"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Genius move at Tour of Missouri

okay, maybe not genius, but i thought this desrved a mention. today's stage was a time trial with mountain points awarded based on time up the last section of the tt. jeff louder, although losing 6 minutes to levi on the stage rocketed up the climb faster than almost everyone in the field netting 4th place on the stage and increasing his lead in the mountains classification. my guess is that he took the beginning of the course slow in order to conserve for the last burst up the climb. i guess this would be an obvious move to everyone, but i still think that it was a sweet call.

ehh

404 Genius not found

Wait. There are hills in Missouri?

I have an idea. Let's throw a big UCI Stage Race and get the best cyclists in the world to come. Where should we have it? I know. Missouri.

I don't get it.

Wait. There are hills in Missouri?

I have an idea. Let's throw a big UCI Stage Race and get the best cyclists in the world to come. Where should we have it? I know. Missouri.

I don't get it.

http://www.ozarkmountainregion.com/

Wait. There are hills in Missouri?

I have an idea. Let's throw a big UCI Stage Race and get the best cyclists in the world to come. Where should we have it? I know. Missouri.

I don't get it.

Why are you dissin on the tour of Missouri? I am glad to have another big stage race here in the US.

Why are you dissin on the tour of Missouri? I am glad to have another big stage race here in the US.

That's only because there were no DocRay posts to diss. I'll stop.

Brian Sheedy did the same move at the Amgen Tour of California prologue. Rode a standard road set-up. Took it easy to the bottom of Telegraph Hill. Hammered up. Won the KOM jersey. Got some extra exposure for his sponsors: Priority Health-Bissell.

Smart move.

smart move by the rider. But you have to question giving KOM points in a TT, where it can be gamed like this.

That's only because there were no DocRay posts to diss. I'll stop.
Whatever happened to DocRay? Did I miss something?

If you wave $$$$$$ they will come.




All about the benjamins pcad.







and it was a good although obvious call on Louders part.

This is so weird. There are huge tours all around the world that regions, countries, cities, etc... use for promotion and even though they aren't mountainous, they have been around for decades, they have a history of winners, and are successful racing events.

Here, in the USA, we get another one week tour on the UCI schedule, a huge race that the state of Mizzu projects will provide a huge economic boost to the state, and certain "racers" on a bicycle forum can do nothing but be critical about every aspect of the event. "It doesn't have mountains, the way they're scoring the KOM doesn't work for me, it isn't as big as the tours of Georgia and California". Whaaaaa????

Check out the Benelux Tour and the Tirreno-Adriatico just to name a few off the top of my head. Not all tours are the TDF with high mountains. Be thankful and hope for more.

Marcel Wust did it at Le Tour prologue back in the 90's. Basically cruised the first couple K, then sprinted some little wall. Frankie Andreu had the same idea, but Marcel was too fast. They finished way down that day, but who cares, a chance to win the polka dot is huge, especially for sprinters or non-climbers.

This is so weird. There are huge tours all around the world that regions, countries, cities, etc... use for promotion and even though they aren't mountainous, they have been around for decades, they have a history of winners, and are successful racing events.

Here, in the USA, we get another one week tour on the UCI schedule, a huge race that the state of Mizzu projects will provide a huge economic boost to the state, and certain "racers" on a bicycle forum can do nothing but be critical about every aspect of the event. "It doesn't have mountains, the way they're scoring the KOM doesn't work for me, it isn't as big as the tours of Georgia and California". Whaaaaa????

Check out the Benelux Tour and the Tirreno-Adriatico just to name a few off the top of my head. Not all tours are the TDF with high mountains. Be thankful and hope for more.

next time don't pull names from the top of your head. the only thing that the Eneco and Tirreno-Adriatico have in common with each other is that they're in the pro tour.

stage 6, 2007 Tirreno-Adriatico.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/mar07/tirreno07/graphics/profile6.gif

Wait. There are hills in Missouri?

I have an idea. Let's throw a big UCI Stage Race and get the best cyclists in the world to come. Where should we have it? I know. Missouri.

I don't get it.



Your post shows why US Americans need more maps.

http://www.ozarkmountainregion.com/


Funny that your link is for an Arkansass page :)

Check out the Benelux Tour and the Tirreno-Adriatico just to name a few off the top of my head. Not all tours are the TDF with high mountains. Be thankful and hope for more.

