Photo of the Day: Two well-traveled fans

Here they are again

Remember when I told the story of our day at Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California when I kept photobombing my sister-in-laws iphone photo ops with her favorite riders.

Exhibit A

Sylvain Chavanel and Suz, and ... me

me .... and Johan Vansummeren and Suz

Suz and Dave Zabriskie, and ... me

And how my brother kept walking into the frame of so many of my potential masterpiece shots (because he is actually better than I am at moving around races).

Exhibit B

Get out of the way of my photo of World Champion Philippe Gilbert!

Well the keen eye of Willie The Photographer happened to notice these same two well-versed fans in one of the photos I had recommended viewing from the albums of team BMC.

Exhibit C: Where are Suz and Mike?

Bob Roll interviewing Tejay van Garderen, featuring Suz and Mike.  This photos is one in a collection of albums from team BMC

It is so fun to see family or friends in photos or videos. We have so much fun together as fans!

Maybe you are in one of the photos too ...

Riders at the 2013 Tour of California

Who will be racing at the 2013 ATOC or GIRO

Who is joining us at the Tour of California?

It was officially announced that Philippe Gilbert, Tejay van Garderen, Peter Sagan, Andy Schleck, Tyler Farrar, and Sylvain Chavanel will compete in the Tour of California's eight stages beginning May 12, 2013. Tom Boonen will not be coming to California, bummer. Neither will Chris Horner who is out with knee pain.

See the 16 teams for the 2013 Tour of California: Teams for 2013 Tour of California Announced.
Also visit the official Team page on the Amgen Tour of California website.  

See the preliminary (not official) start list of riders for the 2013 Tour of California, By Pro Cycling Stats. Or another (confirmed) list by VeloNews.com Confirmed rosters for the 2013 Amgen Tour of California.

Beginning tomorrow morning in Italy, the Giro d'Italia launches. The roster is official for the Giro, and any rider competing in the Giro will obviously not be in California enjoying the sunny weather, nice hotels, friendly fans, and shorter 1-week tour with stiff competition. See the list (and some of my photos*) of the Riders at the 2013 Giro d'Italia. 

ATOC - American Tour

Riders for 2013 Amgen Tour of California

The official roster (start list) has been released, but thre prevailing sources do not agree: view Pro Cycling Stats rider list here. Or the roster (with gaps) from VeloNews.com.

I encourage all fans to get to know the European riders, they are incredible athletes and HUGE in their home-countries. To have the kind of access that we are afforded as fans at the Tour of California is a big deal.

BMC: Tejay van Garderen, Philippe Gilbert, Marco Pinotti, Thor Hushovd, Brent Bookwalter
Cannondale: Peter Sagan, Ted King, Damiano Caruso,
Omega Pharma-Quick-Step: Sylvain Chavanel, 
Orica GreenEDGE: Lee Howard, Cameron Meyer, Wesley Sulzberger, Baden Cooke
RadioShack Leopard Trek: Andy Schleck, Haimar Zubeldia, Jens Voigt, Matthew Busche, Ben King
Team Garmin-Sharp: Tyler Farrar, Lachlan Morton, Johan Vansummern, David Zabriskie
Team Saxo-Tinkoff: Michael Morkov, Micahel Rogers, Timmy Duggan
Vacansoleil-DCM: Thomas de Gendt, Juan Antonia Flecha, Lieuwe Westra

Looking back at the podium - 2012 General Classification winners of the Amgen Tour of California
Final General Classification last year

1. GESINK, Robert (RABOBANK) 29:14:52
2. ZABRISKIE, David (GARMIN-BARRACUDA) + 0:46
3. DANIELSON, Thomas (GARMIN-BARRACUDA) + 0:54

*Robert Gesink will not be returning in 2013, he will be at the Giro d'Italia, Tom Danielson is also at the Giro, Zabriskie will return to the ATOC in 2013.

2013 Pedal Dancer top bets for overall win at Tour of California

1. Tejay van Garderen
2. Sylvain Chavanel
3. Thomas de Gendt

2013 Pedal Dancer top bets for stage wins at Tour of California

1. Peter Sagan
2. I am also a huge fan of Philippe Gilbert, Ted King, Thor Hushovd and Johan Vansummeren, and fully expect to see Jens Voigt in a breakaway!

