TOC State 7: Mt Diablo Summit
 

The log for Stage 7 of the coming ToC is online:
http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com...logStage_7.pdf

At the fastest pace the racers will enter South Gate Road at 2:42pm and reach the Summit at 3:08pm.
At the slowest pace the timing will be 3:17pm and 3:48pm.

That's 16 to 29 minutes for the whole climb. I think the current record for the Diablo Challenge is around 45 minutes.

Am I hallucinating or are they riding on motorbikes? :eek:

There go all the strava KOMs!

That's plain old average speed calcs per the header row of the table ... no correction for climbing.

I'll bet a magnum of Duvel that Nate English's KOM on my Strava segment from Tire Poppers to Summit remains the same after the ToC stage.
http://app.strava.com/segments/2196404

[TABLE="class: striped"]
[TR]
[TH]Rank
[/TH]
[TH]Name
[/TH]
[TH]Date
[/TH]
[TH]Speed
[/TH]
[TH]HR
[/TH]
[TH]Power
[/TH]
[TH]VAM
[/TH]
[TH="class: last-child"]Time
[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
http://dgalywyr863hv.cloudfront.net/...1/1/medium.jpg
[/TD]
[TD="class: athlete"]Nathaniel English
[/TD]
[TD]Oct 2, 2011
[/TD]
[TD]15.8mi/h
[/TD]
[TD]174bpm
[/TD]
[TD]337W
[/TD]
[TD]1380
[/TD]
[TD="class: last-child"]40:59
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Takers?

I'll even allow for non-Strava riders if they break the record as verified by split times on TV or something.

After all teh climbing they'll have done, I'm with you DiabloScott.

Not related to the speed, but the stage:
I just downloaded the iPhone SprintTV. It has NBCSports.
I'm hoping that the TOC will be on NBCSports and that I'll be able to watch live on my iPhone as the come up the mountain where I'll be waiting for them.

Is that even possible? How cool would it be?

I'm still picking my spot. Now I have to factor in Sprint coverage....

I'm with DiabloScott. Nate's riding it as part of the tour too, it'll be interesting to compare his time at the end of Stage 7 with his PR. It shouldn't be that close.

Link to Android and iPhone app descriptions for Tour Tracker, including screenshots... My data plan either starts or ends on the 18th so I've got some streaming management to figure out.

http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/tv-schedule.html

I'll be at THE PIPE - just past the 3,000 foot elevation sign... check out this view:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ft_mVz33su...0/P3160014.JPG

The charts they publish assume a constant speed for the entire distance. They don't take gradient into consideration.

In the Contra Costa Times "Timeout Weekend" section today, there was a full-page ad for the TOC. The copy read "America's Greatest Race.. Free Spectator Event...Mt Diablo". It also said "Arrive by noon - limited parking - roads close at 2:00 PM".

Now I'm assuming the part about "arrive by noon" and "roads close at 2:00 PM" was intended for those planning to DRIVE to the event. Further, I'm assuming the roads will NEVER close to cyclists and pedestrians, except of course when the riders get close and the CHP and other support vehicles encourage you to get the heck off the road and outta their way. However, I could find nothing on the TOC website that confirmed my assumption.

Does anyone know anything about road closures on Diablo and who exactly is affected by those closures?

If driving up Diablo the issue is parking. It's forbidden to park on most of the climb and frankly I would hate seeing cars all along the road. I would suggest driving up North Gate Road up to just below the junction where parking shouldn't be an issue.
Driving up South Gate will be very itchy with so many cyclist and pedestrians around.
I am pretty sure you won't be able to climb past the Junction, I suppose the Juniper and Summit parking lots will be used by support vehicles. Of course it doesn't cost anything to check with the Park Service in advance.

Tentative plan for I and my friends is to leave from Berkeley, ride up there see the spectacle then ride back for 80(ish) mile day. What do you think leave from Berkeley around 10?

