Northern California - Tour of California Photo Megathread

We need a place where all the various attendees can put together a very 56k-unfriendly thread.

I'll post in a bit.

We lucked out. It didn't rain on us, but it was still cold there. I was on the first straightaway, just before the first u-turn. Just as we finished, it started to sprinkle a little bit, so we were a little lucky.

I wasn't able to take many pictures.

Team Columbia truck ... pretty bold statement.
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/473669987_Jg5qP-M.jpg

My team van ... pretty hard to miss this one.
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/473666202_bf4M4-M.jpg

I only have one (and I didn't take it, a coworker did). Looking down on 10th and L:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/CalOso/LanceFans2.jpg

My pics from today...

This morning in Old Town. It was eerily quiet..

http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/pictures/toc1.jpg

Joel:

http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/pictures/toc2.jpg

Rydaddy:

http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/pictures/toc3.jpg

de Vere's Pub, where Mr. Redspoke and I watched the race and had a bunch of Guinness:

http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/pictures/toc4.jpg

http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/pictures/toc5.jpg

http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/pictures/toc6.jpg

http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/pictures/toc7.jpg

http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/pictures/toc8.jpg

http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/pictures/toc9.jpg

http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/pictures/toc10.jpg

http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/pictures/toc11.jpg

http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/pictures/toc12.jpg

http://www.mattandjosey.com/cycling/pictures/toc13.jpg

My best friend and wife beat me home by about 5 minutes so I probably won't get to posting until tomorrow... My best shot by far was Leipheimer.

Just a pile of pictures. Don't really know who anyone is, so pardon my ignorance. :) The facial expressions on a lot of the riders are a lot of fun.

(By the way, Bikeforum's annoying new picture resizer is probably going to shrink these all down to 640px wide. Right-click and hit "view image" to see them a bit bigger, if you wish.)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1418.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1443.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1449.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1453.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1459.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1470.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1482.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1483.jpg

A few more:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1485.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1494.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1496.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1501.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1506.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1508.jpg

And last, but not least, the reason everyone was there (:P), Lance and his considerable entourage:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1504.jpg

...And here's a perfect shot of the TV camera motorcycle that Lance's blurrily fast self got in the way of. :rolleyes:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1505.jpg

Great photos. The facial expressions of total exertion are well-captured.

Nice ones Alex! Mine are not worthy, but I will post a few anyway when I get time.

Most of mine were blurry. Tough to get clear action photos with a point n/ shoot digital.

http://www.jspublications.net/images/bikes/TofC/1.jpg

http://www.jspublications.net/images/bikes/TofC/2.jpg

http://www.jspublications.net/images/bikes/TofC/3.jpg

http://www.jspublications.net/images/bikes/TofC/4.jpg

http://www.jspublications.net/images/bikes/TofC/5.jpg

http://www.jspublications.net/images/bikes/TofC/6.jpg

This one is of Andy Schlek. I can't ID the others.
http://www.jspublications.net/images/bikes/TofC/7.jpg

Floyd had a face like a smacked ar*e

http://www.zensurweb.com/bikes/TOC09/floyd001.jpg

He wasnt in a very friendly mood

http://www.zensurweb.com/bikes/TOC09/floyd002.jpg

Lance also looking very stern

http://www.zensurweb.com/bikes/TOC09/lance001.jpg

Basso Smiling

http://www.zensurweb.com/bikes/TOC09/basso_001.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1506.jpg
I believe that one is Cancellara.

Awesome pics!! Thanks for sharing. :D

I was at the U turn. It looked to be a great spot for pictures until the flag people started standing in front of us.. I'll post some that I took when I get back from dinner.

Great pics everyone! I'm really looking forward to the race passing through my way.

rumbutter, that's a great picture of Lance. I hope you don't mind, but I added a "thought filter" to reveal the following:
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/lanceintense.jpg

Great pics -- I bet the energy was palpable. I ended up working this afternoon, so we're going to watch what we recorded.

Andy Schleck has some really skinny arms...

Great pics everyone. This time, I left my camera alone when they came by (partly because I couldn't, and the other part so that I can just see them wizzing by).