More information: 8 Stages, Previous winners, Top-10 GC ranking of riders at ATOC: See the statistics page by ProCycling Stats - 2013 Amgen Tour of California (2.HC)

Riders to watch for at the Tour of California

I would like to share some photos I took in 2012 that will help you recognize these riders at the race. As a fan it is one thing to recognize a rider in their team kit, racing down the road with the announcer telling us who is in the breakaway or returning to the team car, it is another thing to recognize a rider quickly outside a team bus with their glasses and helmet off, or walking around a host city in plain street clothes.

Recognizing your favorite rider is a big part of the fun of being a fan the races..... learn these faces.  All photos ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®  click any image to enlarge

David Zabriskie

David Zabriskie at 2012 Tour of California  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Tejay van Garderen

Tejay van Garderen at 2012 Tour of California  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Tejay van Garderen at 2012 USA Pro Challenge  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Sylvain Chavanel

Sylvain Chavanel at 2012 Tour de France  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Sylvain Chavanel at 2012 Tour de France   ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Peter Sagan

Peter Sagan at 2012 Tour de France  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

a more recognizable photo of Peter  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Ted King

Ted King at 2012 Tour of California  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Philippe Gilbert

Philippe Gilbert before the 2012 Tour of Flanders  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Thor Hushovd

Thor Hushovd before the 2012 Tour of Flanders in Belgium  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Timmy Duggan

Timmy Duggan at 2012 Tour of California, (who now rides for Saxo Bank-Tinkoff)  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Brent Bookwalter

Brent Bookwalter at 2012 Tour of California  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Bert Grabsch

Bert Grabsch at 2012 Tour of California  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Michael Rogers

Michael Rogers (R) at 2012 Tour de France, now rides for Saxo Bank-Tinkoff  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Johan Vansummeren

Johan Vansummeren at 2012 Tour de France  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Haimar Zubeldia

Haimar Zubeldia at 2012 Tour de France  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Andy Schleck
(I never saw Andy Schleck in 2012, I hope 2013 will be a much better year for him. Last time I watched Andy Schleck race was in 2011 at the Tour of California, glad he will be back in 2013.)

Andy Schleck at 2011 Tour of California  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Jens Voigt

Jens Voigt at the 2012 Tour of California  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Matthew Busche

Matthew Busche at 2012 USA Pro Challenge  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Tyler Farrar

Tyler Farrar at 2012 USA Pro Challenge  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Kristijan Koren

Kristijan Koren (L) and teammate Daniel Oss at 2012 Tour de France  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

And Tom Boonen at the 2012 Tour of California - we will surely miss him in 2013!

Tom Boonen at the 2012 Tour of California  ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein for PedalDancer.com

And we will miss Chris Horner, a rider who is always available for fan autographs and lengthy answers to interview questions.

Chris Horner at 2012 Tour de France   ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Wow, what a great year it was for taking photos as a fan. I can't wait to head out to the race next week. Did you read my plan for going to Stage 4 & 5 in Santa Barbara? California Here I come!

See the 8 stage routes of the 2013 Tour of California: 2013 Tour of California Route Maps & Stage Info or more information at TOUR OF CALIFORNIA

According to Pro Cycling Stats - the top 15 competitors are:

1.SAGAN Peter2635

2.CHAVANEL Sylvain1356

3.VAN GARDEREN Tejay1262

4.GILBERT Philippe1240

5.WESTRA Lieuwe824

6.MEERSMAN Gianni764

7.ROGERS Michael688

8.LEUKEMANS Bjorn574

9.DE GENDT Thomas570

10.ZUBELDIA Haimar522

11.FARRAR Tyler495

12.PINOTTI Marco445

13.FLECHA Juan Antonio416

14.HOWARD Leigh370

15.CARUSO Damiano358

  
But this is a bike race, so you never know who will win!

A Day at the Race on Independence Pass

A climb to 12095 ft (3687 m)

As if Cottonwood Pass at 12,126 feet (3,696 m) wasn't enough, the riders in Stage 3 of the 2012 USA Pro Challenge had to climb over Independence Pass as well. In the words of the BMC team car driver who was stopped on the pass awaiting the last 40 or so riders in the autobus to come over the top - "it's hard."

Where are they?

Independence Pass from either side is a significant climb, and this year the riders will do both sides. Yesterday they tackled the east side (17.5 miles). Today they will turn around and ride back over the pass in the opposite direction (20 miles). I was one of those many fans who cycled their way to the top of the pass yesterday to dance to the loud music, laugh at wild costumes, and cheer the pros. 

