List of Riders Amgen Tour of California 2016

The Riders - a complete list of competitors

The rider startlist and bib numbers have been finalized and made available by ProCyclingStats.com, a day after quite a different startlist was released by Amgen Tour of California media personnel. Whomever starts on Sunday morning is now committed to ride their way to Sacramento (no more changing the roster!).

The official 2016 startlist of riders (rider roster, squads) has not yet been released by organizers of the Amgen Tour of California, but I got impatient because I am headed to the race tomorrow. However on the ProCyclingStats.com startlist of riders you can click on each name and see a photo of the rider and their palmares (the career race history), a great way to get familiar with who will be racing at the Tour of California.

​Through reading news reports and rider twitter accounts (some are already in California training pre race), I can add to the list of riders who will be racing in California at the 2016 Amgen Tour of California this week. ATOC typically leaves the announcement of the startlists until just before the start as teams formalize their squads having recovered from recent illnesses or races.

Team rider startlists

There will be a thrilling list of riders to compete in California this week. Tom Boonen is coming to California!! Julian Allaphilippe will be returning in 2016, he won the best young rider jersey in 2015 and won the stage to Mt Baldy. Peter Sagan is coming back with his teammate and brother Juraj Sagan. Mark Cavendish and Bradely Wiggins will both return in 2016. Team BMC has an action packed team, their red jerseys should be a frequent sight on the podium.

I am super excited to see Tom Boonen and Mark Renshaw race again and am looking forward to watching the other powerful sprinters including Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), Peter Sagan (Tinkoff), Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin), Tyler Farrar (Dimension Data), Ben Swift (SKY), John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin), Niccolo Bonifazio (Trek-Segafredo), Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie), Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo), Brad Huff (Rally), Rob Britton (Rally), Robin Carpenter (Holowesko-Citadel), Wouter Wippert (Cannondale), Travis McCabe (Holowesko-Citadel), and John Murphy (UHC).

Because I am a huge fan of the Spring Classics I will be like a giddy fan to see Greg van Avermaet, John Degenkolb, Alexander Kristoff, Zdenek Stybar and Tom Boonen in California. I wouldn't be able to get anywhere near them in Belgium; which also stands true for Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins. I also look forward to watching the young Axeon Hagens Berman team and observing the French riders on Team Direct Energie enjoy their time in California. Although 'enjoy' is a loose term once they experience the tough level of competition in this tour.

Recommended Read: Preview: What you need to know about the 2016 Amgen Tour of California, by Neal Rogers. Who writes, "Sagan returns to the race that he’s done every year since 2010, along the way compiling a total of 13 stage wins (a record),five points jerseys (a record), one best young rider’s competition (2010), and one overall victory." "Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), a nine-time California stage winner and two-time points classification winner."

Pedal Dancer Race Preview for 2016 Tour of California on TourChaser.com: tourchaser.com/race-preview-atoc

FULL  STARTLIST - 2016 Amgen Tour of California, 144 riders to compete:* to be updated with bib numbers after the official announcement of the ATOC startlist. 

Tinkoff
1 Sagan, Peter
2 Baška, Erik
3 Blythe, Adam
4 Gatto, Oscar
5 Gogl, Michael
6 Kolar, Michael
7 Sagan, Juraj
8 Trusov, Nikolay

Etixx - Quick Step
11 Allaphilippe, Julian
12 Boonen, Tom
13 Bouet, Maxime
14 Maes, Nikolas
15 Richeze, Ariel Maximilliano
16 Stybar, Zdenek
17 Vakoc, Petr
18 Velitz, Martin

Team Sky
21 Kennaugh, Peter
22 Fenn, Andrew
23 Kiyrienka, Vasil
24 Moscon, Gianni
25 Nordhaug, Lars Petter
26 Peters, Alex
27 van Poppel, Danny
28 Zandio, Xabier

Dimension Data
31 Cavendish, Mark
32 Brammeier, Matthew
33 Eisel, Bernhard
34 Farrar, Tyler 
35 Nathan Haas
36 Janse van Rensburg, Jacques
37 Renshaw, Mark
38 Teklehaimanot, Daniel

Team Katusha
41 Kristoff, Alexander
42 Guarnieri, Jacopo
43 Haller, Marco
44 Isaychev, Vladimir
45 Machado, Tiago
46 Mørkøv, Michael
47 Restrepo, Jhonatan
48 van den Broeck, Jurgen

