mds2004

Are the different stages worth a different amount of point? Does the prologue gain you points? How does this all work? As a beginning to riding, Il admit I have never paid attention to a race until now and am curious how it works. Thanks in advance.

ZeCanon

Tour of California is a stage race that is won based on total time. So you add up the time it takes each person to complete each stage, and whoever has the lowest time at the end wins. If you finish in a big group, the whole group gets the same time, which is why the time gaps at the end are usually pretty close.

mds2004

Thank you. So does it mean anything when a person wins an individual stage? Do they get anything besides props?

ZeCanon

They get a time bonus. 10 seconds I think? I forget. Basically, they get 10 seconds (or whatever the time is) removed from their total time. In a race that has been won by 21 seconds, 10 seconds can be a big deal.

nafun

There is prize money awarded for each stage. The stage win goes on the riders palmares (resume), and their sponsor gets media exposure.

mds2004

Thanks again. Ive still got a few more questions.

The break away is the group ahead of the peloton? So according to this picture is Maynes in the lead or is Mancebo because he has the lead time with everyone else with +minutes?

Duke of Kent

Unless they show a time gap, it's hard to determine who is the "leader on the road".

And, "leader on the road" means nothing, in the grand scheme of things. It's kind of like winning a football game 21-7 at halftime, and losing 35-28.

gsteinb

does VS. really beam out of the coverage in 30 minutes and not show the finish?

mds2004

I dont know, Ive only been watching the Tracker on Amgen's site. Unfortunately I dont have Vs.

Jynx

Those times are from the previous stage while the rider order is current. It is possible maynes was ahead of mancebo at that given time but they do not change the placings until the end of the stage.