Armstrong said this morning he's dubbed the day "LEVIStrong" for his Astana Teammate Levi Leipheimer. The time trial race begins at Noon today Pacific time. Props to Doobybrain.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Solvang - Ride it like YOU stole it
Lance Armstrong's stolen and recovered Trek 1274 time trial bike, with a new decal added by the Trek people.
Armstrong said this morning he's dubbed the day "LEVIStrong" for his Astana Teammate Levi Leipheimer. The time trial race begins at Noon today Pacific time. Props to Doobybrain.
Armstrong said this morning he's dubbed the day "LEVIStrong" for his Astana Teammate Levi Leipheimer. The time trial race begins at Noon today Pacific time. Props to Doobybrain.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Stage 5 updates
Chris Jones Diary, where the Yellow Devil makes an appearance and comments about his scuffle with Lance Armstrong.
Bike World News has an Tour of California Photo Contest. Submit your photos, win a prize.
As far as I'm concerned, Ken Conley wins the prize. Below is a sample, but see all of his photos at his website.
Graham Watson has some pretty good photos, too.
I was supposed to interview Phil Southerland of Team Type 1 today. He called me early this morning before the stage start when my cell phone battery died. Aaagh! We've rescheduled for tomorrow morning, and Kristian will take a couple of photos of Phil for me.
Enthusiastic crowds turned out at the start of the race today in Visalia as race leaders Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Astana, Michael Rogers (AUS) of Team Columbia-Highroad, David Zibriskie (USA) of Garmin-Slipstream and Lance Armstrong (USA) of Astana led the peloton into Stage 5 of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Equally impressive crowds lined the streets in Paso Robles to witness the incredible sprint to the finish line that saw Mark Cavendish (GBR) of Team Columbia-Highroad take his second consecutive stage win in the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Leipheimer maintained the overall lead after coming in 15th place in the longest stage of the race. Day six of the 2009 race included no King of the Mountain competitions, but two sprint competitions on a flat, fast day of racing that took the riders from Visalia to Paso Robles.
Moving into second and third overall were Rogers and Zabriskie, respectively.
“This was the day that I was planning on winning this year,” said Cavendish. “It was a hard day; harder than expected. It seems like they’ve replicated the Tour de France with the speed and the par course. It has been incredibly hard.”
Photo by Ken Conley Team Columbia-Highroad again delivered Cavendish to the finish line at the front, where he sprang off the lead-out wheels to win with ease. And once again it was Quick Step's Tom Boonen (BEL) who finished second in the stage, just ahead of Pedro Horrillo (ESP) of Rabobank.
“This stage win is massively important,” added Cavendish. “Any stage in the Amgen Tour of California is big. It’s big for the team, and this one is a bit more personal because it’s close to home. Every other stage is important, but this one is a bit more personal.”
Despite the apparent ease of victory for Cavendish, it was a long, hard stage for him and the rest of the field. A six-man group escaped only seven miles into the 134.3- mile route from Visalia to Paso Robles, with early attacks led by Jelly Belly's Matthew Crane (USA), who was eventually joined by Jeff Louder (USA) of Team BMC, Robert Gunn (AUS) of Fly V Australia Powered by Successful Living, Glen Chadwick (NZL) of Rock Racing and Cameron Evans (CAN) Ouch Presented by Maxxis.
Cruising through the flat San Joaquin Valley floor under sunny skies, the escapees steadily opened the gap to a maximum of eight minutes mid-way through the race, with Astana leading a steady tempo in the field. At 50 miles to go, Quick Step, Team Columbia-Highroad and Saxo Bank began sharing the load at the front, and the time differential decreased rapidly. The breakaway splintered under the pressure, with Chadwick being the last one reeled in with less than three miles to go, when Team Columbia-Highroad led Cavendish to take over.
With the sun hanging high in a flawless baby blue sky in Paso Robles, all of the top riders finished in the main group, completing a long, flat stage leading into the critical Individual Time Trial in Solvang tomorrow.
