"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Solvang TT--Stage 5 (Spoilers??)

Rock Racing got their skinsuits and TT bikes in time for today's stage.

Early riders are out in semi-dry conditions, but it looks like the skies might open up again.

This isn't exactly a flat stage--lots of folks standing while going up the hills.

Dave Z ftw!

http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/docroot/tourtracker2008/AdobeTourTracker.html

i've ridden the course numerous times and suffice to say there are definitely some hilly sections. when my dad first told me the proposed route this year i told him they were nuts if they put in that first climb/descent... you make the first left and then its up up and up before making a very steep descent into a 90 degree right

They just had Jackson Stewart for an interview in the commentator booth. Nice to hear some insight into his suffering.

crappy cell phone pic from my dad of boonen warming up

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2348/2284658988_6b25e36722_o.jpg

Holy Crap!

The World's Scrawniest Slovenian caught Bobby Julich...and leads the stage :eek:

your dad seems to be pretty kewl. he's right in boonen's face

Brajkovic beat Wiggins....Who would of thought that?? 32.05

Brajkovic beat Wiggins....Who would of thought that?? 32.05

he was tt world u23 champion... but yes, it looks silly.

Cancellara looks STRONG.

he was tt world u23 champion. .

did not know that. I figured he was a climber only by looking at him

Cancellara looks very shifty on his saddle... keeps nudging himself backwards.

your dad seems to be pretty kewl. he's right in boonen's face

hah. i don't know...he is my dad...:D having an 'all access' pass helps too.

Interesting that of Cancellara, Dave Z, and David Millar, only Millar has he deep 1080 zipp wheel. Levi is using a climbing wheel??

Millar is FLYING through the corners and staring at his power numbers more than the road!

Levi is using a climbing wheel??

AND HE'S WINNING!

Interesting that of Cancellara, Dave Z, and David Millar, only Millar has he deep 1080 zipp wheel. Levi is using a climbing wheel??

Levi looks like he's on a Dura Ace or Bontrager 50

Oh well, so much for Z winning the stage. 2nd so far at 32:01, behind Vandevelde at 31:31.

I hope millars sticks for 1st or 2nd, but its some stiff competition..

You HAVE to be kidding me!!!

Holy ****! EPIC FARKING RIDE!!!!! EPIC EPIC EPIC!!!!!!!

Levi--30:46??? Yeeowsah!

Still not a fan.

Wow...

:wtf: ? Unreal.

holy moly

Still not a fan.


Of??

Damn. He took a MINUTE out of Cancellara.

no need to be a fan, but holy cow, what a ride!!!

The scottish commentator on cycling.tv laid into Cancellara pretty good, almost suggesting he didn't respect the rainbow jersey, er, skinsuit, with his performance.

Of??

Levi. I respect his talent, but...

True to form. I just think the Prologue was too short for Levi to show his strengths. Amazing ride.

True to form. I just think the Prologue was too short for Levi to show his strengths. Amazing ride.

Disagree. I think it was too flat to show his strengths. He did not have a prayer of winning that.

The scottish commentator on cycling.tv laid into Cancellara pretty good, almost suggesting he didn't respect the rainbow jersey, er, skinsuit, with his performance.
Hmmm. no idea what that actually means.

watching the video of Cancellara, he looked like he was doing well. the time seemed to say otherwise. :o

-bullseye

Hmmm. no idea what that actually means.

watching the video of Cancellara, he looked like he was doing well. the time seemed to say otherwise. :o

-bullseye

It would mean that he is being accused of not giving it his all and thus not showing the true fighting spirit of a world TT champion.

It would mean that he is being accused of not giving it his all and thus not showing the true fighting spirit of a world TT champion.

Or, its February.....

Or, its February.....

+1

this is what, the second race of the year? July is the most important month of the year, not February

+1

this is what, the second race of the year? July is the most important month of the year, not February

April, snoboard2, April is the important month. Specifically, April 13.

but levi wont be racing in either.. so it doesnt matter..

I would think Levi, living in Cali, had the chance to ride the course many times in training. I bet most of the Euros rode it for the first time the morning of the race. So Levi had a technical advantage which obviously helped.

I would think Levi, living in Cali, had the chance to ride the course many times in training. I bet most of the Euros rode it for the first time the morning of the race. So Levi had a technical advantage which obviously helped.

+1

I would think Levi, living in Cali, had the chance to ride the course many times in training. I bet most of the Euros rode it for the first time the morning of the race. So Levi had a technical advantage which obviously helped.

Wrong, CSC was down there practicing weeks ago.

Wrong, CSC was down there practicing weeks ago.

+1

And the course was only slightly different than last year so most returning riders have raced it before as well.

Think the fact that Cancellara was leading the peleton up the climbs in stage 3 has anything to do with his poor performance today???

Think the fact that Cancellara was leading the peleton up the climbs in stage 3 has anything to do with his poor performance today???

Yes. I also think that the earlier into a stage race the time trial is, the better Cancellara will fare.

This from the slipstream website...from their updating today.


# Cozza off first. 12:28. David Millar will be with me in the car following. Cozza knows to take all the corners full speed..aka test dummy.JV about 10 hours ago


Can you imagine being told to be crazy on the TT bike to see if you wipe out so you can save a teammate? I can understand handing off a wheel, but man...maybe it's the mustache.

WTF was happening to Levi on the start ramp. Who or what was he channeling???? That was intense.


ZIRBEAST FTW!