BMC Racing Team
51 Bookwalter, Brent
52 Dennis, Rohan
53 Drucker,Jean-Pierre
54 Phinney, Taylor
55 Sánchez, Samuel
56 Schar, Michael
57 Van Avermaet, Greg
58 Wyss, Danilo

Team Wiggins
61 Wiggins, Bradley
62 Christian, Mark
63 Doull, Owain
64 Kelly, Jake
65 Latham, Christopher
66 Patten, Daniel
67 Tennant, Andrew
68 Thompson, Michael

Cannondale Pro Cycling Team
71 Talansky, Andrew
72 Bevin, Patrick
73 Craddock, Lawson
74 Gaimon, Phillip
75 King, Benjamin
76 Marangoni, Alan
77 Skujiņš, Toms
78 Wippert, Wouter

Trek - Segafredo
81 Stetina, Peter
82 Arredondo, Julián David
83 Bernard, Julien
84 Bonifazio, Niccolo
85 Irizar, Markel
86 Reijnen, Kiel
87 Stuyven, Jasper
88 Zubeldia, Haimar

Direct Energie
91 Coquard, Bryan
92 Anderson, Ryan
93 Duchesne, Antoine
95 Nauleau, Bryan
96 Petit, Adrien
97 Sicard, Romain
98 Tulik, Angelo

Team Giant - Alpecin
101 Degenkolb, John
102 Kragh Andersen, Søren
103 Curvers, Roy
104 de Kort, Koen
105 Sinkeldam, Ramon
106 Fairly, Caleb
107 Skjøstad Lunke, Sindre
108 ten Dam, Laurens

Team LottoNL - Jumbo
111 Groenewegen, Dylan
112 Bennett, George
113 Roosen, Timo
114 Teunissen, Mike
115 van Widen, Dennis
116 Vermeulen, Alexey
117 Wagner, Robert
118 Wynants, Maarten

UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
121 Brajkovic, Janez
122 Canolo, Mario
123 Clarke, Jonathan
124 Eaton, Daniel
125 Jaramillo, Daniel Alexander
126 Jones, Christopher
127 Murphy, John,
128 Putt, Tanner

Axeon Hagens Berman (U23 team)
131 Geoghegan Hart, Tao
132 Barta, Will
133 Curran, Geoffrey
134 Daniel, Greg
135 Guerreiro, Ruben
136 Neilands, Krists
137 Owen, Logan
138 Powless, Nielson

Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
141 Morton, Lachlan David
142 Cheyne, Jordan 
143 Morton, Angus
144 Putt, Chris
145 Rathe, Jacob
146 Sheehan, Michael
147 Sheldon, Taylor
148 Wolfe, Ben

Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
151 Carpenter, Robin
152 Clark, Oscar
153 Flaksis, Andzs
154 Hornbeck, Jonathan
155 Krasilnikau, Andrei
156 Lewis, Joe
157 Squire, Rob
158 McCabe, Travis

Team Novo Nordisk
161 Clancy, Stephen
162 Henttala, Joonas
163 Lozano, David
164 Megias Leal, Javier
165 Peron, Andrea
166 Planet, Charles
167 Verschoor, Martijn
168 Williams, Christopher

Rally Cycling
171 Anthony, Jesse
172 Britton, Rob
173 De Vos, Adam
174 Huffman, Evan
175 Nalo, Patrick
176 Oronte, Emerson
177 Pate, Danny
178 Routley, Will

All of these riders will be racing again in 2016: (All Photos ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®)

American Brent Bookwalter (BMC).

Latvian Tom Skujins (Cannondale).  

From the U.K. (Isle of Man) Mark Cavendish (now with Dimension Data). 

Australian Rohan Dennis (BMC).

American Tyler Farrar (Dimension Data). 

Slovakian Peter Sagan (Tinkoff). 

American Taylor Phinney (BMC).

American Lawson Craddock (now with Cannondale).

American Logan Owen (Axeon Hagens Berman).

Mark Renshaw (now with Dimension Data).

Julian Allaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep).

Laurens ten Dam (now with Giant-Alpecin).

WHO WILL WEAR BIB #1 IN 2016?

