"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Tour of California moves to May in 2010

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/may09/may06news2

Interesting. As they say, they are clearly trying to become a Tour preparation race. Also, after the last two years of horrible weather, a lot of the riders are probably saying "F that, I'm not going to California to freeze my ass off and get sick before the season gets started." So that's a good reason to move it - May will mean beautiful racing conditions in California, no doubt. On the other hand, expecting that tons of Tour-caliber riders are going to be eager to fly halfway around the world so far into the season seems a bit optimistic. In fairness, they don't have a whole lot of choice if they want to increase the international standing and prestige of the event, and they've been wanting a mountain top finish pretty desperately, but still. If they're able to keep this thing going over the next several years, it'll (hopefully) build itself up, but I wouldn't expect miracles next year. It'll be a good race, though. Thoughts?

ETA: "The Giro is a great race, but very few cyclists who are serious about the Tour de France will also race the Giro." That seems blatantly counterfactual to me - yeah, lots of the serious Tour guys take May off, but there's been a resurgence in Tour hopefuls using the Giro for prep in the last couple of years, so they could well miss out on a lot of big names. At least in February there wasn't anything else going on.

cool, now it'll have all the big names attending :rolleyes:

IMO, this is a one-way ticket to putting the tour of california on the NRC.

cool, now it'll have all the big names attending :rolleyes:

IMO, this is a one-way ticket to putting the tour of california on the NRC.

Incorrect

If you're going to conflict with a grand tour, why not the vuelta? Seems like a bad business decision to me.

Keep it where it is I say. It brightens up the dull winter...

I wonder if the organizers of the Philly race would consider moving their event to May as well? If the two events were close enough on the calendar, it might make it more attractive for European based riders to travel to the US.

Eh. The last five days of May here in Philly have been cold and rainy, a lot like... this year's ToC, come to think of it.


I wonder if the organizers of the Philly race would consider moving their event to May as well? If the two events were close enough on the calendar, it might make it more attractive for European based riders to travel to the US.

Good move, slotted in before the Dauphine. The constant 45 degree rainy days of the past few years past did not make for the best racing and surely hurt turnout/made sponsorship less appetizing.

I think it's better in Feb. The organizers need to realize that it is and will be more of a B team or tune up for the Europe based teams. I'd imagine less teams would want to pick up and go to CA in May than would like to come over in Feb before the season really begins.
I'd wager that the even the bad CA weather has been better than most of Europe at the same time.

If you're going to conflict with a grand tour, why not the vuelta? Seems like a bad business decision to me.
By the time the Vuelta comes around most people have stopped caring.

OK, what mountain finish do they want?
"We are fairly decided on a particular mountain top finish. We definitely have one"

By the time the Vuelta comes around most people have stopped caring. Riders or fans? Either way, I agree. But there's gotta be a better solution then right up against the second biggest stage race in cycling.

Yeah all the big names are going to attend...Giro or ToC...yep the Giro is in big trouble.

I think for people that don't want to do the Giro because it's too hard too close to the Tour then the ToC is perfect.

I think for people that don't want to do the Giro because it's too hard too close to the Tour then the ToC is perfect.

This is why god invented the Dauphine. The big names won't be at the ToC. The medium names maybe.

This is a horrible idea. Look at the riders that the Volta a Catalunya attracts (read: none). That race starts right in the middle of the Giro.

"I'd wager that the even the bad CA weather has been better than most of Europe at the same time."

+1. Boonen actually said he liked the weather because it helped him prepare for the Northern Classics. See how well it worked!!

I think this will work. Good move. Not everybody wants to do the Giro. Perfect prep race for the Tour, shorter than the Giro, long enough after the classics for the pros to recover for the TOC.

This is a horrible idea. Look at the riders that the Volta a Catalunya attracts (read: none).!

Incorrect. The TOC will attract the riders who want an easier prep stage race for the Tour de France. The Volta will now attract less than none. It will be the Giro or the TOC, both races will have good fields.

Good for some riders.

Bad for fans.

Good for some riders.

Bad for fans.

Why is it bad for fans? I'm a fan. I like it.

"Perfect prep race for the Tour, shorter than the Giro, long enough after the classics for the pros to recover for the TOC. "

What pro, is going to finish the Liege-Bastogne-Liege and think, "Whew, that was rough! I hope I recover in time for the Tour of California!!"

