T-Mobile Int'l in SF

[jobob]

... can someone say ROAD TRIP !

from:
http://www.thepaceline.com/members/n...m.aspx?cid=533

-------------

Team USPS Roster for T-Mobile International in SF

As of today, the USPS team has announced the list of riders who will contest the T-MOBILE INTERNATIONAL event in San Francisco on Sunday, September 12. Along with Lance Armstrong, in what will be his final race in USPS colors, and fellow American Michael Creed, will be a number of '04 Tour de France riders, including:

Jose Azevedo
Viatcheslav Ekimov
George Hincapie
Benjamin Noval
Chechu Rubiera

The team's eighth and final spot on the roster is undetermined just yet, with the team's Vuelta roster still undecided.
[ No Floyd, I think he'll be on the Vuelta roster. Can't have everything, I 'spose. I'm kind of surpised to see Azevedo on the list for SF, I assumed he would go to the Vuelta too... ]

Along with the top domestic pro teams, the following international teams are due to race the famed SF hills:

Phonak [no Tyler, he's in the Vuelta]
CSC [ maybe Bobby J? ]
Saunier Duval
Acqua & Sapone [ maybe with local boy Fred Rodriguez? ]
Saeco
Alessio

The 108.1 mile race has changed its course a bit again for 2004, shortening the big loop of the race from 10 miles to 8.8. At the request of some of the competing riders, including Lance, several turns were taken out of the race course, as organizers tried to create a more fluid circuit. Either way, the race is a downtown spectacle and will still live up to its reputation as one of the more difficult events in America.

The result? The men's race will now take the riders up the dreaded Fillmore Street climb 9 times, compared to 8 times the past two years. In 2001, the first year of the event, the riders climbed Fillmore 10 times. The women's 51.6 mile event will tackle Fillmore 5 times compared to 4 times last year, the first time a women's race was held.

The women's race will begin at 7am with the men starting at 10am. Plenty of festivities - including a two-day Expo at Justin Herman Plaza - throughout the weekend in SF so the race weekend is a must attend for all.

The USPS team is also scheduled to make another appearance at SF's NikeTown for the third straight year. Date and time are not secure just yet but it's looking like Friday afternoon, Sept 10, at this point. More info to follow.

For more information on the race, go to www.procyclingtour.com

------------

[jobob]

Following up on my own post ....

I'm obviously going! I'll be taking BART in from the East Bay, and I'll be going early because I'd like to see the women's race too.

I'm being pretty spaztic with the online BART schedule- when I first looked it told me the first train on Saturday morning leaves Union City station at 8 am , that would do me no good, but I checked another place on www.bart.gov and it shows the first train leaves UC at about 6 am on Saturdays. Trek, could you check the schedule board for me one of these days on your commute? Thankyee kindly.

One thing I don't want to do is drive in - the big Dave Matthews concert in GG Park is the same day, oy.

This will be my first time attending this race - any suggestions on a good meeting place for those so inclined?

- Jo.

[Veronica]

Last year we went early for the women's race and parked at Lower Fort Mason. The parking is free and it's pretty close to the course.

V.

[Trek420]

Veronica suggested "Last year we went early for the women's race and parked at Lower Fort Mason. The parking is free and it's pretty close to the course."

v & t got some great photos there.

I'm easy, Embaracadero is near the festival for great freebees, parking at Fort Mason gets you near the hill to see the suffering. Let me know where and when and we should probably pm each other and get cell numbers so we can do the "where are you? oh, uh, right next to me" cell phone calls.

hope to see you gals, I'll pick up a current BART schedule.

[jobob]

I vote for hills and suffering

Yes, we should definitely do the cell phone routine ... 'can you hear me now? '