It is tradition that the previous year's overall stage winner, if returning to the race in the current year, wear the #1 jersey. His team being recognized as the first team, thus wear #1-8. The other teams are ordered according to race organizers preference, eighteen teams total with eight riders each. At the Tour of California, as is usual, you will see the ProTour teams listed on the roster before the Pro Continental or Continental teams.

Peter Sagan will wear #1 on his jersey at the Tour of California. He will be racing hard in 2016 to wear #1 again in 2017.

More Pedal Dancer® race coverage 2016:

• You probably don't remember me, but
• Women's teams and startlist for Tour of California
• Race Preview for 2016 Tour of California on TourChaser.com: tourchaser.com/race-preview-atoc
• List of Riders Amgen Tour of California 2016
• The order of jerseys
• Taking photos at the race, and being Media 
• Top 22 tips to see the Amgen Tour of California
• How to watch the Tour of California Live in 2016
• Team jerseys and team bikes at the Tour of California
• Bikes, Equipment and Clothing at the Tour of California
• Classification jerseys for the 2016 Tour of California
• 10 UCI WorldTour Teams to compete in California
• Stage Route and Maps Tour of California 2016
• Profile Maps for the Tour of California 2016
• Tour of California Host City activities: Stages 1-4 PART I
• Tour of California Host City activities: Stages 4-8 PART II
• Tour of California Spectator Guide Page

10 UCI WorldTour Teams to compete in California

Amgen Tour of California - teams announced today

Fantastic news out of California today, the Amgen Tour of California stage race appears stronger than ever in its 11th year, as a very impressive line up of teams was announced to compete in California this May. Here is my strong tip for the day - wherever you are in mid-May, make sure it is in California. You will see some of the greatest pro riders up close with unprecedented access (and as always - great California weather).

Let's get straight to naming names: 2015 winner Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and runner-up Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quick-Step) will return in 2016. Great Britian’s Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), who won four stages last year is a huge crowd favorite and will take on Norwegian Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), who will be bring his strong sprinting ability to what might be the best sprint field to ever gather.

2012 Tour de France champion and 2014 Amgen Tour of California winner Bradley Wiggins will be back with his continental cycling team (Wiggins). Australian brothers Lachlan and Angus Morton will be back with their colorful Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis cycling team. American Peter Stetina (Trek-Segafredo) is looking forward to competing in front of hometown fans in Northern California. While Australian Rohan Dennis (BMC), a strong contender for the time trial in Folsom, could also be on a step of the final overall podium in Sacramento. Crowd favorite American Taylor Phinney (BMC) will be back in 2016.

Sprinting begins on Stage 1 in San Diego, Sunday, May 15th! Make your tourist plans now.

Great atmosphere at the race. Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Amgen Tour of California May 15-22, 2016

Now organized by AEG and ASO, the Amgen Tour of California stage race keeps getting better. I am especially excited about the teams of Dimension Data (formerly Mtn-Qhukbeka), Giant-Alpecin, Etixx-Quick-Step, Sky, and LottoNL returning to the race again this year. I am also excited to see first time teams Direct Énergie and Katusha.

I look forward to hearing the exact rider roster announcements (startlist) in May. For certain, we will have the opportunity to watch pro riders we would otherwise have to plan a 2.5 week vacation, spend thousands of dollars and travel to Europe to see compete. The 2016 schedule should make it easy for fans to see a grouping of two or more stages by picking your area: San Diego County, Pasadena/Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks/Santa Barbara, Monterey/Santa Rosa, Tahoe/Folsom/Sacramento.

I totally agree with Peter Sagan who said, "The Amgen Tour of California is one of my favorite races of the season."

Julian Alaphilippe arrives in Mt Baldy in 2015.  Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Take the time to visit the team websites and check out their sponsors and the kind of gear they use. Team sponsors, great race organization and the ongoing title sponsorship by Amgen make this race a continuing success.

Official Tour of California yellow jersey 2016

Men’s teams - 18 teams
Each team will bring a roster of 8 riders each.