If, eventually, the Tour'o'California has several stages through the Sierras, then we'll see mountain stages closer to those of the Pyrenees and the Alps. And a TT through Death Valley would be PERFECT!! March weather in DV is amazing... hot, but perfect hot.

Funny that your link is for an Arkansass page :)

Hahahaha! Yes, that is.

a huge race that the state of Mizzu projects will provide a huge economic boost to the state.

+1

We (cycling fans) sometimes get hung up on the competition and forget that most of these races AREN'T put together with competition in mind, but marketing. In this case, it's about showing off Missouri.

Every race will have a winner that figured out how to beat everyone else. The real challenge is to get people to come out of their homes, spend some money, look around, learn something, and come back again.

The Tour of Missouri should get its own forum, just like the Tour de France. There's no reason this American tour should play second-fiddle to that event. :)


As a Missourian, I'm hoping that hosting the tour will get more interest and positive attitudes toward cycling... we could use some (http://mobikefed.org/2005/07/missouri-motorist-douses-race-across.php).

Regarding the lack of mountains - yes, but didn't a breakaway succeed in Stage 2? So it wasn't a real sprint finish.

stage 6, 2007 Tirreno-Adriatico.I understand you don't have a long history in this sport so I'll 'splain it to you; don't protest; I don't mind helping the neophytes learn.

Tirreno-Adriatico is traditionally a flat, early season warm up race for Milan-San Remo. If you look back over the history of the race, it has been won almost exclusively by classics riders and sprinters, like Freire in 2005.

I know you've only been in the sport for a few years, which is how you could google out a hilly stage from this year and somehow think this is representative of the race's history as a whole. But I reccomend you look back over the history of the race and then you'll have not only a better awareness of this particular stage race, but also of the sport in general. Remember, gaining breadth and depth of knowledge will allow you to understand the spirit of what people say, rather than just making shallow one dimensional retorts. And Otto, always read from the top of the page, not the bottom.

Cheers.:beer:

Wait. There are hills in Missouri?



There may not be monster mountains, but I don't think there is a flat road in that state. I had the idea to take a shortcut on some state highway through the ozarks on a business trip once, spent the entire trip going up and down at 20mph behind 30 year old clasic slipstream rvs. Come to think of it, it was all in Arkansas, neve mind as I ramble on.

I understand you don't have a long history in this sport

you're right. i've only followed it regularly for 17 years.


so I'll 'splain it to you;

got a lisp?


don't protest;

you're the one who's in a lather.


I don't mind helping the neophytes learn.

then i suggest you go find some.


Tirreno-Adriatico was a traditionally flat,

fixed.


early season warm up race for Milan-San Remo.

congratulations, you finally got something half right.


If you look back over the history of the race, it has been won almost exclusively by classics riders and sprinters, like Freire in 2005.

if you actually knew much about the history of the sport, you'd realize why so many classics riders won.

with the classics coming up they had a reason to be in form. duh.


I know you've only been in the sport for a few years,

getting repetitive in your false assumptions.


which is how you could google out a hilly stage from this year

what's with the googlephobia?


and somehow think this is representative of the race's history as a whole.

you lumped it with the Eneco Tour, a meaningless 3 year old tour that has sweet FA in common with TA, but I already covered that.


But I reccomend you look back over the history of the race

I have.

Gotta love google to help refresh the memory.


and then you'll have not only a better awareness of this particular stage race

like your extensive knowledge of the Eneco Tour? :D


, but also of the sport in general.

don't wouldn't worry your skinny little head about that.


Remember, gaining breadth and depth of knowledge will allow you to understand the spirit of what people say,

Say? Did you say something? Sorry, I don't seem to have an audio function with my BF.net interface.


rather than just making shallow one dimensional retorts.

as opposed to your bitter diatribes?


And Otto, always read from the top of the page, not the bottom.

leave the humor to me, you suck at it.