But first I had to get myself up to the top. Let me tell you, this altitude stuff everyone is talking about is very real. The usual excitement carried me up the pass for the first 10 miles, then my body said wow this is an effort and I knew to sit in and relax, it wouldn't be over for quite some time. By the time I reached tree-line I could definitely feel the altitude, if trees couldn't grow up here, my muscles surely were feeling the effects of the high dry mountain pass. Yet I pedaled onward, visions (and memories from last year) of the fun at the top as my inspiration. I knew the climb would be worth it, and it was.  

Fortunately the scenery of Independence pass was majestic and wide-sweeping and kept me occupied, together with my fellow cycling fans who were friendly and entertaining, I felt just fine. I rode with a fun group of guys from Carbondale who knew the climb well. 

Independence Pass the numbers Independence Pass climb summary 

Today they climb the steeper side (click to enlarge)

Photos from the climb up from Aspen to Independence Pass (from my ride yesterday) ©Photos below by Karen at Pedal Dancer® (except the last one by Laurie Valaer)

Aspens in Aspen

Cycling Fans on their way to the top

"The Narrows"

These climbs are very doable with determination and time, next year - ride your bike

Looking down the west side of the climb

Arriving at the summit feeling the accomplishment

Were you one of these fans - at the top of Independence Pass for the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge? Photos by Karen of Pedal Dancer® and deNavaille Photgraphique

BMC was throwing keychains to the crowd, these nice fans picked one up and gave it to me - I was thrilled (since I have a collection)

bikes, marshalls, fans, music and mountains

Add really loud music to this scene and you get the idea of what it was like on the pass

Fans of all ages were there

We stood at the top of the world waiting for a bike race

We formed a corridor of fans

Fans looked down the east side watching the helicopter, team cars and riders approach from far below

This is the view the riders see as they attempt to part the crowd of fans, would you have the nerve to race through this?

Entertainment from the fans before the race arrived

Other folks on the pass

Who let Ron Kiefel drive the car?

Kevin from BMC waited on the pass ready with water, food, jackets, and spare wheels

This is Larry a photo moto driver (who lost is photographer down the pass). He rode his bike from North Carolina and works all the races - ATOC, Tour of Utah, and USPCC. He is sometimes a Marhsall sometimes a photo moto, but he is certainly one of the many who make this race happen.

Even the (USF) US Forest Service was out on their bikes on the pass

Rider Photos from Stage 3

Tom Danielson

Francisco Jarley Colorado Hernandez (COL) of EPM-UNE earning his Most Aggressive Jersey (orange) for the day

Jens Voigt suffering

Peter Stetina

Devon Mannion

Peter Velits

By this point in the race after a super hard effort David Zabriskie was really hurting, it was written all over his face - that this race is hard!

This EPM-UNE rider encourage this young boy to run along with him the entire way to the KOM banner

The fans were so close to the riders

Zipping up for the downhill in Aspen after the KOM

The two vehicles fans always recognize but don't like to see - The Broom Wagon (read more about the broom wagon: Word of the day at the TDF: voiture balai) and the sign-in pick-up truck. They mean the race is over for today. 

Meanwhile down in the town of Aspen Tom Danielson took the stage win and Jens Voigt rolled into town.

Tom Danielson arrives alone in Aspen  ©Photo by Ron Long

With the chase group close behind him  ©Photo by Ron Long

Jens leading the way around the blocks of Aspen   ©Photo by Laurie Valaer

More of the Peloton chasing   ©Photo by Ron Long

Stage 3 of 7 and Cadel Evans looked so tired  ©Photo by Ron Long

Stage 3 Results from the desk of Nicole Okoneski of Rogers & Cowan
·         First Place – Tom Danielson (USA) of Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda
·         Second Place – Damiano Caruso (ITA) of Liquigas-Cannondale
·         Third Place – Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) of RadioShack-Nissan-Trek

Jerseys
·         Exergy Leader Jersey – Christian Vande Velde (USA) of Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda
·         Waste Management Sprint Jersey – Damiano Caruso (ITA) of Liquigas-Cannondale
·         Nissan King of the Mountains Jersey – Tom Danielson (USA) of Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda
·         Aquadraat Best Young Rider Jersey – Joseph Lloyd Dombrowski (USA) of Bontrager Livestrong Team
·         Evolve Most Aggressive Rider Jersey – Francisco Jarley Colorado Hernandez (COL) of EPM-UNE

Visit the official race website at: www.ProChallenge.com

Keeping up with Training Peaks race analysis of the effort and power over the climb of Independence pass by 3 riders: http://bit.ly/REKqby

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