Road Bike Racing - Tour of California and why it's not so suspenseful

The climbs aren't structured to create enough real G.C. drama. No hilltop finishes, which would certainly thicken the plot. On the other hand, it's February. If they tried to add longer epic climbs (Sierras) there might be too much avalanche danger. It's a problem.

Any way you slice it, fantastic race and great for US cycling, the UCI, California, everybody wins. Those shots of the pro peloton sailing down the coastal hwy near Big Sur were just amazing. Let's hope that race thrives and even grows a bit. How about 10 stages over 10 days?

GC is within seconds between some of the strongest riders in the world, and a long ITT is coming up today.

You think that's not suspenseful? Cripes man!

Plus it is an early season race...not a mid summer race so the guys aren't in top form...the race has to be structured as to not blow up guys legs.

Now a mid summer tour that ended in the high mountains of CA or Colorado or NC...that could be really cool. I think we are building in that direction honestly, but the populatity needs to keep going in the US.

Now a mid summer tour that ended in the high mountains of...NC...that could be really cool.

I think you're on to something :D

I guess what I'm driving at is the you don't see big GC shifts on the road stages - primarily because the tough climbs are followed by descents into circuit finishes in the cities/towns. Just an observation. But you're right, it is a tight race.

I guess what I'm driving at is the you don't see big GC shifts on the road stages - primarily because the tough climbs are followed by descents into circuit finishes in the cities/towns. Just an observation. But you're right, it is a tight race.
Right but it has to be set up that way due to the timing. Look at the other early season small tours in Europe...they are all the same way...or even a bit more boaring. Flat with a lot of sprints...many don't have TTs.

ToC and ToG are going pretty well and I guess there is another tour this year...Tour of Utah could be good...and there is the Tour of Missouri....not sure how good that can be, don't know the geography of the state well enough.

Right but it has to be set up that way due to the timing. Look at the other early season small tours in Europe...they are all the same way...or even a bit more boaring. Flat with a lot of sprints...many don't have TTs.

ToC and ToG are going pretty well and I guess there is another tour this year...Tour of Utah could be good...and there is the Tour of Missouri....not sure how good that can be, don't know the geography of the state well enough.

Surely though, a single stage finish on top of a good climb would make for a more exciting shake-up. Diablo, Hamilton, lots of opportunities.

They have to find either an uphill finish or a climb within 10 miles of the finish. Even Ivan Quaranta (who could get dropped going over a speed bump) could get back on when you've got 40-50 miles to the finish after the last climb.

I'd love to see a stage starting here in Sacto, down the super windy Delta, and finish on top of Mt. Diablo. That would be epic.

They have to find either an uphill finish or a climb within 10 miles of the finish. Even Ivan Quaranta (who could get dropped going over a speed bump) could get back on when you've got 40-50 miles to the finish after the last climb.

lol.

GC is within seconds between some of the strongest riders in the world, and a long ITT is coming up today.

You think that's not suspenseful? Cripes man!


Forgive him, he's old and his mind isn't as sharp as used to be. edit: I'm assuming his mind was once sharp. ;)

Surely though, a single stage finish on top of a good climb would make for a more exciting shake-up. Diablo, Hamilton, lots of opportunities.

I have my doubts that the race organizers will ever have a finish (or start for that matter) anywhere other than a decently-sized city. Remember this is a PR campaign for Amgen first, and a bike race second. The logistics of setting up all of the finish-line exibition stuff they currently do on top of Hamilton or Diablo would be way too difficult for them to justify giving a few race fans more suspense.

Good point, 'nother.

What about a finish at the Griffith Observatory? It's not very long, but as I recall, it's pretty steep. What do you Angelenos think?

I have my doubts that the race organizers will ever have a finish (or start for that matter) anywhere other than a decently-sized city. Remember this is a PR campaign for Amgen first, and a bike race second. The logistics of setting up all of the finish-line exibition stuff they currently do on top of Hamilton or Diablo would be way too difficult for them to justify giving a few race fans more suspense.
Agreed, not to mention there has to be enough room at the top to support all the race hardware, team gear, media, fans and possibly have two ways back down the hill.

I have my doubts that the race organizers will ever have a finish (or start for that matter) anywhere other than a decently-sized city. Remember this is a PR campaign for Amgen first, and a bike race second. The logistics of setting up all of the finish-line exibition stuff they currently do on top of Hamilton or Diablo would be way too difficult for them to justify giving a few race fans more suspense.

This could if the race continues to grow. But most one week tours use the TT's to separate the combatants. The exceptions being races like the Daulphine which is mostly a pre TdF tune up race. Look they could design the ToC to be very hard, with some climbs that would rival the TdF. If they did that you wouldn't see the big guns participating due to time of year the race is run.

Good point, 'nother.

What about a finish at the Griffith Observatory? It's not very long, but as I recall, it's pretty steep. What do you Angelenos think?

For pro rider that wouldn't be considered much of a climb. It's not much of climb even if you aren't a pro rider.

If they did that you wouldn't see the big guns participating due to time of year the race is run.

+1

I'm actually satisfied by how the race is planned. Relaxed, a good chance to show off local talents.

If they did that you wouldn't see the big guns participating due to time of year the race is run.

