point. What a great crowd even though it was raining. We made a dash for Davis in the car and watched the intermediate sprint. This is where Ferrar took over the leader’s jersey.

I got some pretty good pictures. I’ll include them in this thread.

[sellsworth]

Boonen at the prologue

[sellsworth]

Cipollini at the prologue

[sellsworth]

Levi at the prologue (a bit fuzzy)

[sellsworth]

Fstrthnu at the prologue

[sellsworth]

Bettini in Santa Rosa

[sellsworth]

Juan Jose Haedo after winning in Santa Rosa

[sellsworth]

The peloton on Trinity Grade. I think that's Cipo right behind Levi.

[sellsworth]

Trinity again. Not an easy climb.

[sellsworth]

One last one. Tyler Farrar going for the intermediate sprint points in Davis. Millar (behind) led him out.

[soulspinner]

Great pics and memories for you and your son. Thank you.

[DarrenCT]

thnx for the pix.

cool shot of justin

looks like u guys had a good time. :beer:

[93legendti]

The peloton on Trinity Grade. I think that's Cipo right behind Levi.
I did Trinity in '02, it was misty/foggy/humid and steep...lost of fun. :)

[Blue Jays]

Great snapshots!

[labratmatt]

Very cool pics. Thanks for posting.

Why the hell is Flux wearing that big wind sail watch? Why is Boonen wearing gloves? Next thing you know, we'll see TT champions sporting ragged, air dragging, mustaches.

[jthurow]

Thanks for the Jens shot!

jimi

[Elefantino]

On Tuesday we rode the Trinity Grade climb to the KOM point. What a great crowd even though it was raining.
That was YOU and your son?

That was me in the orange volunteer shirt and the orange Serotta hat! The one who high-fived junior.

You guys were awesome and your son is great. I'm glad you had a great time.

Mike

[handsomerob]

Fstrthnu at the prologue

What is with the space between the "head tube" and fork? I figured all TT bikes like that had integrated headsets.

[labratmatt]

What is with the space between the "head tube" and fork? I figured all TT bikes like that had integrated headsets.

Yeah, standard headset. Weird.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/feb08/california08/tech.php?id=/photos/2008/tech/features/toc_prologue_08/Kelly_Benefits_TT_bike

[sellsworth]

Yeah, standard headset. Weird.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/feb08/california08/tech.php?id=/photos/2008/tech/features/toc_prologue_08/Kelly_Benefits_TT_bike


Wow, "earlier generation" TT bikes. Maybe Justin lost a few seconds due to this exposed headset!

[BumbleBeeDave]

That was YOU and your son?

That was me in the orange volunteer shirt and the orange Serotta hat! The one who high-fived junior.

You guys were awesome and your son is great. I'm glad you had a great time.

Mike

Is that you there on the left with the camera? We got this on the AP wire. Apparently it ran in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

BBD

[sellsworth]

Is that you there on the left with the camera? We got this on the AP wire. Apparently it ran in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

BBD

My son and I were another 10m or so up the road from Elefantino. Very cool to have seen him.

[sellsworth]

That was YOU and your son?

That was me in the orange volunteer shirt and the orange Serotta hat! The one who high-fived junior.

You guys were awesome and your son is great. I'm glad you had a great time.

Mike

We'll be there next year! I hope to see you again. The ToC has great volunteers. It amazes me that events like this happen without more conflict with motorists. My son loved cycling before the ToC this year and now he's addicted.

[sellsworth]

Thanks for the Jens shot!

jimi

Here's a shot of Jens at the prologue. Lots of road rash!!!

[jthurow]

Yes! Look at that grimace...

jimi

[caleb]

Cool ToC story (http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=1678871;page=1;s b=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25;).

http://i26.tinypic.com/m73trb.jpg

[BURCH]

Cool pics. Thanks for posting.

[BumbleBeeDave]

This most definitely does NOT look like fun.

BBD

[Elefantino]

Is that you there on the left with the camera? We got this on the AP wire. Apparently it ran in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

BBD
Yep. That was me. I used pull (I used to work for the PD)!

[Skrawny]

Great pics!

I love the fact that in the TT pics they all have the same "my-lungs-are-burning-and-flames-are-coming-out-my-mouth" look.

-s

[Tom Byrnes]

Not mine, but a friend's:

http://web.mac.com/lamunchkin/Munch/Tour_of_CA_2008.html#grid

[cdimattio]

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[cdimattio]

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[cdimattio]

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