In the past on Sierra road the CHP has closed the road to cars in the early morning. I would not be surprised if they either kept the entrance gates closed or closed the road to cars the same time they opened the gates. The off road parking on north gate at the ranger house below the junction is very limited... maybe 10-15 cars. Maybe they would let cars park on the road but I kind of doubt it. The state park people like to enforce rules and generally don't care much about cycling. Since the park is closed at night you can't drive up there and camp.

I would not try to drive it at all.

In the past on Sierra they have closed the road to riders some time before the race arrives. Starting about 30 min before the race there are a lot of vehicles coming through, sometimes CHP at high speed. I plan to have picked my spot and gotten off the road at least 30 min before the race arrives. If you're an hour before the race, no worries- there's a lot of other cyclists hanging out. Bring plenty of food, hang out and party.

Diablo experts, we are thinking of coming over for Stage 7 and getting in an early ride, then up Diablo ahead of the race to watch the fireworks. I was thinking we would start early from somewhere near the bottom of North Gate Rd., then ride a loop out around Three Bears / Briones, then back to the climb up South Gate. We could then descend back to the car down north gate after the race. I'm not that familiar with this area, so can you advise if this is a good plan? If so, what's the best route through suburbia from Bear Creek/Happy Valley area back to South Gate Rd on Diablo?

With so many spectators on the mountain, it's going to be a zoo descending back down. I'm curious if it's going to be a free for all or will it be orgainized like the the Diablo Challenge.

I would imagine the team buses will be in the overflow area and for them to descend amongst the crowd is going to be something. Guess I'll have to ride up to the office and ask.

BR

exactly why i thought it would be better to descend via north gate, rather than through all the spectators on south gate. I descended Sierra Road from the top two years ago after the MT finish there, and it was fairly chaotic dodging spectators, with the pros hauling ass down next to you as well (team buses stayed at the bottom)

Honestly don't think it's going to make a difference which road you ride down on. Both are going to be chaotic. Last year we road our MTB's down wall point, etc and it was pretty empty. This year will be a different story. Should be fun though.

BR

So wait...closed as in closed to everyone or closed to cars, as in the maximum capacity of cars? I'm not so worried, as I'm going early, but I wonder about that "capacity" bit...

edit: I re-read "roads will be closed" so I'm assuming this is in reference to cars...

I think they have some number in mind for the amount of cars they can let in. Last year there were big stretches of SGR with cars parked along the side of the road - it wasn't too much of a problem because they were mostly cycling fans who understand bikes and traffic but it wasn't ideal. If I were in charge I'd sell tickets to park at the various picnic areas and everyone else would have to park on NGR.

Four days to the start, you'd think they'd have rosters out by now, but I don't see many. Horner and Boonen are out, Pinotti and Gilbert are in.

RadioShack Nissan for Tour of California: Matthew Busche, Laurent Didier, Markel Irizar, Bob Jungels, Ben King, Andy Schleck, Jens Voigt and Haimar Zubeldia.

Vacansoleil-DCM for Tour of California: Kris Boeckmans, Thomas De Gendt, Juan Antonio Flecha, Tomasz Marczynski, Lieuwe Westra, Bert-Jan Lindeman, Boy van Poppel and Wesley Kreder.

Some rosters: http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/...ifornia_285654

The 16 teams taking part in the 2013 Amgen Tour of California are confirming their rosters this week. We will update this list as lineups become available.

BMC Racing
Brent Bookwalter (USA)
Mathias Frank (SUI)
Philippe Gilbert (BEL)
Thor Hushovd (NOR)
Amaël Moinard (FRA)
Marco Pinotti (ITA)
Michael Schär (SUI)
Tejay van Garderen (USA)

Cannondale

Omega Pharma-Quick Step

Orica-GreenEdge

RadioShack-Leopard
Matthew Busche (USA)
Laurent Didier (LUX)
Markel Irizar (ESP)
Bob Jungels (LUX)
Ben King (USA)
Andy Schleck (LUX)
Jens Voigt (GER)
Haimar Zubeldia (ESP)