UCI WorldTour
BMC Racing Team (USA) - BMC bikes
Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (USA) - Cannondale bikes
Dimension Data (South Africa) - Cervélo bikes
Etixx – Quick-Step (Belgium) - Specialized bikes
Giant – Alpecin (Germany) - Giant bikes
Katusha (Russia) - Canyon bikes
LottoNL – Jumbo (Netherlands) - Bianche bikes
Sky (Great Britain) - Pinarello bikes
Tinkoff (Russia) - Specialized bikes
Trek – Segafredo (USA) - Trek bikes

UCI Professional Continental
Direct Énergie (France) - BH bikes
Novo Nordisk (USA) - Colnago bikes
UnitedHealthcare (USA) - Wilier bikes

UCI Continental
Axeon Hagens Berman (USA) - Specialized bikes
Holowesko – Citadel Racing Team (USA) - felt bikes
Jelly Belly – Maxxis (USA) - Argon bikes
Rally Cycling (USA) - Diamond Back bikes
Wiggins (Great Britain) - Pinarello bikes (Wikipedia)

Peter Sagan with Evelyn Stevens at the post time trial press conference in 2015.  Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Rally and United Healthcare will be bringing both a men's and women's team.  Their team buses and mechanic's trailers should be teaming with activity.

Women's team jersey 2016 Amgen Tour of California.

Women’s teams - 18 teams

BePink (Italy) 
Boels-Dolmans (Netherlands)
Canyon – SRAM Racing (Germany)
Colavita – Bianchi (USA)
Cylance (USA)
Drops (Great Britain)
Hagens Berman – Supermint (USA)
Hitec Products (Norway)
Podium Ambition (Great Britain)
Rabo – Liv (Netherlands)
Rally (USA)
Tibco – SVB (USA)
Twenty16 – Ridebiker (USA)
UnitedHealthcare (USA)
USA Cycling (USA)
Visit Dallas DNA (USA)
Weber Shimano Ladies Power (Argentina)
Wiggle High5 (Great Britain)

Beautiful Santa Barbara, California. I took this photo last year at the race while waiting for the stage start in Santa Barbara. Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

2016 posts by Pedal Dancer®:

• PART I: Tourist ideas for stages 1 through 4 in southern California: Tour of California Host City activities: Stages1-4
• PART II: Tourist ideas for stages 4 through 8 in northern California: Tour of California Host City activities: Stages 4-8
• 10 UCI WorldTour Teams to compete in California 
• Stage Route and Maps Tour of California 2016
• How to watch the Tour of California Live in 2016 

For more information about the 2016 Amgen Tour of California, with race dates, stage maps and start and finish times, please visit the Pedal Dancer® guide page at: TOUR OF CALIFORNIA 2016. 

Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish before the final stage start in Westlake Village in 2014. Photo by Karen Rakestraw for Pedal Dancer®

Looking back at 2015 ATOC race coverage by Pedal Dancer®

More Pedal Dancer® race coverage 2016:

• The order of jerseys
• Taking photos at the race, and being Media 
• Top 22 tips to see the Amgen Tour of California
• How to watch the Tour of California Live in 2016
• Team jerseys and team bikes at the Tour of California
• Bikes, Equipment and Clothing at the Tour of California
• Classification jerseys for the 2016 Tour of California
• 10 UCI WorldTour Teams to compete in California
• Stage Route and Maps Tour of California 2016
• Profile Maps for the Tour of California 2016
• Tour of California Host City activities: Stages 1-4 PART I
• Tour of California Host City activities: Stages 4-8 PART II
• Tour of California Spectator Guide Page

Coming soon: Startlist and bib number Amgen Tour of California 2016;  National and World Championship jerseys at the Tour of California; and stories from the race.

Favorite Photos From Tour of California 2014

Sharing the Photography of Willie Reichenstein

For the past three years, Willie has come out to help me photograph the Amgen Tour of California. Today, to get in the mood for bike racing in California, I thought I would share some of his photographs from the 2014 race. The Tour of California starts this Sunday in Sacramento!

Read more at Pedal Dancer Guide Page: TOUR OF CALIFORNIA

© All photos by Willie Reichenstein of Stage 7, Amgen Tour of California 2014.

CALIFORNIA

Thanks Willie!

Cycling is a team sport, or is it

8 men ride so that 1 man can win

For years the sport of cycling has tried to convey to casual spectators that what is seen inside the blur of color swooshing by in the peloton is in fact a well-orchestrated team strategy. Even though the riders don't always either see or understand the strategy unfolding at every kilometer of the race, every man in a team, but one, is in fact riding for another man to win the race.