Perfect prep race for the TdF?! A perfect prep race for the TdF is the Dauphine or Tour of Suisse. Know why? Because they are in the same time zone!

hmmm. maybe they can start sending teh ToC up the sierras...

Why is it bad for fans? I'm a fan. I like it.

Because I'm only going to listen to the Giro if I have to make a choice.

AND I like the racing in february...It gives hope to canadians buried in snow.

Incorrect. The TOC will attract the riders who want an easier prep stage race for the Tour de France. The Volta will now attract less than none. It will be the Giro or the TOC, both races will have good fields.

Apparently you haven't heard of the Daulphine...Tour de Swiss...ToC in May is not going to attract the big names.

Incorrect. The TOC will attract the riders who want an easier prep stage race for the Tour de France. The Volta will now attract less than none. It will be the Giro or the TOC, both races will have good fields.


i think there will also be financial considerations. teams may not want to spend the money to come here in may.

ed rader

from a logistical/financial standpoint, why would teams pay and spend time getting to california if you can race the Dauphine or Tour de Suisse?

On top of the fact that the majority of the sponsors are Euro only, there is no financial incentive either.

from a logistical/financial standpoint, why would teams pay and spend time getting to california if you can race the Dauphine or Tour de Suisse?

Those races are in June

Those races are in June

Yes they are...all the more reason not to race the ToC as a Tour tune up. I don't see this race as being a real alternative for the big names over the Giro. Guys like Contador have this part of the season set as a rebuilding period...race the Daulphine or the TdS in prep for the TdF. The Giro is not a Tour prep race, and an easier ToC is too far out to be considered one either.

I don't disagree that teams will make the trip to Cali in May but don't hold your breath for the really big names to be on those teams. You will see less big riders in May than you did in Feb for this race.

I know. I just doubt that the top Tour contenders are going to race tour of romandie or trentino, fly to california, then fly back for suisse or dauphine. Will it even be able to draw an "A team" from the top American-based ProTour Teams? I don't know but I guess we'll see next year.

It finally looks like we have a legitimate stage race in the US with long-term potential. I just worry that screwing with the formula and growing too fast will make this race go away.

from a logistical/financial standpoint, why would teams pay and spend time getting to california if you can race the Dauphine or Tour de Suisse?

saxo bank - sponsored by specialized. √
quickstep - sponsored by specialized. √
columbis - sponsored by an american company. √
astana - sponsored by trek. √
liquigas - sponsored by cannondale. √
garmin - american team. √

after that, considering the crowds, buzz, and spectacle around the event, i wouldn't be surprised if a few other pro tour teams take part at the request of their sponsors.

saxo bank - sponsored by specialized. √ Main sponsor Euro
quickstep - sponsored by specialized. √ Main sponsor Euro
columbis - sponsored by an american company. √ It's COLUMBIA silly foreigner
astana - sponsored by trek. √ We love Borat they hate Borat
liquigas - sponsored by cannondale. √ Main sponsor Euro
garmin - american team. √ correct

after that, considering the crowds, buzz, and spectacle around the event, i wouldn't be surprised if a few other pro tour teams take part at the request of their sponsors.

The teams will be here...the big riders won't...we'll be getting the B squads.

The teams will be here...the big riders won't...we'll be getting the B squads.

don't know what your keyboard is like, but on my QWERTY keyboard the a and the s are next to each other.

Typo smypo someone's gotta bust your balls.

if the tour of cali has a 35+ field next year I'm pretty sure I can convince my wife to let me make the trip!

Typo smypo someone's gotta bust your balls.

ball.

ball.

I forgot you took your man crush on Lance to a new level...

The teams will be here...the big riders won't...we'll be getting the B squads.
How many teams sent the A-list in Feb? Saxo? Who else? The ones that do come in Feb just roll around anyway. They don't really go for wins. They come to train in good weather and the last two years they haven't even gotten that.

I forgot you took your man crush on Lance to a new level...

something like that. :thumb:

How many teams sent the A-list in Feb? Saxo? Who else? The ones that do come in Feb just roll around anyway. They don't really go for wins. They come to train in good weather and the last two years they haven't even gotten that.

Quickstep, Rabobank had some big hitters. Larmstrong and Flandis return. It made it real fun to follow, and that's all it takes. Doesn't have to be full blown grand tour rosters.