Photo by Ken ConleyIt’s going to be a big showdown tomorrow,” said two-time defending champion and overall leader Leipheimer. “You have the three-time World Champion Michael Rogers and Dave Zabriskie, the National Champion, so it will be special. I’m actually really looking forward to it. I feel good; I’ve felt great throughout the whole race. I feel pretty awesome about keeping the lead.”
There were only two changes in the jerseys today, with Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer™ Most Courageous Rider Jersey going to Matthew Crane (USA) of Jelly Belly Pro Cycling and the Herbalife Sprint Jersey going to Cavendish. The other jersey winners remain unchanged with Leipheimer in the Amgen Leader Jersey, Robert Gesink (NED) of Rabobank in the Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey and Francisco Mancebo (ESP) of Rock Racing in the California Travel & Tourism Commission King of the Mountain (KOM) Jersey.
“The crowds today in Paso Robles were absolutely amazing,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. “It was great to see such an enthusiastic response from a new host city. We had a great race today, and the best part is, it is still anyone’s race tomorrow. Tomorrow should prove to be a critical day for the world-class cyclists and a remarkable day for the spectators who come out to see the always popular time trial.”
Bike World News has an Tour of California Photo Contest. Submit your photos, win a prize.
As far as I'm concerned, Ken Conley wins the prize. Below is a sample, but see all of his photos at his website.
 |
| Photo by Ken Conley |
Graham Watson has some pretty good photos, too.
I was supposed to interview Phil Southerland of Team Type 1 today. He called me early this morning before the stage start when my cell phone battery died. Aaagh! We've rescheduled for tomorrow morning, and Kristian will take a couple of photos of Phil for me.
Enthusiastic crowds turned out at the start of the race today in Visalia as race leaders Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Astana, Michael Rogers (AUS) of Team Columbia-Highroad, David Zibriskie (USA) of Garmin-Slipstream and Lance Armstrong (USA) of Astana led the peloton into Stage 5 of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Equally impressive crowds lined the streets in Paso Robles to witness the incredible sprint to the finish line that saw Mark Cavendish (GBR) of Team Columbia-Highroad take his second consecutive stage win in the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Leipheimer maintained the overall lead after coming in 15th place in the longest stage of the race. Day six of the 2009 race included no King of the Mountain competitions, but two sprint competitions on a flat, fast day of racing that took the riders from Visalia to Paso Robles.
Moving into second and third overall were Rogers and Zabriskie, respectively.
“This was the day that I was planning on winning this year,” said Cavendish. “It was a hard day; harder than expected. It seems like they’ve replicated the Tour de France with the speed and the par course. It has been incredibly hard.”
Photo by Ken Conley“This stage win is massively important,” added Cavendish. “Any stage in the Amgen Tour of California is big. It’s big for the team, and this one is a bit more personal because it’s close to home. Every other stage is important, but this one is a bit more personal.”
Despite the apparent ease of victory for Cavendish, it was a long, hard stage for him and the rest of the field. A six-man group escaped only seven miles into the 134.3- mile route from Visalia to Paso Robles, with early attacks led by Jelly Belly's Matthew Crane (USA), who was eventually joined by Jeff Louder (USA) of Team BMC, Robert Gunn (AUS) of Fly V Australia Powered by Successful Living, Glen Chadwick (NZL) of Rock Racing and Cameron Evans (CAN) Ouch Presented by Maxxis.
Cruising through the flat San Joaquin Valley floor under sunny skies, the escapees steadily opened the gap to a maximum of eight minutes mid-way through the race, with Astana leading a steady tempo in the field. At 50 miles to go, Quick Step, Team Columbia-Highroad and Saxo Bank began sharing the load at the front, and the time differential decreased rapidly. The breakaway splintered under the pressure, with Chadwick being the last one reeled in with less than three miles to go, when Team Columbia-Highroad led Cavendish to take over.
With the sun hanging high in a flawless baby blue sky in Paso Robles, all of the top riders finished in the main group, completing a long, flat stage leading into the critical Individual Time Trial in Solvang tomorrow.