In the sport of cycling no man is an island (unless you are Alberto Contador).

Strategy and purpose drive the rider selection and initial team race plan. From which hard work, chance, luck, distraction, and individual gumption play a huge role in the outcome of the race. Going into every race, team managers make decisions about how to best get a group of athletes to reach the intended goal. Directeur sportifs and the entire staff attempt to work in unity to support those team management goals. The riders, they don't just follow, they make it happen.

Or not

Bradley Wiggins is not on the SKY team roster for the 2014 Tour de France.

What a huge disappointment, simply because Bradley's form is so good this year and I wanted to selfishly watch him race. I know I am no alone in specifically wanting to watch Bradley Wiggins for three weeks in July. Apparently there is more to consider than entertainment and the fact that Wiggins is British in a year when the Tour de France starts in Britain.

I would have thought Wiggins would be good press for sponsors and people who like Sirs, mod hair styles and mountain man beards. Let alone all the PR work Wiggins recently did in California and England, and the fact that he is a past winner - one of the few we've had still on the books.

VeloNews placed this poll online this morning, which made me think of this hot topic in a different light:

1. If you were Sky manager Dave Brailsford, given the history between Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, would you take Wiggins to the Tour de France?

Yes or No

No, I wouldn't if I were Dave Brailsford. My bet is Brailsford reasoning is based upon:

• Fractional distraction within a cohesive team between two capable riders who do not get along
• Major interruption by a media barrage of the same questions for three weeks
• Team members or staff taking sides
• Mental exhaustion added to physical demands
• Chance that both men might not win if support is split
• Fear of loss of control over individual competitors within the team
• Richie Porte is already on the roster and a trusted wingman for Froome
• The importance of offering Chris Froome full confidence through full team support

But if this question was phrased as, "If you were Sky manager, would you take Wiggins to the Tour de France if you wanted to win the Tour de France?

Absolutely Yes, I would.

• Wiggins can add strength to the team in the initial stages in England and over the cobbles
• His climbing form is excellent, his endurance good, his experience needed
• His training this year is well timed for the Tour de France
• He could thoughtfully take off some of the pressure from Froome
• He is paid to race for the team and is one of the best resources on hand

Wouldn't a Team Manager want the strongest team?

Remember when now disgraced DS Johan Bruyneel decided to load his nine-man Tour de France Squad with two or three possible GC contenders? He trialed this approach over a couple different years with great confusion and meaningless results. That dual GC approach didn't work out so well and we instead witnessed Alberto Contador take matters into his own hands and ride his heart out, ignoring management orders.

Team Sky is sticking to the traditional strategy of putting all their eggs into one basket by backing Froome, and Froome alone. A Grand Tour is won through consistency and support. I suppose Brailsford's chips all in risk taking is worth watching just to see the results of karma and strategy play out in real time. Will Froome win? Will Brailsford's decision be proven correct?

At the final press conference in May at the Tour of California, I heard Bradley Wiggins respond to the oft repeated question, "What will your role be in supporting Chris Froome at the Tour de France this year?" Bradley let slip as if almost under his breath, "I plan to drop Chris at every stage." The serious room was slow to respond to his humor, or perhaps the question of honesty resulted in uneasiness among the media. "No, I will ride in full support of Chris," Bradley followed up quickly. Only the last part of his response got printed in the press.

I wonder most about the thoughts that are foremost in a man's mind. Especially when the unexpected race strategy later unfolds in front of him in the middle of a very hard stage with no teammates around. That moment in which a competitive individual makes an instinctual decision without a Team Manager's restrictions. Moves which are game changing.

Yet I believe Wiggins is a visibly different man than he was four years ago. His growth has changed his motivation from the ground up. We all witnessed his proven team riding skills at the Paris-Roubaix in April. I actually believe Wiggins is a rider who can prioritize and stand by a word given. For this reason I believe Wiggins would make the SKY team stronger.

At the time I voted on the VeloNews poll this morning, the results were:

Yes - 75% (6837 votes)
No - 25% (2283 votes)

I want to see Bradley Wiggins race. I understand why he is not racing in the 2014 Tour de France. I think Team SKY is making a mistake by not supporting the concept of best team in a team sport. I feel badly for the British citizens who will not see Wiggins grace their roads. I feel worse for not honoring a previous Tour winner.