Great pics! Looking forward to both Solvang and Pasadena since I'll be there with my lady!

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1482.jpg



Thanks for the pics. But why was this guy on a road bike?

i guess this guy forgot to pack his TT bike?




http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/x136/bicycles/prologue-2009/img_1482.jpg

I was wondering that myself. Seemed a little odd. As far as I can remember, the Liquigas team was the only one riding road bikes.

Well at least Basso was on a TT bike - maybe this guy was the odd man out?

Great pictures everyone.

I put a few more pictures on my Website

http://www.zensurweb.com/bikes/TOC09/toc09.htm

This is how insane it got. People climbing on team cars to get a picture of lance

http://www.zensurweb.com/bikes/TOC09/madness001.jpg

What's up with the bits of tissue in some riders' nostrils? Stopping a bloody nose? Or something more ordinary and pedestrian?

Great photos, all. Can't wait until tomorrow.

i guess this guy forgot to pack his TT bike?

Not only that, but he doesn't even have a TT helmet or even deep aero wheels.
68. Alessandro Vanotti (ITA)
He finished 121st in 5:03.95.
Not bad, only losing 30 seconds. I hope he has a TT bike for Solvang. :p


By the way, nice pics everyone thanks!

maybe this guy was the odd man out?I have pictures of three or four guys from the team, and they're all, Basso aside, on the same (or similar) Cannondale road bike.

Mine turned out pretty poor. The lighting didn't allow me to used "sport" mode. Here are some anyway. I was on the island after the hairpin.

Levi

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/odell124/100_1022.jpg?t=1234679303

Floyd

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/odell124/100_1021.jpg?t=1234679341

Michael Rodgers

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/odell124/100_1020.jpg?t=1234679366

Cancellara

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/odell124/100_1018.jpg?t=1234679431

Vandevelde

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/odell124/100_1017.jpg?t=1234679686

Lance

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/odell124/100_1016.jpg?t=1234679802

Zabriskie

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/odell124/100_1015.jpg?t=1234679833

Hamilton

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/odell124/100_1014.jpg?t=1234679926

Boonen

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/odell124/100_1012.jpg?t=1234679964

Hincapie

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/odell124/100_1013.jpg?t=1234680104

A pic of Lance, I'll post more after I sort through all my photos :)

Bobke
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfIcUqX98I/AAAAAAAAAuI/KQlb7eEVVg0/s800/P1070007.JPG

Unknown guys warming up:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfI-TLVopI/AAAAAAAAAvE/KpC577DOM8o/s800/P1070018.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfJOav2WgI/AAAAAAAAAv8/vmxxYjHUuCA/s800/P1070025.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfJXZHb5LI/AAAAAAAAAwk/IdJ3M5iYC14/s800/P1070030.JPG

Hincappe & Tyler Hamilton pre race:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfJeFVl0XI/AAAAAAAAAw8/FC_fH5vZp4g/s800/P1070033.JPG

Some early riders. Not sure who they are:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfJnXe7DMI/AAAAAAAAAxc/Th2Az_ntwuM/s800/P1070039.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfJuK9bYSI/AAAAAAAAAx0/5LA6aZs-xhA/s800/P1070053.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfJwmg1p_I/AAAAAAAAAx8/6NUZwMB-2UQ/s800/P1070054.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfJzb5qUrI/AAAAAAAAAyI/c9Ye4pjILMI/s800/P1070055.JPG

Sastre:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfJ7wzyw1I/AAAAAAAAAyo/2dXvsNzC3fY/s800/P1070071.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfJ_YVHTKI/AAAAAAAAAy4/abltMJEm5Ao/s800/P1070073.JPG

Kirchen:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfKB2iODJI/AAAAAAAAAzA/NrI7VyvRHGY/s800/P1070076.JPG

Boonen:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfKEVxPKxI/AAAAAAAAAzI/AQn0UOJYz6Q/s800/P1070077.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfKJRClxQI/AAAAAAAAAzY/xIIo2-5UmRs/s800/P1070079.JPG

