Tour of California

[ny biker]

Yup, that's the way it is.

[Kalidurga]

And that ain't nothin' compared to the rowdy crowds on the mountain stages of the TdF.

[gingerale]

Well then I can't wait for July then. lol I have enjoyed this one alot.

[channlluv]

D*H works at Akamai, the company that streams video for these big events, so gets to put the race on one of his desktop monitors all day. He said the guy with the longhorns was pushed aside by one of the peloton riders or he would have injured someone. The guy running in the pope costume was funny, though.

I'm watching the race on their site - I agree that Versus coverage has been really lacking.

My Christmas gift to D*H is a ticket to the VIP tent today, for the end stage - he's going with a cycling buddy from work. I hope he has fun. DD and I will be watching from home.

Roxy

ed: I'm watching them ascend toward Palomar and I'm really wishing I could be up there representing in a TE jersey. Woooohoooooo!

ed: so are the fans atop Palomar giving the crazies in France a run for their money or what? Streakers? Really? bahahahahahahaaaa

[Kalidurga]

Ack. AToC is definitely beginning to take on a wild TdF feeling. Amgen's Tour Tracker coverage just showed a guy in a Borat'kini running alonside the break I could'a done without that.

[TrekTheKaty]

Oh, my GOD! This is the worst coverage of any sporting event ever! Are the interns doing this one? First, no coverage because of the weather. Then, they kept cutting off the end. NOW, the tivo didn't catch it because it was preempted for the PBR and only taped the first 10 minutes (at least it was the end they missed the previous day!) I realize cycling has a small fan base in America, but this was their chance (Lance's comeback) to attract an audience. After that poor coverage, they won't gain any fans. AARRGGGGH. The blog updates on the ToC website, only frustrated me more. The TV coverage didn't show anything from the live feed!

[Kalidurga]

You were watching the wrong stuff. The Amgen site was great, and Fatty's liveblogging was even better

Great race this year. It was so gratifying to see those TdF-type crowds, showing just how successful and lucrative this race can be. Cavendish even said it, the U.S. finally has a world-class multi-stage bike race. Wahoo!

And a bit of a SPOILER but I gotta say it, so don't squint if you haven't seen the finale:














Yaaaaaaay, Dave Z!!!

[Aggie_Ama]

We recorded the final stage and seem to have gotten everything?

Best quote from the final stage "That man was trying to give away his infant" and the reply "yes, I saw that". I could not stop laughing!

Worst quote? Craig made sure to say someone was "breaking wind". I wonder if you can email him to make sure he learns before the Tour because I know he will be the village idiot for the grand tours.

[ny biker]

I didn't have any trouble with the tour coverage on Vs. after the first couple of days. I set the DVR to run 1 hour past the expected end time, and was able to record all of it as a result.

As for the first few days with the weather problems, that could have happened at any race. If they can't fly the planes and helicopters due to bad weather, there's nothing they can do about it.

Now, here are my questions, after watching the final stage:

What is the point of dressing in a strange outfit and running alongside the racers when they're climbing?

What the hell is wrong with the two guys who were running along with their babies, jostling them and probably traumatizing them in the process?

And why is it that you only see men doing this?

[Kalidurga]

Now, here are my questions, after watching the final stage:

What is the point of dressing in a strange outfit and running alongside the racers when they're climbing?

What the hell is wrong with the two guys who were running along with their babies, jostling them and probably traumatizing them in the process?

And why is it that you only see men doing this?

I did see a few women running alongside the riders, though they weren't in strange costumes or dragging small children. These questions could apply to a lot of sporting events. I mean, why do guys strip half-naked and paint themselves in team colors for football games in the middle of winter? It's obviously some sort of primal, caveman urge

And my question is: Is anyone else feeling withdrawal symptoms this morning? It's not bad enough I feel this way in August, now I'm gonna feel it at the end of February, too?

[Possegal]

I was so paranoid when they rode by me in a stage of the tour de France that I think I was frozen in my tracks. I did NOT want to end up a Versus highlight by catching Lance's handlebars on my camera strap, or something like that.

[redrhodie]

And my question is: Is anyone else feeling withdrawal symptoms this morning? It's not bad enough I feel this way in August, now I'm gonna feel it at the end of February, too?

Yes. Need bike race. Please.

[Aggie_Ama]

And my question is: Is anyone else feeling withdrawal symptoms this morning? It's not bad enough I feel this way in August, now I'm gonna feel it at the end of February, too?

No fear, there is at least Cyclism Sundays starting very soon or what is VS calling it now "THE EPIC CYCLE"? Start the debate on the use of the word Epic. But the Spring Classics are here, let the sufferfests begin.

The best was another board I read showed Lance pushing over the "Clean Cycling" devil. Into the snow but dang it was funny.

[Kalidurga]

The best was another board I read showed Lance pushing over the "Clean Cycling" devil. Into the snow but dang it was funny.

I read about that but didn't see it. Got a link?

And, yeah, I'm excited for the Spring Classics. I've actually never kept up with the Paris-Roubaix race, but it's high on my list this year.

[Aggie_Ama]

I always have been stoked for the Roubaix. This year I hope is Big George's he seems cursed with it.

Here is an article with photos:

http://www.examiner.com/x-2490-Denve...il-on-the-road