wxduff

I started one for the USA pro cycling challenge, figure we could use one for the similar 2.1 Tour of Utah.

Anyone going to watch on FSN or ROOT?

DXchulo

They put together a really good route this year. (Stage 4 looks like a real leg breaker.) It's harder than Colorado, but the field isn't as good. Danielson could win, but he'll probably be saving some energy for Colorado. I could see Leipheimer winning this. I'll be interested to see how Mancebo will do.

wxduff

Do you really think Utah is going to be more difficult then Colorado? I just did some fancy spreadsheet work and came up with these figures:
TOU: 408.35 miles, 30,061 feet of climbing
USA: 507.37 miles, 36,258 feet of climbing

The Tour of Utah does make its numbers in 1 less day however.

Without day 6 of the USAPRO:
TOU: 408.35 miles, 30,061 feet of climbing
USA: 433.58 miles, 33,129 feet of climbing

Also, the Colorado race has the altitude factor, which is a big one.
Also, the better quality field in the Colorado race should make the race more difficult in my eyes.

However, I really like the venues for the Utah race, the race track and mountain top finish on the final stages, as well as the circuit like features of the race (including SLC) will make the Utah race more spectator friendly.

Both routes are punishing.

DXchulo

I agree that both races are going to be hard. The hardest thing about Colorado will be the elevation, not the actual stage profiles. Then again, I might be too harsh on Colorado based on what the stages could have been. Just look stage by stage.

Colorado
Prologue: Flat
Stage 1: Big climb, but it's very early in the stage. I like the short, uphill finish, but I think it's a stretch that they are calling that a mountain top finish.
Stage 2: Very tough stage with two climbs that break the 12,000-foot barrier. Guys will definitely get dropped, but it ends on the flats after a long descent, so some of them should be able to catch back up. The finish is almost 20 miles after the summit of the last climb.
Stage 3: TT. It's uphill and should be very interesting, but it's not all that steep.
Stage 4: Sprint Stage
Stage 5: Rabbit Ears Pass looks nice, but it's very early in the stage. Looks like a strongman type of sprint stage.
Stage 6: Sprint Stage

Utah:
Prologue: Uphill
Stage 1: 3 times up a decent climb, but the finish is downhill.
Stage 2: Sprint Stage
Stage 3: Flat TT
Stage 4: Very tough stage with 11 repeats of a short but difficult climb, finishing on an uphill.
Stage 5: The Queen. Two big climbs and a true mountain top finish.

I give Utah the nod. Except for Stage 1 it uses its elevation wisely. Colorado kind of packs in the elevation but less of it is decisive. Utah also has a true MTF and Colorado just leaves you wanting more. Utah ends with a bang while Colorado finishes with 3 stages that aren't likely to have an impact on GC. Colorado's Stage 2 is very tough, but mainly thanks to the altitude. It will be interesting to see how that plays out. Will Tommy D really have an advantage, or will they all suffer equally? Add that intrigue to a stronger field and Colorado could be more interesting, but Utah has a better route if you ask me. Utah's Stage 5 should be more decisive than Colorado's Stage 2.

InReverse

"Over $116,000 in prize money and award jerseys will be available in 2011."
https://www.tourofutah.com/race/fact-sheet

Cycling isn't going to be confused with the NFL anytime soon.

Hezz

I'm very interested to see how the prologue ITT goes. It seems to me to have LL's name written all over it. It's not very long but except for short downhill at the beginning it is pretty steep. Steep enough that many guys may not be using TT bikes. I'm curious to see if it will favor the climbers who are good at the TT or if the medium sized strong guys who can climb fast for short periods will be favored. DZ is a pretty good climber for short distances in a week long stage race setting. I'm really wondering if this stage has the potential to sort out some of the GC guys from the very beginning.

Kind of Blued

Is this a joke? The prologue is a little over a mile... Unless there is a 20 minute time bonus for the winner, everything you said is a bunch of nonsense.

DXchulo

Live video on now: https://ec2.tourofutah.com/tourtracker/

I think Dave Z will take it.

wxduff

Spoiler:

I'm pretty sure no-one guessed todays winner.

Kind of Blued

That wasn't really a spoiler, but I'm glad because I read it despite the alert. Predicting who will win a 1.25 mile bike race is a pretty difficult, and inconsequential task really.

Hezz

I don't think so. I think it has possibly already showed us who the top ten that are really in contention are. Normally, I would say you are right. But this is a climbers stage race and I think the winner is likely one of the top ten in this prologue. But, as you say it is no guarantee since the times are not spread out enough and the winner of the queen stage can easily put 2-7 minutes on any of these guys if they are having a particularly good day.

Kind of Blued

Good Lord... the footage on Root Sports looks like it was filmed with a webcam at 20 frames per second. The colors aren't even balanced for daylight color temperatures it seems. Everything is green.

wxduff

Tour tracker was not much better. USAPCC was smart to get versus to do that race. I expect them to do a good job.

DXchulo

The Tour Tracker was basically a behind-the-scenes look at how they put together a highlight show. On the one hand it was embarrassing that they were showing that on the live stream and nobody caught it, but on the other hand I found it fascinating to see how the TV world works. As a kid I always wanted to be a sports broadcaster, but I have neither a silky smooth voice nor a likable personality.

Meanwhile, my Dave Z pick was terrible. I didn't realize he was still injured. Levi didn't look great, but he's going to gain a little time in the TT. The bad news for him is that the TT is only 9 miles long. Danielson looked very good, as did Mancebo. Obviously Henao was strong and his team may not be great overall, but having Sevilla up there in the standings could come in handy for him later.