Cheers.:beer:

:beer:

you're right. i've only followed it regularly for 17 years.got a lisp?you're the one who's in a lather.then i suggest you go find some. fixed.congratulations, you finally got something half right.if you actually knew much about the history of the sport, you'd realize why so many classics riders won.with the classics coming up they had a reason to be in form. duh.getting repetitive in your false assumptions.what's with the googlephobia? you lumped it with the Eneco Tour, a meaningless 3 year old tour that has sweet FA in common with TA, but I already covered that.I have. Gotta love google to help refresh the memory.like your extensive knowledge of the Eneco Tour? :Ddon't wouldn't worry your skinny little head about that.Say? Did you say something? Sorry, I don't seem to have an audio function with my BF.net interface.as opposed to your bitter diatribes?leave the humor to me, you suck at it.:beer:Very good! I'm proud of you! More than one word!!! Now put it all together in a coherent paragraph that will hold the readers attention instead of a disjointed, constantly interrupted outline of bullets and trite phrases. Oh, and try for originality this time.:beer:

Very good! I'm proud of you! More than one word!!! Now put it all together in a coherent paragraph that will hold the readers attention instead of a disjointed, constantly interrupted outline of bullets and trite phrases. Oh, and try for originality this time.:beer :

guess what?

i don't give a flying frak. :D

i don't give a flying frak. :DHold that thought.

Hold that thought.

bit slow, aren't you?

I knew you couldn't hold that thought. ADD?

Wait. There are hills in Missouri?

I have an idea. Let's throw a big UCI Stage Race and get the best cyclists in the world to come. Where should we have it? I know. Missouri.

I don't get it.
Well, the State of Missouri (actually, the Governor) conceived the idea of the race, not the UCI. We had to put together the organization and route, the petition the UCI to get it on the calendar, then raise a bunch of money. Without all that, it wouldn't have attracted any PT teams.

Plus, by this time of year, most of these guys would rather ride a route like this versus tough mountains. The crowds have been great...you can watch live streaming tv coverage on the website...and it's introducing professional cycling to a whole new audience here in the flatlands. Not a bad deal, seems to me.

I know we have too much cycling coverage as it is and way too many pro races in the U.S., but please indulge us here in the Show Me State ;)

guess what?

i don't give a flying frak. :D


HEEEES Baaaack! :D

Wait. There are hills in Missouri?


Right there next to KC.



http://strangemaps.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/newyorker2.JPG

Wait. There are hills in Missouri?

I have an idea. Let's throw a big UCI Stage Race and get the best cyclists in the world to come. Where should we have it? I know. Missouri.

I don't get it.

I have an idea...lets all pay attention to a bunch of useless threads by someone trying to justify their lack of performance in competitive races. I know pcad's threads.

I don't get it.

^similar ignorance?

Marcel Wust did it at Le Tour prologue back in the 90's. Basically cruised the first couple K, then sprinted some little wall. Frankie Andreu had the same idea, but Marcel was too fast. They finished way down that day, but who cares, a chance to win the polka dot is huge, especially for sprinters or non-climbers.

Good memory.

Even better, he won a stage (http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/2000/jul00/tdfrance00/stages/tdfrance00st5r.shtml)in a bunch sprint wearing the KOM jersey. :)

This is so weird. There are huge tours all around the world that regions, countries, cities, etc... use for promotion and even though they aren't mountainous, they have been around for decades, they have a history of winners, and are successful racing events.

Here, in the USA, we get another one week tour on the UCI schedule, a huge race that the state of Mizzu projects will provide a huge economic boost to the state, and certain "racers" on a bicycle forum can do nothing but be critical about every aspect of the event. "It doesn't have mountains, the way they're scoring the KOM doesn't work for me, it isn't as big as the tours of Georgia and California". Whaaaaa????

Check out the Benelux Tour and the Tirreno-Adriatico just to name a few off the top of my head. Not all tours are the TDF with high mountains. Be thankful and hope for more.


1. Most only watch one race. That one in July.

2. Those that "race" bikes are doing it in the parking lot of an industrial complex, riding round and round and the first one over the speed bump in the parking lot is getting KOM points. Forty five minutes plus two laps. And are asking Bikeforums posters what they should "eat" during this race.

I have an idea...lets all pay attention to a bunch of useless threads by someone trying to justify their lack of performance in competitive races. I know pcad's threads.

I don't get it.

^similar ignorance?

So how is everything in St. Louis?

BTW...for the rest of you, Big Shark used to be a sponsor for the old Seven Up team. A few years ago, the Big Shark team had a couple of riders move up to the pro team.

Wait. There are hills in Missouri?

I have an idea. Let's throw a big UCI Stage Race and get the best cyclists in the world to come. Where should we have it? I know. Missouri.

I don't get it.

Hmmm...there was a stage race back in the northeast a number of years ago.

It went out of business.

I have an idea...lets all pay attention to a bunch of useless threads by someone trying to justify their lack of performance in competitive races. I know pcad's threads.