Photo by Ken ConleyThere were only two changes in the jerseys today, with Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer™ Most Courageous Rider Jersey going to Matthew Crane (USA) of Jelly Belly Pro Cycling and the Herbalife Sprint Jersey going to Cavendish. The other jersey winners remain unchanged with Leipheimer in the Amgen Leader Jersey, Robert Gesink (NED) of Rabobank in the Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey and Francisco Mancebo (ESP) of Rock Racing in the California Travel & Tourism Commission King of the Mountain (KOM) Jersey.
“The crowds today in Paso Robles were absolutely amazing,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. “It was great to see such an enthusiastic response from a new host city. We had a great race today, and the best part is, it is still anyone’s race tomorrow. Tomorrow should prove to be a critical day for the world-class cyclists and a remarkable day for the spectators who come out to see the always popular time trial.”
Paso Robles: Another field sprint finish
Amgen Tour of California Stage 5
A breakaway of Cameron Evans (Ouch), Pieter Weening (Rabobank), Matthew Crane (Jelly Belly) that was eight minutes in front of the peloton was caught three miles from the finish as the peloton went crazy for a chaotic sprint finish. Cervelo Test Team and Columbia High Road kept it together, with Columbia delivering their man Mark Cavendish to the front of the field for his second win in a row.
Tom Boonen (Quick Step), Pedro Horrillo (Rabobank), Francisco Chichi (Liquigas) and Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) all followed Cavendish across the finish about a full bike length back. Unlike yesterday, Cavendish waited until after he crossed the finish before lifting his arms from the bars. The spectators in Paso Robles were treated to an exciting finish.
Mark Cavendish will wear the green sprinter's jersey tomorrow. Levi Leipheimer retains the yellow jersey for the time trial Friday in Solvang.
A breakaway of Cameron Evans (Ouch), Pieter Weening (Rabobank), Matthew Crane (Jelly Belly) that was eight minutes in front of the peloton was caught three miles from the finish as the peloton went crazy for a chaotic sprint finish. Cervelo Test Team and Columbia High Road kept it together, with Columbia delivering their man Mark Cavendish to the front of the field for his second win in a row. Tom Boonen (Quick Step), Pedro Horrillo (Rabobank), Francisco Chichi (Liquigas) and Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) all followed Cavendish across the finish about a full bike length back. Unlike yesterday, Cavendish waited until after he crossed the finish before lifting his arms from the bars. The spectators in Paso Robles were treated to an exciting finish.Mark Cavendish will wear the green sprinter's jersey tomorrow. Levi Leipheimer retains the yellow jersey for the time trial Friday in Solvang.
Do they still call it 'slashdotted'?
There's a tech-heavy popular nerd website called Slashdot which bills itself as "News for nerds, stuff that matters." Back in the ancient days of the web -- you know, about five years ago -- if a website was mentioned on Slashdot, there was a good chance the website would go down because of all the traffic inundating that site coming from Slashdot. Less robust sites are unable to deal with the flood of traffic coming from the hugely popular Slashdot, so the site goes down and is "slashdotted."
That happened to Cyclelicious momentarily yesterday afternoon when I released the story that Lance Armstrong's Trek time trial bike was found in Sacramento. About 1,000 people simultaneously sent a link to the story on Twitter, Stumbleupon, Digg, Reddit and elsewhere, sending a flood of traffic to Cyclelicious and bringing my site to a screeching halt. The horrible paradox is that I had record traffic to Cyclelicious yesterday, but nobody could get to the content for about five to 10 minutes.
Ah well, I'll take the bad with the good. I really appreciate the link love that everybody sent my way! Thank you, all.
That happened to Cyclelicious momentarily yesterday afternoon when I released the story that Lance Armstrong's Trek time trial bike was found in Sacramento. About 1,000 people simultaneously sent a link to the story on Twitter, Stumbleupon, Digg, Reddit and elsewhere, sending a flood of traffic to Cyclelicious and bringing my site to a screeching halt. The horrible paradox is that I had record traffic to Cyclelicious yesterday, but nobody could get to the content for about five to 10 minutes.
