Road Bike Racing - Greetings from Amgen Tour

1. Prediction: it'll be harder than you think.
Kirk Albers said so. He rides for Jelly Belly.
He said it could go ballistic from the gun.

2. Bob Roll will be playing with Google.Earth in the broadcast.
I just came out of the TV production meeting. Get ready for some amazing coverage!
Polar HRMs and stem-mounted cameras.

3. The course is worrisome.
We're being directed by CHP to drive Stage One course prior to monday's start. That means that we'll be out there late on Sunday night after the prologue. Apparently, CHP is concerned for the caravan's safety.

More notes to come.

Hopefully the roads dry up before the prologue. They're still wet right now...though it would be interesting seeing a TT event up a steep, wet street. :D

Get ready for some amazing coverage!

For one hour a day.... Although supposedly they are going to have (i heard this) like the nearly ALL of the coverage (meaning the full length of each stage) on Google Video after the race is over. If thats true and they are going to put it up right afterwards I would almost be willing to WAIT until its over to watch it... I know thats sad but i hate "highlights"

Is the AToC going to be shown on anything other than ESPN2?

What is google video?

Why is CHP worried about the caravan's safety?

I'll be at Embarcadero around 7:15 tomorrow morning! SF is doing a first-come first-assigned to the finish for course marshals. I don't know if that's where I want to be a marshal. Don't know how long it will take to get out of there.

CHP=California Highway Patrol

From what I heard, the riders are racing along some very narrow and danger roads, and are riding along highways, so they are escorting the riders, perhaps they are worried about some clueless motorist taking a turn to sharp and taking out the whole peloton. Either that or they're just worried about wet roads..

Picture this:
You're in a string of 30 cars bumper-to-bumper at 40mph down a twisty descent.
Mixed in with that string of cars is a handful of pro cyclists chasing to rejoin the peleton.
On one side of the road, rocks.
On the other side, the Pacific Ocean.
Effectively, no guard rail.

Then, a Discovery rider calls for service (flat tire, etc). Johann screams past you in the left lane to get to the back of the peleton to help his rider.

The road is entirely closed to local traffic, so the caravan uses the right lane for normal travel, and the left lane for service travel.
If a rider wants to drop back to their team car, that's fine. But if it's something like a flat tire, the team car is called up from behind.
This creates a two-abreast situation.
And if you have riders coming back up to the group, you have them threading the needle.

All of this at Race Pace.

CHP is concerned.

Other Notes of Random Interest:
4. Lt. Cody of the Georgia State Patrol is on hand to lend his expertise. He is "Race Command" this week. Super nice guy, him.

5. 3500 volunteers in the Local Organizing Committees. Imagine that the next time you have a hard time finding people to help you with YOUR local crit.

6. Alex Steida is driving one of the VIP cars in front of the field. If you see him, wave. He's the first North American to wear the maillot jeune.

7. Nelson Vails (silver medal 1984 Olympics) is driving Comm 3 or 4 (depending on which day.
To help you identify him, he's the only african-american driver in the caravan.

8. Arnold is reported to be scheduled to award the first Amgen Leader's Jersey tomorrow.

Thanks for the scoop. It looks like the event is shaping up nicely. Keep us posted. Can you take photos while you work. ;)

8. Arnold is reported to be scheduled to award the first Amgen Leader's Jersey tomorrow.

Haha....That's great!

Event thanks for the updates, much appreciated. BTW are working with one of the tv crews?

I think I spotted Event on a motorcycle but not sure which bike he was on!

I was assigned to marshal next to the TV camera that shows the riders climbing up to Coit Tower and around the left bend (just before the Angel lady... you will probably see her). This lasted about 4 riders then they asked me to do a different task...

After the racers finish they had to go down a set of steps (about 50) then ride back to the start area. I got to assist the racers down the steps, carrying about 25 of their bikes!

I carried some Disco Trek's, BMC, Scott's, Cervelo, Mercxx, Javelin, and Giant. Those BMC and Scotts were amazingly light! The Cervelo was an incredible design!

Walked back down to the start area after the end of the race and made it in time to see Arnold hand out the jerseys. What a great morning!

Event, good luck the rest of the race. I'll see you out there on Tuesday near Sierra road.

I'm driving Comm 4 for the rest of the event.
That means I'm stuck behind the KBHomes Mexican National Team car in the caravan. Luckily, they've given up Pontiac G6 sedans.
Still, I had mine up on two wheels several times today.

I'm not working with television. I just happened to get invited to announce at the finish line of the prologue. A last minute thing. A very cool day with thousands of screaming cycling fans.