Quickstep, Rabobank had some big hitters. Larmstrong and Flandis return. It made it real fun to follow, and that's all it takes. Doesn't have to be full blown grand tour rosters.

We got A-/B+ squads in Feb...we wont get that in May. Look I hope I'm wrong and we see the Giro turn into a tour for Continental teams...I'm just not going to be disappointed when the ToC doesn't see the big names.

We got A-/B+ squads in Feb...we wont get that in May. Look I hope I'm wrong and we see the Giro turn into a tour for Continental teams...I'm just not going to be disappointed when the ToC doesn't see the big names.

I haven't read through all the relevant reports and follow-up stories, but don't you think the ToC organizers gave serious thought to who would attend when they considered moving the date back a few months? Would they have left it up to nothing more than a gamble? "Let's just see what happens, OK?" "Agreed."

American media exposure alone is the main draw. Just like in the music industry, where US sales and touring is still king. Yes, I'm saying that to the equipment marketers, a bicycle = Britney Spears.

I haven't read through all the relevant reports and follow-up stories, but don't you think the ToC organizers gave serious thought to who would attend when they considered moving the date back a few months? Would they have left it up to nothing more than a gamble? "Let's just see what happens, OK?" "Agreed."

American media exposure alone is the main draw. Just like in the music industry, where US sales and touring is still king. Yes, I'm saying that to the equipment marketers, a bicycle = Britney Spears.

Right and to a sponsor like Cervelo who is the title sponsor of the team then you are correct, however Specialized puts in a couple of hundred grand compared to the few million that say QuickStep put in..who's going to have the final say. For every rider the TdF is the Superbowl/World Series/World Cup all rolled into one. Take a good look at the guys who are gunning for TdF win this season and look what they are doing in the month of May. Contador is training, not racing, he'll be back in June in one of the big two to hone his fitness for July. You won't get any of the big Italian teams come and give up on the Giro same with the big Italian riders. Then you have the guys who don't have Tour win aspirations but would like to win a prestigious week long tour...which races have more prestige, the Daulphine and the TdS or the ToC.

Do I think the ToC organizers thought about this? Yes I do. And I believe they think their race is big and important enough for all of these guys to completely blow off the second biggest Tour in the history of cycling and disrupt what has been a pretty tried and true path to the TdF to fly across the Atlantic to come race in California.

I think the reason most (non-Italian) teams do the Giro is because there aren't easier stage races in May. It's either a bunch of one day races or the 3 week long Giro suffer-fest. Many would love a more moderate 7-10 day event around that time. They're certainly not going to put one on the Euro calender.

I think it will be better than Tour de Georgia was, if maybe not quite what ToC has been.

Would they have left it up to nothing more than a gamble? "Let's just see what happens, OK?"

they may have had no choice but to gamble with all the grumbling about the weather.

ed rader

they may have had no choice but to gamble with all the grumbling about the weather.

ed rader

I have been thinking about this weather bit. By my memory the ToC had 3 days of poor weather out of 7 days of racing. Something like that at least (too lazy to look it up right now). Also, many of the teams were in CA for training in the week prior to the race when the enjoyed some glorious riding weather. Finally Tom Boonen stated that he liked the weather because it helped him for the classics. I am not so sure weather is the culprit here.

Doesn't the ToC and the ASO have some kind of partnership? What role does that play in all this?

I have been thinking about this weather bit. By my memory the ToC had 3 days of poor weather out of 7 days of racing. I am not so sure weather is the culprit here.
For two years in a row. a 50% crap ratio is pretty bad when you came to Cali for the weather to begin with. A May start opens new climb possibilities and avoids this:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=515767

astana, the best team in cycling, is broke. rock racing, broke. i just don't see the euro teams spending all that money to race in california for a few days when they have other options.

i could be wrong but i think we are looking at the beginning of the end for the ATOC, and i'll beileve the 2010 ATOC when i see it. but then again i've treated every year like it would be the last.

hey we'll see :eek:.

ed rader

if the tour of cali has a 35+ field next year I'm pretty sure I can convince my wife to let me make the trip!

Hell, A later date works for me if I can wrangle a Moto Marshall assignement.

This is why god invented the Dauphine. The big names won't be at the ToC. The medium names maybe.

Maybe.