Ah well, I'll take the bad with the good. I really appreciate the link love that everybody sent my way! Thank you, all.
Did Cavendish jump the gun?
Check out this photo by my buddy Kristian shot an instant before Mark Cavendish and Tom Boonen crossed the finish line in Clovis on Wednesday afternoon.
Cavendish won the race by inches, and he very well could have lost it by relaxing like he did here. You can bet Bob Stapleton showed the finish line video to this cocky young Brit. Ironically, Team Columbia High Road provided this wonderful quote from Cavendish in tonight's press kit:
“This win was massive for me and for the team,” continued Cavendish. “I was really driven and I wanted this win bad. The team stayed so well together on every climb and it played into our ends today.”
The majestic views of the field flying along with the snow-capped Sierra Mountains in the backdrop amidst brilliant blue skies and sun made for a perfect day of racing.
“The scenery on the course is awesome,” said race leader Levi Leipheimer. “It’s very pretty and there were a ton of people, even in the snow, cheering for us.”
Jason McCartney (USA) of Saxo Bank drove several early moves, finally getting clear at the 26-mile mark with Serge Pauwels (BEL) of Cervelo Test Team and Rock Racing's Tyler Hamilton (USA). Hamilton's teammate Francisco Mancebo (ESP) joined the break as well, hoping to defend his sprint and KOM jerseys.
The first dry day of the race was marred by serious injuries to three high-profile riders: Kim Kirchen (LUX) of Team Columbia-Highroad fractured his right clavicle and scapula and Oscar Friere (ESP) of Rabobank fractured two ribs on his left side when about a dozen riders, including Floyd Landis, touched wheels and went down together in a heap. Scott Nydam (USA) of the BMC Racing Team fractured his left clavicle in a later crash. Eight other riders also dropped out on Stage 4 due to injury and exhaustion, leaving 108 cyclists to start Stage 5 in Visalia.
As the peloton continued their charge, Cavendish’s confidence grew. Mancebo stayed up front long enough to consolidate his leads, then retreated to the field to give teammate Hamilton a shot at staying away. The lead quickly climbed to more than five minutes with 50 miles to go, but with the mountains and motivated sprinters behind, the breakaway had no chance. They were finally swallowed by the fast-moving peloton at the Clovis city limits, where the Cervelo Test Team pulled to the front. But, Team Columbia-Highroad’s infamous sprinter Cavendish quickly took over for the win.
"I was looking after so well after the climbs; my team really put me in a perfect position,” said Cavendish. “Mark Renshaw (Team Columbia-Highroad) helped me; it was the first time we got the lead-out right."
In what was a photo-finish bunch sprint to the “gateway to the sierras,” Boonen took second and Juan Jose (J.J.) Haedo (ARG) of Saxo Bank took third.
More:
Cavendish won the race by inches, and he very well could have lost it by relaxing like he did here. You can bet Bob Stapleton showed the finish line video to this cocky young Brit. Ironically, Team Columbia High Road provided this wonderful quote from Cavendish in tonight's press kit:
“Some people think I have a reputation for being cocky or arrogant, but I think I’m just a realist. I’m the first to say when I’m bad at something, but I’m also the first to say when I think I’m good at something. My goals are my goals, not dreams; they are targets and I’ll do whatever necessary to make those targets. So when somebody asks me if I’m the fastest, I think I am. But I need to be put in a position where I can finish it. I think I’m unrivaled.”
“This win was massive for me and for the team,” continued Cavendish. “I was really driven and I wanted this win bad. The team stayed so well together on every climb and it played into our ends today.”
The majestic views of the field flying along with the snow-capped Sierra Mountains in the backdrop amidst brilliant blue skies and sun made for a perfect day of racing.
“The scenery on the course is awesome,” said race leader Levi Leipheimer. “It’s very pretty and there were a ton of people, even in the snow, cheering for us.”