Hincappe:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfKPC78pWI/AAAAAAAAAzs/cqd6ohMro9c/s800/P1070081.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfKRn5B-RI/AAAAAAAAAz0/Nh5vHXKxhEo/s800/P1070082.JPG

Tyler:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfKYDXMMUI/AAAAAAAAA0M/N6jWwc8TwJc/s800/P1070087.JPG

Zabriskie:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfKcqXhjdI/AAAAAAAAA0c/yuaPGPuhD0U/s800/P1070091.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfKeuFcdtI/AAAAAAAAA0k/tqSEsarM19Q/s800/P1070092.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfKioQANFI/AAAAAAAAA00/OQJzpO44ltY/s800/P1070094.JPG

Lance:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfKk3abd9I/AAAAAAAAA08/GFgDZdi54ek/s800/P1070096.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfKnV_nTPI/AAAAAAAAA1E/auQgPWQXOwE/s800/P1070097.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfKpbXUZrI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/9fv9DOoLKpY/s800/P1070098.JPG

Van de Velve:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfKsNpBCMI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/dqdPPm6rSFw/s800/P1070102.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfKuUxzrxI/AAAAAAAAA1g/RUmEE2qqdWk/s800/P1070103.JPG

Cancellara:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfKykGcpzI/AAAAAAAAA1w/Crv0jvXor_U/s800/P1070105.JPG

Basso:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfK24D3iAI/AAAAAAAAA2A/neNqd3dd8dg/s800/P1070107.JPG

Floyd:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfLEEZvm7I/AAAAAAAAA20/D4tov19QmU8/s800/P1070114.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfLFowXFlI/AAAAAAAAA28/F5ox_JFRQFs/s800/P1070115.JPG

Levi:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfLJtalwfI/AAAAAAAAA3M/MbuLoxaQKJI/s800/P1070118.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfLL8yDwaI/AAAAAAAAA3U/L5GZ_snLyLc/s800/P1070119.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfLNkBlUyI/AAAAAAAAA3c/ynj0tRLGNQY/s800/P1070120.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfLPON5LzI/AAAAAAAAA3k/Tyt-VzAuaSE/s800/P1070121.JPG

Not only that, but he doesn't even have a TT helmet or even deep aero wheels.
68. Alessandro Vanotti (ITA)
He finished 121st in 5:03.95.
Not bad, only losing 30 seconds. I hope he has a TT bike for Solvang. :p


Seems that the easy assumption would be that they don't have the budget for TT gear. There's not a limitless number of sponsors with limitless cash. Likely they decide the limited money is best spent on, say, a nutritionist, rather than gear that'll get them half a second in the two trials events.

Entire set here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasv/sets/72157613812452075/

Just a peek:

Levi power:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/3280432003_b13c0d3571.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasv/3280432003/in/set-72157613812452075)

The winner: Fabian Cancellara
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/3280430347_cde7df7d84.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasv/3280430347/in/set-72157613812452075)

Tom Boonen
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3649/3281249060_66720d3a29.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasv/3281249060/in/set-72157613812452075)

Spectacular event! Very proud of Sacramento!

So who's going to be out on the course for Stage 1? It should be an epic day today. I can just hear the wind kicking up from my hotel room. Leaving Sacramento at 9:30 en route to wherever they drop me on Stage 1.

Here's a perspective from my first day as Course Marshall:
I was stationed on the first straightaway, about 1/4 mile from the start, right before the first u-turn of the route. The big challenge was making sure the crowd line formed a consistent line from the sidewalk to the intersection, then onto the sidewalk again. We wanted to make sure the crowds didn't bleed too much into the course. A few times, the crowd would behave, but eventually the crowd started to bleed more into the course, before I had to ask them to move back.

After awhile, it became a futile effort, and I just let them enjoy themselves.

The weather was okay. Sun peeped in and out a few times, but generally it was overcast and cold. The crowd really started to woop it up when the last 10 riders came by. And of course, when Lance came around, there was a loud roar. I did my part in updating everyone, and letting them know Lance is coming ... I yelled out LANCE ... with my whistle blowing, cow bells ringing, crowd went crazy. Crowd in the island moved from side to side ... it was quite a site ... seeing a whole line of crowd move in unison from one side to the other as Lance raced around the u-turn.