SKY team rosters for the 2014 Dauphiné and Tour de France? 

The nine man Tour de France roster for Team SKY will contain many of the eight men on the roster for the Criterium Dauphiné.

SKY (SKY) team 8-man roster for Critérium du Dauphiné 2014:

	FROOME  Christopher	GBR
	KIRYIENKA  Vasil	BLR
	LOPEZ GARCIA  David	ESP
	NIEVE ITURALDE  Mikel	ESP
	PATE  Danny	USA
	PORTE  Richie	AUS
	THOMAS  Geraint	GBR
	ZANDIO ECHAIDE  Xabier	ESP

SKY team 9-man roster for 2014 Tour de France 2014: The official roster will be announced by the team after the Tour de Suisse (14-22 June 2014). The preliminary 8 riders according to ProCycling Stats include:

Team Sky
 FROOME Christopher
 NIEVE Mikel
 HENAO Sergio Luis
 THOMAS Geraint
 PORTE Richie
 KIRYIENKA Vasil
 SIUTSOU Kanstantsin
 KENNAUGH Peter

The list of Top 10 GC contenders for the Critérium du Dauphiné (8-15 June 2014) should give us a good indication of the top contenders for the 2014 Tour de France (considering slight form and /or injury illness changes). The Top 10 are considered to be: Froome, Nibali, Contador, König, Kwiatkowski, Van Garderen, Porte, Voekler, Gerrans, Démare.

Although I see stage winners or top twenty in this list more than overall contenders. I will be watching Froome vs. Contador; the team versus the island. Meanwhile I am no longer certain how to explain to casual viewers of the sport that cycling is a team sport. For the well-seasoned cycling fan, we will all be watching the outcome of the 2014 Tour de France for more race strategy lessons. 

Bradley Wiggins, a very talented hard riding bike racer, who coincidentally looks fabulous in yellow.

Bradley Wiggins won the Amgen Tour of California in May 2014.  Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer 2014

Chris Froome, a man who needs the support of an entire team, will have Riche Porte again at his side.

Porte and Froome will be together again for both the Critérium du Dauphiné and Tour de France. Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer 2013

Recommended Reading at: The Guardian, Sky may not limit Sir Bradley Wiggins if he chooses conscious uncoupling, By William Fotheringham. Friday 6 June 2014 11.10 EDT

Video: Team Sky - 2014 Tour de France Yorkshire Stages Recon, Chris Froome, Richie Porte, Mikel Nieve and David Lopez.

Provisional startlist for the 2014 Critérium du Dauphiné via ProCycling Stats.

Where do I begin

May was the most marvelous month 

And I have never had jet-lag so bad in all my life. That's the thing about life, the ups are up and the downs are down. But I am home now and I seriously need to write something on this blog just to get the ball rolling again.

In the month of May I went to the Giro d'Italia, I saw my first Grand Tour team time trial, I visited Northern Ireland for the first time ever (and loved it!), I met all sorts of really cool people, I secured my taste for real draft Guinness beer, and then I came home to see Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish at the Tour of California. I really like Brad and Mark.

All this fun and I haven't written a word on my trusty blog. I could wax poetic and say some things are just too good to share or too hard to put to words, or I could be totally honest and explain - I'm just so tired. Yup, too tired from having so much fun. That's the truth!

Fun and darn jet-lag, which inhibited me from staying up until 2am (as I usually do at stage races) to write up posts, kept me from sharing my incredible journeys with you. I haven't even posted the amazing photos Willie Richenstein (my friend and co-photographer) took at the Amgen Tour of California! Gees.

I should note that I have also been 'speaking with' (via email) a number of individuals, helping them with vacation planning and other questions. I wouldn't trade these interactions for the world, meeting fellow cycling travelers brings me great joy but also takes away from my time posting out into the realms of the www.

I did post some photos on Twitter. Huge accomplishment on my part. Want to see those iphone photos of what I have been doing the past month?  (All photos below by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®)

New York City - Colorado - Utah - California - Ireland - California - Utah - Colorado

I started out in Manhattan for 6 days

Manhattan at night

Then I drove from Colorado to Utah to California

The middle of nowhere Utah

Then I got on a plane to Dublin and drove into Northern Ireland where I was blown away by the beauty.

Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland

I drove the route of Stage 2 of the Giro d'Italia where I was so impressed with the community spirit on display.

Cushendall in pink

I visited some tourist sites including Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Giant's Causeway, and Bushmills Distillery.

Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge

Even the whiskey ran pink for the Giro. Rule #1 buy OLD whiskey - it's worth the money.

At Bushmills Distillery

I went for a super fun bike ride in Belfast city to tour the route of the Stage 1 Team Time Trial with Belfast City Bike Tours. I loved the guys who ran this tour, and Michael the owner of The Hudson Bar where we had a pint after our ride. Michael tried to spray paint me pink for the Giro.

Michael of The Hudson Bar, me and Gary of Belfast City Bike Tours

I went to the Team Presentation the night before the Giro started in downtown Belfast outside City Hall.

Team Garmin-Sharp enters

I had fun in the team area at the Titanic Quarter (which is a great tourist site btw) before Stage 1.

Cadel Evans arrives before the TTT

I was able to watch the warm-up in the morning near city hall, plus watch the teams start and take the first two corners of the real TTT of the Giro. Here team Garmin-Sharp took the start line shortly before Dan Martin would later crash and end his 2014 Giro.

Team Garmin-Sharp when hopes were still high

Attending the Giro d'Italia in Northern Ireland will stand as one of the all-time favorite races I have ever attended (next to the Tour of Flanders and the Amgen Tour of California in Solvang). Attending the Giro in Ireland was a blast, the people had more fun than I have ever witnessed at a race (a close tie with the Paris-Roubaix).

Everything was pink for the Giro in Northern Ireland!

For Stage 2, I walked 300 meters from my Bed & Breakfast to watch the race go by at a place called the Bla Hole.

Stage 2 of the 2014 Giro d'Italia passes the Bla Hole.

Then I drove down to the city of Armagh (my grandfather Peter is from nearby Newry) to watch the start of Stage 3 of the Giro.

St Patricks Cathedral in Armagh and the 2014 Giro d'Italia

My four days at the Giro Start in Ireland were truly incredible!

Driving on the other side of the road was exciting

But it was time to get serious about some good Irish beer and Irish music!

Gus O'Connors Pub in Doolin, County Clare

Appreciate a real draft Guinness and a good Irish Stew

pure deliciousness

Stay at a lovely Bed & Breakfast

Daly House in Doolin Ireland

And enjoy a relaxing long morning breakfast with fine Irish hospitality.

A peaceful start to the morning

And then a highly recommended 8km walk from Doolin to the Cliff of Moher with Pat Sweeney.

Local guide and farmer Pat Sweeney

A long flight back to San Francisco and LAX then found me once again in Laguna Beach, California waiting for the last three stages of the Amgen Tour of California.

The beautiful beaches of Orange County California

And this guy - Sir Bradley Wiggins. Cool!

Funny and honest

And Mark Cavendish. Did I mention, I like Mark.

This was a tough Stage 6 for him, but he won Stage 8!

And it looks like Bradley and Mark like each other as well.

Brad and Mark at Tour of California 2014

Bradley Wiggins won the 2014 Amgen Tour of California

Classification winners ATOC 2014

And thank goodness this squad of Garmin-Sharp teammates in California had reason to celebrate Best Team.

Celebration

I enjoyed a few more days with family along the beautiful beaches of southern California.

Newport Beach, CA

And drove myself and my labradoodle dog Jack Denny back to Colorado through Utah once again.

Salt Flats, Utah

And that is it for iphone photos from May 2014. Someday I will download my real photos. But for now, what a variety of sights I saw in May 2014, and such beauty. And super great people! I am so very grateful. And so very tired.

Home in Colorado

Last Sunday I went to a local bike race and took even more photographs which I have yet to edit and post, and this weekend is the Colorado Master Criterium Championships which I plan to attend. I think I will just carry my camera and not take any photos because god knows when I will get around to posting those as well.

This was my favorite photo from last week. A superman by Michael Gibson.

Don't try this at home.   Photo by Karen Rakestraw

Send me some good vibes to get going again because now that I have returned to Colorado and it is fully summer, all I really want to do is ride my own bike outside in the sunshine.

Don't we all.