Originally Posted by
JohnRW
For the most part, it seems the mountain stages define the Tour de France. We hear more about the Col de .... more than some flat stage with lots of sprint finishes. The scenery is impressive, in the mountains and the riders make names for them selves climbing up those roads. So, I look at the stages in the Tour of California and I see .... Hills and flats. We have some SERIOUS mountains in California. We have some really impressive areas they could ride in. Yet, they don't seem to use those roads. Any idea why ?
Most of the really high passes probably aren't bikeable in February, during ToC. Now, if you wanted to do a XC ski/cycling duathlon...
There is another thread on this in the road racing forum.