valleyrider

Didn't know this was a CX race! A lot of riders are running their bikes. Makes things interesting. A couple textbook shoulders on the "run-up." Makes me exciting for my CX races coming up.

seypat

The rain held off for the most part. Those riders are so fast in person! TV doesn't translate the speed. The biggest surprise is how fast and dangerous the support vehicles are driving. The rain may be done by Sunday morning. If you are thinking of coming, go for it.

seypat

I forgot to mention that I had luck parking on 2nd Street below the Virginia War Memorial. It might not be like that on the weekend, but worth a look.

WCroadie

I parked on Cary near 6th at a meter, asked the cop, she said they aren't enforcing meters today and this weekend the meters are free, here's a few shots I got today:

Winner!

EventServices

Fast, yes in places.
Dangerous? That's up for interpretation.

I've been driving in that caravan all week, and I can tell you that safety is hammered into us every morning at the drivers meeting.

But I'm sure it looks dangerous if you've never seen it in action.

spec84

I too was shocked by the sheer speed and the sound of that many bikes and vehicles whizzing by in person. They haul ass, and this is the U23 class I'm talking about here. U23 men narrowly missed the rain, although it was a light drizzle toward the end of the race and a few guys hit the deck. Its just started raining after nightfall here. Looks like the elite women might end up riding in a monsoon. Hope you're right seypat!

seypat

I've never seen it in person. I should have rephrased it. The drivers are staying in the middle of the racing lane and NOT endangering spectators. But seeing and hearing it in person for the first time is an eye opener!

merlinextraligh

Awesome day for a bike race. Bit rainy and cool.

It's somewhat of a "classics" course. Should
Feel like a classic.

phil_k

Rode the course last night with the conquer the cobbles ride. What a great course. Also, so many people crashed or quit on the cobbles... why would they sign up if they couldn't handle it?

merlinextraligh

Weren't planning on rain, then didn't want to give up on $130.

Having ridden it many times for free , I didn't see the sense to pay the UCI for the privilege

Dan333SP

My spot for the U23 yesterday. Great race!

https://youtu.be/UQBttZqe-Us

seypat

Nothing but some drizzle on the run in the West End this morning. Hopefully the same is happening downtown. Great day to watch a race. If you are going, where they start up Governor's street is a good viewing spot. You can see them flying down into the bottoms then watch them go up Governors. If you go half way up Governors on the left side you can watch the Jumbo Tron at the top as well.

seypat

I was talking to one of the Sky people in the feed zone yesterday. He was describing the U23 group. He said they were grown men, but just didn't know quite how to race bikes yet. But when they learn, watch out.

seypat

My kids aren't interested in going to spectate today. But..................they want to go try out the 3rd Street Diner for an afternoon meal. They wanted River City Diner, but after I described 3rd Street Diner they wanted to try it out. Ha ha, little do they know.

merlinextraligh

Women's race started out slow, but last lap was very cool. Good to see an American woman on the podium

Dan333SP

That's Lizzie Armistead's mom and dad after she won the road race. Great moment, everyone around us cheered for them.

This is the crowd at 23rd street, great day-

spec84

I'll second this. I stayed pretty much in this vicinity all day. Its a primo spot. I walked up and down Governors a few times to get different perspectives. Its actually decent little climb there, minus the cobbles. I really want to get down to the Libby Hill area sometime tomorrow, maybe... who knows .

merlinextraligh

Anybody know where rider sign in is?

seypat

Isn't the start on the UR campus? Go up Cary/Ellwood/River Road (it changes) then follow the signs. The signs are color coded for Press, Teams, Volunteer, etc. I will be on an old Blue Lejeune today. It should be easy to spot among the sea of modern bikes. Please say hello if I drift by.

merlinextraligh

Americans rode a great race. Animated the race, drove every break. Flew the colors, represented on home soil.

Realistically they had very little chance to win. Played every card they had and went down swinging.
Chapeau to Ben King, Taylor Phinney, Tyler Farrar and the whole team.

Looked like the. Belgians we're going to dominate with many riders up front. But very cool to watch Sagan win.

seypat

Huge crowds around the climbs making lots of noise! Great atmosphere! The looks of anguish and desperation on the rider's faces at the tops of the climb were so telling. They were leaving it all on the course. Very exciting.

Laggard

All you Sagan haters can go suck it.

Drink it up, kids.

Dan333SP

https://youtu.be/i_x3gFfWZPY The crowd loved Peter today. What a day. Experience of a lifetime.

Dan333SP

DropBarFan

Saturday & Sunday races were AWESOME! Just an occasional drop of rain Saturday & near-perfect weather Sunday. Course worked out much better than I expected. "Technical" but mostly on nice wide streets with some room to maneuver. Cobble sections were tough, yeah, but they & Governor St climb worked perfectly to prevent boring bunch sprint. On 23rd St an Elite Polish guy dropped his chain--took him a minute to hook it back--then he hopped back on the bike--crowd roared for his ability to go from dead start on steep cobbled climb w/o a push.

Everybody was so friendly from the cops to volunteers/workers, fans etc. Richmond gets A+ from me. I've been to the city many times but this weekend I saw a lot of nice neighborhoods I wasn't familiar with from swank Monument Ave to the artsy/funky college area to the tidy business district. Amazing to see both spectators & racers from everywhere. A woman racer from Uganda did an amazing effort; surprisingly the most visible contingent of fans on Sunday were the Eritreans! They all wore jerseys/jackets/flags to cheer on Mekseb Debesay who kept up w/the peleton for most of the race, no mean feat.

Wasn't any bad viewing spots though Libby Hill/23rd St were just off da' hook. Those were really crowded but everybody polite; great food trucks & good beer. The nice houses lining Libby Hill had front porches full of appreciative locals, sort of a classier version of Manayunk Wall. Lots of families/kids/dogs; even saw a couple toting a 2-week baby. The street over Libby Hill had an area for emergency team mechanics/food/water supply--the Italian team guys gladly posed for the many photos requested.

Camped at Pocahontas St Park, got damp in just the 5 minutes of putting up tent & then it rained hard all night, things looked grim. Somehow the rain stopped when it needed to. Much thanks to hokie cycler for tips on route.

US riders rode their hearts out: disciplined team effort reminded me of French team in 1974 Montreal. Peter Sagan's win was amazing, crowd on Libby Hill went nuts! At the finish line he rode down the sidewalk doing high-fives with fans. Never been to a race where fans & riders connected so much, some of the top racers waving or high-fiving spectators on Libby Hill in latter portion after their job was done. I thank all the folks who worked hard to make it a great event.