Road Bike Racing - 2003 T-Mobile International, presented by BMC Software

I was just wondering if any BF members are planning to attend this event which is scheduled for Sunday, September 13th.

I plan on being at the Fillmore St. hill with the family if I don't volunteer to be a course marshal.

As you know from the Introductions thread, Sam and I'll be there! Here's the latest start list (http://chainreaction.com/sfgp03.htm) for the men's race. Garzelli, Simoni, Vinokourov, Guerini, US Postal, etc. Woo hoo.

How are you guys getting there?

I'm going to try and get to it, but my parents are taking my brother down to his college so I'll have to see if I need to stay home for my sister or not. Is it on any local station if I can't get up there?

Originally posted by Chi
How are you guys getting there?
I'm driving up. I don't think the rest of my family are ready for a 100+ mile ride.

Since we have to check in at 6am (and since CalTrain doesn't run on the weekends and BART doesn't start running from the Millbrae station until after 8am on Sundays, etc., etc.) we'll be driving in, unfortunately.

BART may be a better option, unless you have to be there very early. Parking should be a nightmare in the city, unless you're willing to pay big $.

I'll be there. I'm driving down super-early Sunday morning to meet my Sis and some good friends. Don't forget that there's a Niners game to increase the already nightmarish traffic.

I drove too. Actually, I found some "secret" parking at a prime spot on The Embarcadero.....that is, after I got kicked out of parking on the VIP Shuttle lane. :p Got in at 6am for the volunteers. It was GREAT!!! On w/ the pics ...

So this is the intersection I was assigned to watch. Didn't do much coz there were plenty of cops there.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/pb2637c85cfa30101cd7bd9109817fd8e/fb168b53.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/pe905d361315d20f7194a508ee493e3eb/fb168aa8.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/p331a0896a3567812a01dbda8e190f26a/fb168a11.jpg

The other two volunteers I was assigned the intersection with.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/p3930c4177926f7599743f10fd88ef09c/fb16899d.jpg

The bike made me do it ...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/pa6e1b95ebf92ba957f6cebda6461c957/fb1688ed.jpg

Women's race started at 730am, so here's the main group.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/p527b570eef61472adeb9a8bf29a5cfc1/fb1687db.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/p05af4a941919e08128c157c04fd5b2f9/fb1686e2.jpg

The team that won the men's race, Team Saturn. One of these bikes was ridden by team member Chris Horner, who won the race by like 50 seconds.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/p8bff8550afc2e3a88eb7c46bad6a78bf/fb168642.jpg

Yummy carbon fiber and titanium ....

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/paf06c012fb0c1ae9fb6cf19c0aeb99a2/fb168590.jpg

A Colnago frame I saw on display. Notice the hole on the chainstays.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/p3e067d831cecf3bc490ee55258e00b30/fb1684d2.jpg

The USPS Team Truck.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/p9bb81d5e8a4bb0111b2c6f9c139d0a9d/fb16838e.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/p724a9915ea3bcd87c1ca9b91ac4e58ea/fb168310.jpg

This guy was getting cheers from the crowd! He was grindin up that hill like all the other racers. :D

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/pcbae1510fd3ade1619b3584803357a13/fb16825b.jpg

Men's race starts.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/p9d2d1215968faf1f5d32b003a336ab17/fb168107.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/p0bd3d5be6fae59e577efb8e9c025e5e7/fb167fdd.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/pe6b84076fe69209d8aa83c0eb4fc3712/fb167ef8.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/pa406ccc1c47c1a36287223a1b207ef92/fb167d31.jpg

More carbon ...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid79/p7436e791e7166bb37733a319f5b06452/fb167c5d.jpg

Nice shots, Chi!

Sam and I had the corner of Bay and Laguna, along with seven cops, including two sergeants, so we had less to do, as well. About fifty yards up from the turn was a spot where some riders would chuck their empty water bottles onto the grass in front of Fort Mason. Luckily the crowd at this point was pretty small, otherwise the rush for "souvenirs" might have gotten bloody!

A long day, but fun.

Nice pics, Chi!

The race was fantastic! I was out in the streets all day hopping from place to place trying to follow the race. I managed hit all the interesting spots -- the start at the Embarcadero, the Taylor St. hill, Columbus Ave., the Fillmore St. climb, the feedzone near Gallileo High School, and the finish back at the Embarcadero. It's just awesome to see these professional riders whooshing by with all the people screaming and ringing their cow bells. My favorite moment was when the main pelloton has gone by and a bunch of maybe ten or twelve spectators in their bikes started going down the empty street. Among them was a family with dad, mom and a couple of kids trailing behind. Suddenly the little boy, about 8-9 years old, pedals as fast as he can and passes the rest of his family, and he screams, "Mom! I'm on a breakaway! I'm on a breakaway!!!"

An awesome day!

-Kevin

We arrived at the Fillmore St. hill just a bit after 8am. We found a good spot about mid-way down the block from Broadway. Saturn had a booth at the top of the hill and we snatched up 4 cowbells so we could make a lot of racket. We also got some thundersticks but the cowbells were much better. The crowd lining the street was awesome! We managed to get two cycling caps that were being tossed into the crowd.

I've got pictures at home which I'll try and post later. We got a nice one of Lance, and also some good shots that show just how steep the hill really is

If you guys got pics, let's share em! :D