Jakedatc

Tour tracker is not doing much better today... more motorcycle camera man chatter than commentating. "re-takes" from the commentator when he messes up. they haven't showed the peleton in ages. just showing the breakaway and thats about it.. sometimes the shots are good.. sometimes they are from 200' away.

haha camera guy is *****ing his legs hurt or something and the driver is trying to tell him how to stand/sit so he is more comfy

InReverse

Agreed. When I first started watching it today, I thought it might have been deliberate, sorta to let us feel like it we were part of the crew. Either way, it's still more interesting than just watching guys in spandex pedal up a road all day.

I'm actually watching it because of the screw ups - kinda like a live blooper reel.


Oh, and actually $1300 for that stationary bike isn't a bad deal at all.

wxduff

I agree, I expected to see a price tag over 3 grand.

Towards the end of todays coverage things go a little better. I used to do hockey broadcasts at college, as well as being an on air meteorologist in college, so I can tell whos slouching. The main problem so far has been whoever operates the switcher needs to be quicker on the uptake when they loose a feed.

Also why do we have to watch them switch the tapes? Switch to another shot... As I said, I expect Versus to do a much better job in Colorado.

DXchulo

Great stuff from Gobernacion. Not so great for the major teams not named RadioShack. Henao is in a good position to win this thing. If he limits his losses in the TT he can drop Levi on the last stage.

Jakedatc

Yea the end got better. even most of it was decent.. they just left it on weird shots far away. Setting up the Heli shots was not fun to watch though.. was like sitting on a rollercoaster out of control.

DonDenver

a quick hijack...

Yes...not a bad deal for some. However, I bought this bike and have recently returned it. While it absolutely is rock solid, shipped to front door just fine and has integrated vertical movement and some neat software, it lacked adjustment for me to the point it was unusable for my 6'3" frame. Additionally, it set up really well with minimal bolts etc. and has it's own wrench included. It is heavy (around 148 lbs) and cumbersome but helps with top heavy riders (my riding weight is 175 lbs).

But that was not the problem.

I expected handle adjustments, greater saddle adjustments, and certainly a seat post adjustment that would manage my 35 inseam. IMO; any serious cyclist would expect more large and fine adjustments to keep his/her position near that of their optimum with a dedicated machine of this price. Too much is placed with the 20 percent +/- elevation, software and mapping rather than the "usability" of the actual machine. Some of the rides from the TdF that are pre-loaded will cause some real knee popping if you can't get fit dialed in correctly. With the lack of handle movement and the "V" geometry between handle tube and seat tube along with the saddle limited in forward adjustment you soon find your pedal spindle well ahead of the rest of you as you approach, IME, 6 foot or above. Even still, my wife of 5'6" felt "odd" and compromised with fit.

Again, a well manufactured machine that can take punishment and the company has honored my RMA without hassle. Great people over the phone...with apologies left and right. But buyer beware...fit and sizing limitation maybe a issue for some...and as I found and told them...I had wished there were some comments regarding this on the website. The hassle of re-box and return shipment along with the 4 to 6 week refund back to my account is not great.

My stationary bike in our community gym serves me much better on those rain days. And, even from the same company (and others) there appears to be a better (less expensive) stationary bikes of "gym quality" with more adjustment.

The commercial we viewed over and over during the tour was cool along with a couple of reviews I read sold me in that moment of online purchase. I also think the TdF sticker on this bike would have made me spin faster :roll eyes:

Hope this helps in your decision to purchase. Good luck.

Hezz

The image was poor and the audio often missing. But after following this tour for the last few years it is nice to have something. It may have been partly intentional so that the national broadcast looked much better. I don't know but would like to see the Fox Sports Network edited version. I was at my house watching the race on the internet while the race went within 3 blocks of my house. I would get on my bike and fly out to cheer the guys when they came by. Then I rode over to the finish. Jesse Anthony was flying down that final flat straight to the finish line. And I can tell you that the last circuit was spectacular. A total blow out which I wasn't expecting. The peloton was shattered by the attacks on the last circuit.

wxduff

The lack of cooperation really did the main group in it seems. The break did great work together, even if Anthony skipped a lot of pulls. He played his cards just right and did enough work to keep from getting attacked out of the break.

Stage 2 looks to be much less of a decisive day with not much climbing (less than 3000 feet of it on the day). From what I've read crosswinds may be present which would help to hold together the pack but potentially cause a crash or two. What would be the best day for any sprinter type will probably go to a puncheur (sp?) due to the reported uphill nature of the finish.

Im sure after the first day out on the road the camera crews and technical staff will know what worked and what didn't and do a better job today. At least in theory.

Jakedatc

I'd like to know who did the write ups on the stage descriptions on the tour of utah.com website... wtf is a "punch kick" lol think he was going for Bunch sprint but missed. and eschelons are not little groups.. they are side drafting at an angle with the wind....

bobvonb

just finished watching Fox recording of last night's broadcast. Make one really appreciate the HD coverate of TdF and TofC, among others. But that said, interesting finish. I think Levi is 'in it to win it', and unless the Columbians really do turn out to be better than expected, I think he can do it.

Jakedatc

I agree.. between Levi's TT and him paired up with Jani in the hills.. should be a few good days on the weekend.

For another good race the Eneco tour in holland/belgium that is going on is pretty fun to watch. Bunch of the usual euro guys are in there.. Gilbert, Farrar, Greipel. Good coverage by British Eurosport through Steephill.tv