USA Pro Challenge Aug 20-26 2012

[ny biker]

Look how much climbing they're doing in this race!! My legs hurt just reading about it.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/08/news/preview-the-2012-usa-pro-challenge-starts-hard-and-finishes-harder_234676

I'm pretty sure it will be televised on NBC Sports in the US. Should be fun.

[e3rdpower]

Very excited to watch this, especially since we were just in Telluride. Here's the TV schedule for NBC and NBC Sports:
http://usaprocyclingchallenge.com/tv-listings

[eofelis]

We are planning on camping out on Independence Pass for stage 3 and 4. (They won't let people camp on the Pitkin County side of the pass, but it is ok on the Lake County side) So we will be there two nights with thousands of other fans.

We are planning to drive up on Tues morning to get a decent camp spot.

We did this last year and it was a lot of fun! Hanging around for 24 hours to see 15 minutes of action.

We will take bikes and ride up and down the Pass and all around.

[Kathi]

Last year we rode to the top of Vail pass, then down to the finish line of the time trial. I've tried to climb that side of the pass and didn't make it. Vail Pass was fun because the only way you could get there was to walk, ride your bike or get dropped off on I-70. We got to see the riders "up close and personel".

Today we rode a 10 mile section of last years route-Heeney Lake an out and back for us. After riding close to 500 miles in Wisconsin the last 2 weeks, the altitude at 8,000 ft+ today really affected me. Equivilant climbs that were easy last week killed me today.

We're thinking of riding to see the Denver time trials but have made no plans yet.

[Pedal Wench]

We're watching some of the early stages too, and will probably be on Independence Pass both days too - riding our bikes up from Twin Lakes. Put up a Team Estrogen banner so I can see ya!
:D

ETA: OH! We rode out to Heeney last week. What a pretty ride!

[ny biker]

For anyone who doesn't have TV access to the race, you can follow it for free on the Radio Shack Tour Tracker:

http://radioshacktourtracker.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/

Can be downloaded on iphones and android phones. Also works on your pc.

Quite a stage today. Happy for the winner.

[Cynedra]

It was a great stage and awesome for the winner. I was so happy for him.

[denda]

I would love to be there! Maybe some day.

[ny biker]

I'm watching today's stage now. They just showed Ben King post-crash -- he went from doubled over in pain to back on the bike and pedaling in one motion.

I swear, these guys eat nails for breakfast.

He posted on twitter -- cracked helmet but nothing else broken. By coincidence, his sister is a nurse in Crested Butte, so that's where he went after the stage to get checked out.

[lovelygamer]

NY, thank you for the live link. If I am reading this right TeJay is in the lead. I like that kid! And, I agree that they must eat nails for breakfast!

[colby]

I set my DVR to record so I can watch them after I get home from work. Yesterday's stage was very interesting and came down to the last 50 meters! Amazing. It was cool to see Tyler Farrar in the Yellow, even if just for a day.

The coverage on NBC Sports Network is decent, as usual. A little surprised to see the sponsorship plugs during the coverage, but that's kind of cool for the sponsors. TrainingPeaks was also on talking about some of the data they were gathering - http://home.trainingpeaks.com/races/usa-pro-cycling-challenge.aspx - :eek:

To think, they are doing all of that climbing at such an altitude (no wonder the, um, sickness, at the end of yesterday's stage). They pushed the first two days, I wonder how that will pan out as the race goes on.

I also found it interesting that the other finishers need to finish within a certain percentage of the first finisher. If they don't, they don't go on? Don't get points for that stage? Didn't catch that part.

[ny biker]

I set my DVR to record so I can watch them after I get home from work. Yesterday's stage was very interesting and came down to the last 50 meters! Amazing. It was cool to see Tyler Farrar in the Yellow, even if just for a day.

The coverage on NBC Sports Network is decent, as usual. A little surprised to see the sponsorship plugs during the coverage, but that's kind of cool for the sponsors. TrainingPeaks was also on talking about some of the data they were gathering - http://home.trainingpeaks.com/races/usa-pro-cycling-challenge.aspx - :eek:

To think, they are doing all of that climbing at such an altitude (no wonder the, um, sickness, at the end of yesterday's stage). They pushed the first two days, I wonder how that will pan out as the race goes on.

I also found it interesting that the other finishers need to finish within a certain percentage of the first finisher. If they don't, they don't go on? Don't get points for that stage? Didn't catch that part.


If the slower finishers don't make the time cut, they are eliminated from the race. Though sometimes they will make an exception if a very large number of riders miss the time cut. Typically the riders at the back form their own mini-peloton called the grupetto or autobus, and they stick together to help everyone finish and make the time cut. But if a rider is behind the bus, they're on their own.

And I really wish NBC Sports did not feel the need to replay DZ's on-bike vomit over and over. At least Phil warned us to look away the first time they showed it.

[Kathi]

Wow! 62 mph, on a bike. :eek:

[denda]

So glad they didn't pass Tommy D. at the line!