I don't get it.

^similar ignorance?

maybe you should take a leaf out of patentcad's book, and lighten up.

maybe you should take a leaf out of patentcad's
book, and lighten up.
Perhaps, but I would think you of all people would have an
appreciation for frustration of ignorant comments on these forums.:)


So how is everything in St. Louis?

BTW...for the rest of you, Big Shark used to be a sponsor for the old
Seven Up team. A few years ago, the Big Shark team had a couple of
riders move up to the pro team.

St. Louis is great (although I am only there on some weekends as I go
to school in NE Missouri about 3 hours away). It seems that all of
Missouri's cycling community was on a bit of a high after the success
of the tour. Big Shark is great as usual. How long have you been
away from the stl?

Honestly I think that the only reason that other states don't have a
stage race in their state is a lack of organization (or in the case of
some states a lack of reason to host there) to get one started in the
first place. It is a lot of work, but I think that the ToM has shown
what a group of like-minded folks with passion for the sport can
bring. I don't see any reason why other states can't follow in like
fashion. It would be awesome to see a tour of colorado or NC...maybe
even something that is not limited to a single state...tour of the
rockies?

~Nick

From what I understand there's going to be a Tour of PA in the near future... perhaps next year?

Illinois would never have a stage race. Too flat, too windy, too boring, with the exception of SoIL and the river areas. But those areas just don't have the money for that sort of thing, is my guess.

Lots of sweet 100km, big money crits though...

Illinois would never have a stage race. Too flat, too windy, too boring,

They could take care of the boring factor and have a 100k crit through downtown east st louis...I hear they have a strong cycling community that is super bike friendly...

They could take care of the boring factor and have a 100k crit through downtown east st louis...I hear they have a strong cycling community that is super bike friendly...

a 100KM crit is still boring.

a 100KM crit is still boring.

Downer Avenue in Milwaukee, USPRO in Downers Grove, IL, any of the superweek races, or US Crits series races are pretty sweet.

A good course and lively field make all the difference in the world.

Snake Alley, on the other hand, is a course that does not need to exceed the 20 laps/hour-ish that it runs.

They could take care of the boring factor and have a 100k crit through downtown east st louis...I hear they have a strong cycling community that is super bike friendly...

Literally the scariest town in America. I'd gladly give the state another 1% a year if they could fund a project to divert the Mississippi to the east of ESTL, and make it part of Missouri.

Downer Avenue in Milwaukee, USPRO in Downers Grove, IL, any of the superweek races, or US Crits series races are pretty sweet.

A good course and lively field make all the difference in the world.

Snake Alley, on the other hand, is a course that does not need to exceed the 20 laps/hour-ish that it runs.

to clarify:

racing a crit is not always boring.

being a LIVE spectator at a crit is not always boring.

watching a crit on TV will ALWAYS be boring.

Literally the scariest town in America. I'd gladly give the state another 1% a year if they could fund a project to divert the Mississippi to the east of ESTL, and make it part of Missouri.

I couldn't agree with you more. Probably the only place in America (that I've been to) that I was truly afraid for my life. I have worked and operated in some sketchy areas but ESTL is BAD.
~Nick

to clarify:

racing a crit is not always boring.

being a LIVE spectator at a crit is not always boring.

watching a crit on TV will ALWAYS be boring.

that is the truest statement ever spoken. errr, written.

I couldn't agree with you more. Probably the only place in America (that I've been to) that I was truly afraid for my life. I have worked and operated in some sketchy areas but ESTL is BAD.
~Nick

Chicago's now-dead Cabrini Green, as well as some West Side neighborhoods, are pretty bad, but yet...ESTL takes the cake. There IS a crime stat (can't remember what at the moment) that has ESTL as the worst in America. Might be murder.

Good high school track team, though.

But East St Louis has a beuatiful new Federal Courthouse. Going in there is just bizarre. Beuatiful builidng suronded by vacant lots, abandoned houses, crack houses, and strip clubs.

I'm assuming the local congressman and Senators from Illinois justified the mult million dollar investment as part of the revitalization of Eas St Louis.

to clarify:

racing a crit is not always boring.

being a LIVE spectator at a crit is not always boring.

watching a crit on TV will ALWAYS be boring.

Did you ever see any of the old Kelloggs Crit series they used to hold in the UK in the 80's? Awesome racing.