Christian Vandevelde came around, and although not is boisterous, there was still a huge ovation for him. It is refreshing to see a knowledgeable cycling crowd, and not just the Lance factor. The same enthusiasm continued for Fabian, Levi, and Floyd.

In the end, it was in order, Fabian, Levi, and Dave Z, . This comes as no surprise at all. First thing we did was walked back to the hotel. All I wanted was a hot shower, and hot coffee. The line at Starbucks was too crazy, so just decided to get the complimentary coffee from the hotel.

So who's going to be out on the course for Stage 1?


I'm taking wife and daughter to Santa Rosa, should be there about the time the women start racing. Thinking someplace east of town will be the closest parking (they don't like to walk too far).

Basso:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j4BxSEEI-5E/SZfK24D3iAI/AAAAAAAAA2A/neNqd3dd8dg/s800/P1070107.JPGWow, that's cool how you caught him illuminated by the flash of one of the people on the corner. He looks bathed in an angelic holy light. :)

Nice photos everyone. Thanks for sharing.

Bigbossman and his clan and I were walking along a side street after we ate lunch and we came across a Astana mechanic with Lance's roadie....

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z249/BlankCrows/CIMG9272.jpg

Had a great time at the Prologue. Wandered around the venue and met some wonderful people from all over the country and world!

We got on KCRA tv too. Click here for the vid (http://www.kcra.com/video/18717362/index.html). We're the goodballs with cowbells about 34 seconds into it. :)

Brother Bob with his new Podium Girl Friendz:
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/7149/img4676largeru3.jpg

Phil & Paul:
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3264/img4661largebx6.jpg

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/8504/img4664largewo6.jpg

Lovely people from Luxemburg out to cheer on the Schleck brothers. We helped them with our cowbell ringing!
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9017/img4745largeke9.jpg

Close up of Cancellera's bike:
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/3540/img4627largezt5.jpg

I wonder what George is thinking right now?
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2214/img4682largemt6.jpg

Vandevelde turning at 19th & N:
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/7381/img4774largetq5.jpg

Prologue winner Cancellera at the same turn:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9266/img4783largena5.jpg

Floyd:
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/7082/img4802largecx7.jpg

Hey, sure, that's Tyler on the left, but barely on the right is that way cool guy.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_YObKuX2krqA/SZhWbY7yrWI/AAAAAAAAAR4/U9irZWj3GnI/s512/tyler.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z249/BlankCrows/CIMG9272.jpg"Ugh, someone get this plastic thing away from me!"

:P

Hey, sure, that's Tyler on the left, but barely on the right is that way cool guy.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_YObKuX2krqA/SZhWbY7yrWI/AAAAAAAAAR4/U9irZWj3GnI/s512/tyler.jpg

^^ Nice! It does look like he's trying to elbow you out of the way, though? ;)

Close up of Cancellera's bike:
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/3540/img4627largezt5.jpgHuh, center-pull brakes. What's old is new again.

Maybe next year it'll be super wide, yet aerodynamic, carbon fiber cantilevers. :P

"Ugh, someone get this plastic thing away from me!"

:P

I sure HOPE he was with Astana! After hearing that Lance had his TT bike stolen last night.:eek:

Entire set here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasv/sets/72157613812452075/

Just a peek:
Spectacular event! Very proud of Sacramento!

Hey those are really nice pictures nasv!

I know that BF is awash with TOC stuff at the moment (nice), but in case folks haven't come across this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=511417) you should check out Ed Rader's pictures in the racing forum. Stunning.

I wish the UCI would drop the weight limit then we wouldnt have to see ugly power cranks on Pro race bikes

Huh, center-pull brakes. What's old is new again.


I was thinking the exact same thing! I gotta get me summathose! :)

.. If I want to up the Lance factor on my bike, I guess I need some yellow-stickered aero wheels, and a yellow seatpost binder.