This is a key consideration. This race, being at this time of year, will not be structured as a super hard race. If it were, we wouldn't get nearly the sort of field we're getting. This tour is essentially a very good training camp for the teams that come out, and a fantastic chance for the US teams to mix it up with the big boys (admittedly when they're not necessarily firing on all cylinders).

Is it much of a coincidence that JJ Haedo's on CSC this year after his performance in the ToC last year? I don't think so.

Now a mid summer tour that ended in the high mountains of CA or Colorado or NC...that could be really cool. I think we are building in that direction honestly, but the populatity needs to keep going in the US.
Feeling old... how 'bout the Coors Classic?

Like the Tour de France they should reverse the direction of the tour of CA each year.

If they did Stage 1 in reverse, the climb up Tam is steeper and the summit is less than 10 miles from Sausalito, so a breakaway climber or small group might be able to last to the finish.

Then they could finish with a circuit race in SF on the old Grand Prix course with the Fillmore street hill.:D

Well I don't know how patencad percives suspense but it he wants to see a break get away and stay away the race will need to have some bigger time gaps after the prologue. If the prologue were a proper ITT then you'd see some larger time gaps. Then the possibility of some solo break on a climb like stage 3 going away and staying away. Personally watching Disco put arguably the best stage racer in the world on the front to close down the break was pretty awesome. As was Levi's climb to catch Voigts group. This has been a good race so far, I've enjoyed it.

Agreed, not to mention there has to be enough room at the top to support all the race hardware, team gear, media, fans and possibly have two ways back down the hill.

There is plenty of room at the summits of both Diablo and Hamilton for the race requirements, but they wouldn't be able to get carloads full of fans up there. They could have the expo and big TVs set up in San Jose or Pleasanton where things would finish up after the stage is over. This race needs a signature climb.

...and there is the Tour of Missouri....not sure how good that can be, don't know the geography of the state well enough.
It ain't high altitude, but if they ride through the Ozarks, there will be legs blowing up. Steep climbs on twisty little roads coming one after another.

I can't wait for September. I definitely plan on being down there for a few stages.

Feeling old... how 'bout the Coors Classic?

When a previous Italian World Champion also came to ride.

Like the Tour de France they should reverse the direction of the tour of CA each year.


Same should go for

Adriatico-Tirreno
Nice-Paris
Roubaix-Paris
Bastogne-Liege-Bastogne
San Remo-Milan

Same should go for

Adriatico-Tirreno
Nice-Paris
Roubaix-Paris
Bastogne-Liege-Bastogne
San Remo-Milan

But how could they tell? ;)

But how could they tell? ;)
Because it usually starts/finishes in Liege, not Bastonge. Tricked my eyes at first, too... :)

Whether or not European stage races have mountaintop finishes is really a red herring; it's irrelevant in respect to the ToC. The question is really whether or not there should be a mountaintop finish at California, to make it more suspenseful and exciting. I think there should be. It really opens up the possibilities for guys like Leipheimer and Danielson and Basso, etc. It's a shame that the organizers want everything to finish in the cities. Granted, most of the stages should finish in the cities; but having one stage end on a mountain can't be an impossibility.

I think it will be hard to seperate the start/finish lines from big cities in the near future. Maybe one stage that doesn't end in a downtown circuit would be doable.

Reversing the direction annually would be a great idea

Whether or not European stage races have mountaintop finishes is really a red herring; it's irrelevant in respect to the ToC. The question is really whether or not there should be a mountaintop finish at California, to make it more suspenseful and exciting. I think there should be. It really opens up the possibilities for guys like Leipheimer and Danielson and Basso, etc. It's a shame that the organizers want everything to finish in the cities. Granted, most of the stages should finish in the cities; but having one stage end on a mountain can't be an impossibility.

Again this isn't a question of whether the organizors can or can not design a stage with a mountain top finish. What it is about is whether or not the big guns of bike racing would fly all the way from Europe to participate in a really hard stage race this early in the season. I'm pretty confident that if the Daulphine
changed dates Paris-Nice you wouldn't see the same level of compitition at that race either. One of the big issues with Vuelta is it's date and how close it is to the Worlds. This is why so many have asked for the Vuelta to be shortened.

The climbs aren't structured to create enough real G.C. drama. No hilltop finishes, which would certainly thicken the plot. On the other hand, it's February. If they tried to add longer epic climbs (Sierras) there might be too much avalanche danger. It's a problem.

Any way you slice it, fantastic race and great for US cycling, the UCI, California, everybody wins. Those shots of the pro peloton sailing down the coastal hwy near Big Sur were just amazing. Let's hope that race thrives and even grows a bit. How about 10 stages over 10 days? Besides, you must remember that this is only the second running of the Amgen Tour of California.

I am sure that they will add in some more stages and what not in future runnings of the race.

They don't really have to finish on top of Hamilton, but I would really wish they put that climb in. I don't think it will make the overall race more difficult, but it sure will make that stage more exciting. :)

This event is going to grow and morph into something much different than it is currently. They have great and real aspirations for this event to grow into something HUGE, so be patient. All of the ideas you're proposing are probably being considered.

The event is managed by a company that builds buildings; they don't put up tents.