Tour of Missouri

[Melalvai]

I saw them come in to Columbia. I'd been watching it online and the breakaway group had a 4 min lead. I went down the street to watch them come in to town, and there was no breakaway group! I read later the rest of the pack caught up because the headwind finally took its toll on the leaders. Sure went past fast! I got a picture http://www.kemenel.org/melalvai/journal.

By the time I got back home and online, it was over. I kind of wanted to see them climb Rock Quarry. This is a road I've been taking daily lately, it's narrow and twisty but has one heck of a hill. I get up to 35 or 36 mph going DOWN that hill without trying. I go UP it every morning. These guys went up that hill.

[singletrackmind]

We saw them today on Schleursberg Road, 3rd king of the mountains spot. Really cool, rode up it on the tandem with the kid and an hour later they FLEW up it, first the break away, then the peloton. Sweet!

I'd hazard to say they were a wee bit faster than myself.

[singletrackmind]

Was at the start/finish at stage 6 yesterday. Awesome crowd. Got some pictures with my measly little digital, thought I'd share a fraction of them....

The crowd...


A tribute to Dan Schmatz, who wiped out an armadillo (and himself) on stage 2...


Waiting...


Start of the second lap, the breakaway is just ahead of Discovery...


Just behind Discovery...


Lap 5 or 6...


The win...


Random pics....






Dan Schmatz....(in sling)....announced he's retiring from pro racing...