Tour of California

**maillotpois** · 02-19-2007, 04:05 PM

Great DZ picture!! We got a beauty of Paolo Bettini signing in - and a buch of super close up ones of folks at the 150m to go at Coit Tower.

Now sun and wind burned from being on Coleman Valley most of the day. Saw aka Kim as we were driving back! That AV jacket stands out! I was wearing my buff as an earwarmer! It was cold up there.

What a great crowd on Coleman - and it was just great to see these super stars climbing one of my local roads!!!

Meeting a friend tomorrow to carpool up to Trinity Grade. It will be fun to see this. Haven't yet done that climb, but we are incorporating it into our team's Death Ride training so it will be good to at least drive it. (Can't ride any of this because school's out for the week and the PP isn't up to the climbs quite yet...)

**SadieKate** · 02-19-2007, 04:09 PM

Give a report on Trinity. We've got a little group riding to Cardiac tomorrow, the 2nd KOM, but if we'd had more time I wanted to ride Trinity.

**maillotpois** · 02-19-2007, 04:14 PM

Yeah, I wish I could ride these. Oh well - another time. Trinity looks pretty epic. That descent down Oakville Grade to Yountville/Rutherford is wicked. It is about the fastest descent around - with a couple of exciting (scary) corners. It would be fun to see how fast they take it. It is a wicked climb from the Napa side. The GP and PP did it on the tandem and didn't...quite...make....it.

**maillotpois** · 02-19-2007, 06:24 PM

From yesterday:

**Meaux** · 02-21-2007, 02:52 PM

I LOVE THIS!! Levi's my absolute favourite. I'm so jealous we couldn't go. Maybe next year. Would it be okay if I downloaded this and used it as my background?

Originally Posted by maillotpois

From yesterday:

**Deanna** · 02-21-2007, 02:55 PM

Here's another Levi photo, not as exiting as MPs, but he's in Yellow.

**Trekhawk** · 02-21-2007, 03:06 PM

Wow great pictures girls. SadieKate you better keep an eye on that buff it might just get mixed up with mine next time we ride or is that one getting framed.

I had a great time watching most of todays stage via the internet (much better link today) and I got to see them climb Sierra Road before I had to head out and pick up the kids. Great stuff!!!

**maillotpois** · 02-23-2007, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by Meaux

I LOVE THIS!! Levi's my absolute favourite. I'm so jealous we couldn't go. Maybe next year. Would it be okay if I downloaded this and used it as my background?

Sure, Meaux. PM me and I can email you the actual file copy.

We have a lot more from Coleman and from the TT - but we've been out of town.

I was on Trinity Grade on Tuesday and it was AMAZING. Like being on Plateau de Beille at the TdF. It was a tunnel of trees and a wall of riders came up. The first rider, Christophe Laurent, had a significant gap over everyone else. As he rode up to the KOM line, he wasn't even breathing hard and blew a kiss to the Specialized angel who was standing on her car.

Then the wall of riders in the peloton - led by Ivan Bass. SO cool.

I got a lot of pictures, but the camera ate them.

**spokewench** · 02-20-2007, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by maillotpois

Yeah, I wish I could ride these. Oh well - another time. Trinity looks pretty epic. That descent down Oakville Grade to Yountville/Rutherford is wicked. It is about the fastest descent around - with a couple of exciting (scary) corners. It would be fun to see how fast they take it. It is a wicked climb from the Napa side. The GP and PP did it on the tandem and didn't...quite...make....it.

Oh, a little off thread - but memories do come back! Oakville Grade - fastest I have ever been on a bike especially in a tight corner - WOW, the G forces were incredible!

The other memory - climbing up the Oakville Grade - talk about wicked! I made it once - and didn't make the other time I rode it.

**xeney** · 02-20-2007, 02:35 PM

I got to see the last turn before the finish in Sacramento today. Except I mostly got to see the back of the big guy who stepped in front of me at the last minute ... I was very irritated, because I'd held that spot for half an hour before he decided to block my view.

Some tall roadies were there letting shorter women go in front of them, though, which was very nice of them. And I managed to weasel my way into a viewing hole before the second lap.

**snapdragen** · 02-20-2007, 02:36 PM

I just got tomorrow off! YAY! Now to decide where to go to watch.....

**Running Mommy** · 02-20-2007, 03:58 PM

I thought we had it nailed and would be able to just see them finishing before we had to run for the airport. Alas it seems that they were running behind so we had to leave before seeing them.
However, I was VERY upset I got home and watched the farce at the finish on OLN...
I'm sorry, but if it wasn't for the fact that Levi and some of the other "favorites" were involved in the crash I'm quite sure that they would have said "oh well, sheat happens"...
Am I totally off base here? It just seems like they bent the rules because Levi was in the fray.
Now before you blast me, I LOVE Levi!!! I have met the guy. He is such a nice person and I ALWAYS pull for him, but he fell. Things happen. Wrong place at the wrong time. PERIOD.
So if George or Levi falls in the time trial at Solvang are they gonna call a do over???
I LOVE this sport, but sometimes the decisions made by the powers that be baffle me!!! - Of course the same could be said about our government, but that's ANOTHER story... heh heh heh

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missed the finish yesterday....

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