EventServices

Just wondering how much of the California crowd was the race itself and how much was the Lance Factor.

I have my theories, but I'm wondering what californians think.

johnny99

The Tour of California had huge crowds of spectators in the last 2 years, even with no Lance.

I think that everyone knew Lance was not taking this race too seriously, so he was not the major draw.

GP

A couple of my wife's friends, who don't cycle, went to see Lance in Escondido. He is the only cyclist they know.

scottmorrison99

20-30% lf

Beaker

Some but not all of the popularity was LA driven. Despite his presence, it wasn't exactly top billing on local news networks here. It was still a big deal in 2008 sans Lance. Either way, good publicity.

Naterider

25% lance, cyclings increased popularity 50%, Levi 5%, equipment 70%

<--------real california cheese

DiabloScott

1.6 million last year - better weather, no lance
2.0 million this year - worse weather, with lance, one extra stage.

25% bump maximum

patentcad

Don't underestimate the Pcad Factor.

Naterider

At least as far as amateur racing goes. The field sizes have doubled from 3 years ago. It must be the Pcad factor.

esammuli

Lance was a factor for Palomar, but the crowds would have been huge either way. Most cycling fans I know in San Diego were out of there minds with excitement from the time they announced the course. People were talking and planning where to watch the race for months.

YOJiMBO20

I'm sure Lance was a huge factor. At the finish line there were large numbers of people holding fans saying "Lance Fan" or the "Hope Rides Again" posters and posters they made at the Shimano booth saying "GO LANCE!!"

But just watching Versus, they seemed to make the entire Tour about Lance and Levi.

RacerOne

I don't know, they talked about Cavendish and Boonen as well.

Naterider

And the rain. It hardly ever rains here, and for the last two years the bike gods reigned.

Ritterview

The ToC was huge in Clovis, and Lance was a part of that. People know I'm a cyclist, and they wouldn't say, "Did you see the Tour?" but rather: "Did you see Lance?".

rydaddy

Lance factor brought out more non-cyclists. I think it was more than 25%.

big john

I don't know the percentage, and it doesn't matter much to me if he's there, but some of my friends were ga-ga over Lance.

Bontrager

Did you see the huge posters of his comeback on them? I think the people that sponsor the race and Vs thought it was a pretty big deal that Lance was riding. Overshadowed Levi's 3peat, don't you think?

travkat

The Tour had plenty of turnout before Lance rode it, but I do think that his presence added to the idiot factor out on the roads. I doubt we would have seen so many A** clowns running in front of the peloton or aside it with giant syringes had he not ridden.

Naterider

You are 150% wrong. Don't question my genious, just accept it.

Red Rider

I had the same thing happen to me. Some of my colleagues who don't give a fig for cycling were beside themselves with the idea of seeing Lance. Nobody cared for Levi -- a homeboy -- it was Lance, Lance, Lance. Fine, but the entire Tour was more than just Lance.

Hard to complain, though, if it gets more people out to celebrate our sport and maybe venture into cycling.

enjoi07

i was yelling so much for horner i did not even notice armstriong and i was 2 feet away from them!

i saw events in the car as well...man that was such an awesome day

rydaddy

Accepted. You obviously know more than me.

TLF had no effect on me, or my friends. But there was way more buzz and nobody can deny that.

yogi13

My guess is that the crowds were definitely up in the central valley due mostly to the Lance factor, especially since the weather was atrocious when the TOC went through there. In places like Palomar. which is in an area with a fairly high percentage of cycling enthusiasts, and further south than the tour had gone before, probably less of an uptick due to Lance, especially since it was pretty much known by then that he had basically zero chance of winning. Maybe 30% up overall due to LA.

roshea

No idea about California, but the organisers of the Tour Down Under here in AUS estimated that the crowds this year (with Lance) were much higher than those of last year.

From https://www.tourdownunder.com.au/2009/?q=node/281

Total Attendance (Crowd Figures) 2008 TDU - 548,000 2009 TDU 760,500 +38.7%
Total Visitors (to the state who attended the TDU) 2008 TDU - 21,000 2009 TDU 42,500 +102.3%
Event Specific Visitors (not including children under 17 yrs) 2008 TDU 15,100 2009 TDU 36,200 +139.7%
Economic Impact 2008 TDU - $17.3million 2009 TDU - $39million +125.4%
Editorial Media Coverage 2008 TDU - $43million 2009 TDU - $210million (to date) +388.3%

jamlo21

I don't think people stayed at home because lance wasn't going for the win. you really don't go to one stage of a 7 day stage race to see someone going for the overall unless its a make or break stage like solvang was. people just want to see the guy ride in their hometowns.

that said, i think he clearly was a factor.