Garmin-Sharp
Rohan Dennis (AUS)
Alex Howes (USA)
Caleb Fairly (USA)
Tyler Farrar (USA)
Lachlan Morton (AUS)
Jacob Rathe (USA)
Johan Vansummeren (BEL)
David Zabriskie (USA)

Saxo-Tinkoff

Vacansoleil-DCM
Kris Boeckmans (BEL)
Thomas De Gendt (BEL)
Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP)
Tomasz Marczynski (POL)
Lieuwe Westra (NED)
Bert-Jan Lindeman (NED)
Boy van Poppel (NED)
Wesley Kreder (NED)

Champion System
Chad Beyer (USA)
Chris Butler (USA)
Matt Brammeier (IRL)
Chun Kai Feng (TPE)
Gregor Gazvoda (SLO)
Ryan Roth (CAN)
Bobbie Traksel (NED)
Kin San Wu (HKG)

NetApp-Endura

UnitedHealthcare

5-hour Energy-Kenda
Nate English (USA)
Max Jenkins (USA)
Francisco Mancebo (ESP)
Shawn Milne (USA)
Taylor Shelden (USA)
James Stemper (USA)
Bobby Sweeting (USA)
David Williams (USA)

Bissell

Bontrager

Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies
Jesse Anthony (USA)
Alex Candelario (USA)
Marsh Cooper (USA)
Chad Haga (USA)
Ken Hanson (USA)
Tom Soladay (USA)
Tom Zirbel (USA)
Scott Zwizanski (USA)

So I decided to take a ride up to the jx today and see for myself, and I think I'm more confused now... I saw the sign, and it says "spectator motor vehicle traffic will cut off at 2PM (may be earlier based on parking availability)". So, instead of just taking that at face value, I had to go ahead and make it more complicated by talking to the ranger and asking if that also included bikes/peds. Initially he said it was just cars, then he thought about it and said it may include bikes, etc if the park gets too crowded. I don't know how they can judge capacity of the park, but I'll just be sure to be early.
Since he didn't sound super sure of his answer, I'll ask a different ranger the next time I go up, try to get a definitive answer.

However, they are NOT allowing bikes past Devil's Elbow at all, so I hope no one is planning to ride to the summit then come back down to their viewing spot. May as well just ride to your spot and hang out there. I think the best area is going to be anywhere along Summit Road from Juniper to Devil's Elbow (a fairly steep, sustained stretch, and hopefully when they will be racing full gas).

Also, what happened to Horner? Thought this was his big goal for the year? (I know, Google is my friend, maybe I'll just look it up :)).

Edit: looked it up haha. Sucks for him...

Man...I was hoping Spartacus would grace California with his presence this year. It would be awesome to see one of this generation's greatest riders in person, really is too bad. Oh well maybe one year.

Talked to a friend who went through the volunteer training last week and he had some interesting facts.

1. Finish is def in the Upper Parking Lot... probably the Challenge Route where they go up the down side to avoid the criss-cross.
2. Cars will be allowed to park anywhere they can get all four wheels off the pavement.
3. There's going to be a lot of support vehicles going up far in advance of the race, so no time on either side will be free of motor vehicles.

Man I hope it's cooler up here next weekend... those guys are having a tough time in the desert with 108°F.

Thanks Diablo for the details.

I asked a ranger (at the SG pay station) about road closure. Roads will be closed at 2pm for cars and bikes. That's what he told me.

I am planning to spend the day on the mountain--get there early and ride up as far as I can go, then find a spot to settle in and wait for the race to come through. I've never been up Mt. Diablo. In addition to "The Pipe," any suggestions for good places to sit & watch?

Also, is 39x26 gearing feasible considering that roads will be closed above the Devil's Elbow, or will my knees & heart explode? I'm an average hillclimber, but I can suffer when necessary.

We're planning on watching from Morgan Territory (Camino Diablo as a backup). Anyone else here doing that? We'd have to drive since we've got 3 kids (the littlest guy is only 1 year old).

Thanks,
Bob