Jason McCartney (USA) of Saxo Bank drove several early moves, finally getting clear at the 26-mile mark with Serge Pauwels (BEL) of Cervelo Test Team and Rock Racing's Tyler Hamilton (USA). Hamilton's teammate Francisco Mancebo (ESP) joined the break as well, hoping to defend his sprint and KOM jerseys.
The first dry day of the race was marred by serious injuries to three high-profile riders: Kim Kirchen (LUX) of Team Columbia-Highroad fractured his right clavicle and scapula and Oscar Friere (ESP) of Rabobank fractured two ribs on his left side when about a dozen riders, including Floyd Landis, touched wheels and went down together in a heap. Scott Nydam (USA) of the BMC Racing Team fractured his left clavicle in a later crash. Eight other riders also dropped out on Stage 4 due to injury and exhaustion, leaving 108 cyclists to start Stage 5 in Visalia.
As the peloton continued their charge, Cavendish’s confidence grew. Mancebo stayed up front long enough to consolidate his leads, then retreated to the field to give teammate Hamilton a shot at staying away. The lead quickly climbed to more than five minutes with 50 miles to go, but with the mountains and motivated sprinters behind, the breakaway had no chance. They were finally swallowed by the fast-moving peloton at the Clovis city limits, where the Cervelo Test Team pulled to the front. But, Team Columbia-Highroad’s infamous sprinter Cavendish quickly took over for the win.
"I was looking after so well after the climbs; my team really put me in a perfect position,” said Cavendish. “Mark Renshaw (Team Columbia-Highroad) helped me; it was the first time we got the lead-out right."
In what was a photo-finish bunch sprint to the “gateway to the sierras,” Boonen took second and Juan Jose (J.J.) Haedo (ARG) of Saxo Bank took third.
More:
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
My favorite Tour of California photo
Via SmugMugTaken Monday in Santa Cruz near the conclusion of Stage 2 by Almaden Cycle Touring Club Past President Paul Metz.
Stage 4: Sprinter's day to shine
Amgen Tour of California Merced to Clovis
Today's stage resulted in several riders dropping out, including Oscar Freire, Kim Kirchen and Scott Nydam as they crashed on the hilly roads of the Sierra Nevada mountains. A three man breakaway of Jason McCartney (Saxo Bank), Tyler Hamilton (Rock Racing) and Serge Pauwels (Cervelo Test Team) that began before the first KOM worked together to hold the peloton back. The peloton roared through Clovis at better than 30 mph to catch the breakaway within a few short kilometers of the finish.
Cervelo jockeyed to position Thor Hushovd for a win when several sprinters rocketed through the bunched peloton, with Tom Boonen and Mark Cavendish going neck and neck across the finish line for a photo finish.
UK track champion Mark Cavendish (Colubmia High Road) took the podium by inches today, with Tom Boonen beside him for second place. JJ Haedo took third place, followed by Thor Hushovd and Tyler Farrar. The GC top five stays unchanged, with Levi Leipheimer retaining the yellow jersey.
Watch for more updates through the evening at Steephill.TV.
Today's stage resulted in several riders dropping out, including Oscar Freire, Kim Kirchen and Scott Nydam as they crashed on the hilly roads of the Sierra Nevada mountains. A three man breakaway of Jason McCartney (Saxo Bank), Tyler Hamilton (Rock Racing) and Serge Pauwels (Cervelo Test Team) that began before the first KOM worked together to hold the peloton back. The peloton roared through Clovis at better than 30 mph to catch the breakaway within a few short kilometers of the finish.
Cervelo jockeyed to position Thor Hushovd for a win when several sprinters rocketed through the bunched peloton, with Tom Boonen and Mark Cavendish going neck and neck across the finish line for a photo finish.
UK track champion Mark Cavendish (Colubmia High Road) took the podium by inches today, with Tom Boonen beside him for second place. JJ Haedo took third place, followed by Thor Hushovd and Tyler Farrar. The GC top five stays unchanged, with Levi Leipheimer retaining the yellow jersey.
Watch for more updates through the evening at Steephill.TV.
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