Team Amici Veloci (and other TE'ers) do ALC 6

[Duck on Wheels]

newsflash! Latest just in by IM from UK. I quote:
"Lunch. 50 miles. Only 40 to go. So far so good. All climbing done. Mostly flat from here."

I think she may be surprised about the climbing yet to go. They've probably got several shorter but pretty steep hills still before Santa Cruz. But the big hills for the day are done. And I'm guessing that Trek and UK are near one another at this point, since they all set out together and it's hard to get sorted by speeds on the first day, there being so many riders all in a group.

[KnottedYet]

Got text message from Trek:

"Sigh. Climbing 92 and then 37 got me. 1 mile short of Stop 2 the sweep vehicle made me get in. Guess I didn't look too great. But tomorrow is 110 ish. Rested, I feel fine now. Damm."

It sounds like 92 and 37 are roads, and the hills were too much. If she was taken to camp, then I suppose she'll have the tent all set up and be ready for when UK arrives.

[KnottedYet]

Another text from Trek. I had sent her one asking if she was in camp.

"Yes. I'm waiting for gear to be unloaded. In shade with water. I don't feel bad. There are people who skipped this year because it's harder this year. I did the hardest part of Day 1. Tomorrow is a flat century."

[KnottedYet]

Text from Trek:

"Dinner. Eating and drinking lots. Tent is up. A little more food, then shower and bed. UK Eliphant must still be on the road."

Edit: text from 6:30:
"UK is in camp. Day 1.... done."

[Duck on Wheels]

Yes, UK made it. She wrote:
I made it! Time to get the gear and get showered. Feeling achey but pretty good considering I just did 90 miles.

Sorry to hear Trek got pulled off the route. The hill up 92 is biiiiig! Just thinking about that hill is one reason I hesitate to sign up for this. Previous years they've had the west side to coast down again and recover before doing rollers (some of them pretty steep ones) along Hwy 1. This year, at the top of 92, instead of continuing down the other side, they turned south and continued to climb along "Skyline" for a ways. Tough route! (though a pretty one) If Trek got pulled off that route, then lots of other folks must have been pulled too!

[jobob]

They went up highway 92? Good grief. That's a busy road.

[Bike Goddess]

"They went up highway 92? Good grief. That's a busy road."

Hwy 92 down to Half Moon Bay is pretty dangerous as it is narrow in spots. Cars aren't very friendly to cyclists either so I suspect that is why they changed the route.

Also, Hwy 1 down to Santa Cruz is no picnic either due to the traffic. However, by doing Skyline, they miss getting a lot of publicity in Half Moon Bay and beyond. That was where I had my first encounter with the ride many years ago. I remember how touched I was by seeing all of these cyclists on their way to LA. I saw the ride twice this way and finally in '05 did the ride. It was a challenging week mentally and physically but I'm glad I did it!!!! (TREK was my tent partner that year!)