[ny biker]

Just tweeted by Christian Vande Velde:

My 90 year old grandma watching the race today at @thebikeshoppe. My biggest fan and smallest fan. http://yfrog.com/oe60138237j

[Pedal Wench]

My view todayhttps://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/523123_3859827931471_750051863_n.jpg

[colby]

Nice!!! AND you managed an excellent photo :D

The last two days have been exciting finishes! Independence Pass, 11k of climbing, at altitude. At one point they were going 17mph UPHILL, and later up to 60mph DOWNHILL. :eek:

My favorite quote from yesterday's coverage was: "I'm not sure what Dave Zabriskie had for breakfast but something tells me we're going to find out." ;)


And, that photo of grandma is so awesome.

[Norse]

This has been a much more exciting course this year. I am glad they changed up the route - but DID leave in yesterday's. I was yelling at the tv when Tommy D was hanging on for his nail-biting win!

[jobob]

JENS!!!!!!!! :cool:

that is all.

[ny biker]

JENS!!!!!!!! :cool:

that is all.

I was busy at work today and then went for a bike ride. So the last I saw before turning on the TV coverage tonight was a tweet from hours before that said he had crossed Independence Pass in a solo break.

I stood and applauded and he crossed the line.

Key quote: "It was painful but very enjoyable."

http://www.radioshacknissantrek.com/news/big-heart-big-win-jens-voigt

p.s. 51 degrees and raining, and he rode in short sleeves and shorts? My teeth chatter just thinking about it.

[azfiddle]

Just caught the last 10 minutes of the race on the phone app.... and yeah, how about Jens! Wish I could have seen a little more of the race.

[redrhodie]

It was really frustrating that there was no feed for the last several miles, but what a great stage. Actually, this race has been more exciting than the tour for me, with Teejay and Christian being same time.

I love Jens.

[ny biker]

Does anyone know how the elevation in Colorado compares to that of the Alps, Pyrenees and Dolomites? I'm getting the impression that Colorado is significantly higher.

[colby]

Does anyone know how the elevation in Colorado compares to that of the Alps, Pyrenees and Dolomites? I'm getting the impression that Colorado is significantly higher.

Interesting question. The Independence Pass climb took them over 12k feet in altitude (3657m). Denver itself is at ~5300 feet (~1600 meters).

Found this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest_paved_roads_in_Europe

Which shows there's several TdF marked French Alps climbs in the 2500-2800 meter range. 2800m = 9186 feet. Dolomites and Pyrenees at highest travel routes in that list are at the 2300m range, 7545 feet.

That is assuming Wikipedia is accurate, but it's at least a guide ;) I did find some corroborating evidence that the list is relatively accurate doing some other searching.

The TrainingPeaks guys said over the first few stages they were down about 20% in output due to altitude - what would normally be recovery ride wattage was them going uphill.

[Kathi]

Does anyone know how the elevation in Colorado compares to that of the Alps, Pyrenees and Dolomites? I'm getting the impression that Colorado is significantly higher.

My SO has skied in France and he says that although the climbs are not as steep, the elevation in Colorado is higher. Elevations in France are about 6-7000 ft, whereas, most of yesterdays ride was from 9 -12,000 feet. Tomorrows ride, from Golden to Boulder, even though lower altitude will still be 85% higher than the Alps.

Our ride on Friday was around 8,000 ft and our Sunday ride from Keystone to Montezuma was from 9,000 - 10,200. I really felt both rides, having recently been in Wisconsin for 3 weeks and I don't normally train at that altitude.

Local news interviews from the racers all comment about how the altitude is affecting them.

[Norse]

It was really frustrating that there was no feed for the last several miles, but what a great stage. Actually, this race has been more exciting than the tour for me, with Teejay and Christian being same time.

I love Jens.

Does anybody not love Jens? ;) JENSIE!!!!

[ny biker]

My SO has skied in France and he says that although the climbs are not as steep, the elevation in Colorado is higher. Elevations in France are about 6-7000 ft, whereas, most of yesterdays ride was from 9 -12,000 feet. Tomorrows ride, from Golden to Boulder, even though lower altitude will still be 85% higher than the Alps.

Our ride on Friday was around 8,000 ft and our Sunday ride from Keystone to Montezuma was from 9,000 - 10,200. I really felt both rides, having recently been in Wisconsin for 3 weeks and I don't normally train at that altitude.

Local news interviews from the racers all comment about how the altitude is affecting them.

Thanks Colby and Kathi for doing the math for me. :D

Chris Horner has mentioned the altitude a few times, and Ted King said he ralphed during yesterday's stage.

[Pedal Wench]

Got an awesome look at Jens about to climb the steepest part of Battle Mountain, in the big ring. :Dhttps://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/574507_3864128478982_542219758_n.jpg

[ColoG8r]

I've never been one to really enjoy watching cycling. I would rather ride than watch however I found myself out riding near the route of the race today. I watched them from a trail high above the route. It was truly amazing watching the pack descend and then ascend Highway 93 in between Golden and Boulder. A crowd had gathered where I stopped and I loved the cheering and general atmosphere of the crowd.

[pll]

It's an exciting race this year... watching the TT, which normally I find dull.