PedalDancer.com is a bike blog for travelers and cyclists. Intended as a free educational source for the public, with stories from Colordo, California and France, with bike event calendar lists, bike race dates, bicycle and travel stories, cycling and bike race photography, bike routes, recommended bike climbs, cycling travel tips and maps. With France road sign and tollway travel tips.
The top 5 posts in 2012 indicated that you were interested in making it happen for yourself! You wanted to know what events you could ride, you wanted to know what races you could attend, you wanted to know what bikes you could ride. And you wanted beautiful women.
Top 5 posts read by viewers on PedalDancer.com in 2012:
My most popular searched for keyword was: "specialized venge".
Most of you came straight from google.com, used Internet Explorer, and Windows computers.
All this despite my website being non-searchable by google for 4 months from August to December - oops! Don't worry I think I figured it out finally, so I am back to blogging again.
I do have photos of this wonderful bike to share with you - one of the yellow models of the Pinarello 65.1 Think2 that Bradley Wiggins rode on the last stage of the 2012 Tour de France.
A yellow Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think2 at Interbike 2012 Photo by Karen at PedalDancer.com
Just like the Pinarello bike frame Bradley Wiggins rode onto the Champs-Élysées Photo by Karen at PedalDancer.com
CyclingNews.com conducted a readers poll of the best in cycling from 2012. Sure you probably received tweets or facebook posts or updates on who was nominated for the best of 2012, but we all know nomination is far from winning. So who did win the BEST OF for 2012 - here is a list. Do you agree? I have to admit - I do.
2012
The best of cycling 2012 [read more about the runners up under each link below]
This year I appreciated this photo taken by James Startt (of Bicycling) at the start of the Tour of Flanders in Bruges. I personally found the true meaning of being a cycling fan in Belgium this past spring. James (the Cultural Artist) compiled his other favorite photos taken at various races, while his side-kick Frankie Andreu (the Pragmatic Analyzer) adds additional comments to each photo. 2012 Pro Peloton in Pictures
Popular cycling video of 2012 - receiving 6,536,881 hits on YouTube: Martyn Ashton - Road Bike Party
I am sure there will be more Best of lists in the coming week. For me, my best of 2012 was a hard list to create in a year full of many great experiences, but here they are:
PEDAL DANCER TOP 10 MOMENTS AS A TRAVELING CYCLE TOURIST IN 2012
Being with my family in the Rabobank VIP tent at the finish of the 2012 Tour of California in Los Angeles.
Having an incredible 4-course lunch with my friend Monica in Lastelle-Bétharram, France, and later riding up to the mountain top finish on Peyregudes for Stage 17 of the Tour de France.
Riding up and being on Mt Baldy with my brother and friend/photographer Willie at the 2012 Tour of California.
Discovering the beautiful Rhone River Valley between stages of the 2012 Tour de France.
Meeting so many new fans, new friends, and seeing old friends again on travels and at races!
Creating this list makes me realize there were so many travel stories I never got around to writing up in 2012, including some of these top 10 moments of 2012. I guess I was busy living it! Happy New Year from me and my labradoodle Jack Denny! I hope 2013 is a great year for all of you.
Karen of PedalDancer.com at State Championships cyclo-cross in Colorado Photo by Photographer Annette Hayden
It was a wonderful Christmas holiday in Denver, Colorado. We received 3 inches of new snow last night, dusting everything lightly in a white fluff for Christmas day. I thought I would share some images from a snowy Christmas in Colorado.
The local newspaper The Denver Post featured this photo this morning of two joggers in my local Washington Park in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)
A tree of lights at the Blossom of Lights at the Denver Botanic Gardens, you can stroll the garden lights nightly until January 1st. Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
Our landmark Clocktower in downtown Denver Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
Festive Larimer Square in downtown Denver- coffee shops, restaurants and shopping. Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
The open-air public Southwest ice rink in Skyline Park on the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
Traditional holiday chocolates from See's Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
Cannelés. Delicious. My tradition of buying French baked good from Trompeau French Bakery now in Englewood, Colorado. Two years ago I wrote a post (Christmas Eve at the French Bakery) about the bakery on Christmas Eve morning - a truly delightful place to be. This year's visit was equally as good and tasty. Trompeau Bakery makes absolutely excellent baguettes (read another one of my eartlier posts The Baguette). Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
La Trappe Oak Aged Trappist Ale from Belgium - an exceptional luxury item. Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
One of the best coffees I have ever tasted, a gift from my parents whose friend started the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf chain of coffee shops in California who recommended this specific limited edition bean. I figure when a wine-maker recommends a wine - buy it, when a coffee-maker recommends a coffee - definitely buy it. I can't wait for Trader Joe's to come to Colorado later this year. Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
Bikes in the park. Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
Bandido Cross an annual tradition among friends in the park. Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
A dry Colorado winter has set in Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
I will miss the lights on the houses which illuminate my nightly walks with the dog. Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
The Stages of the 2013 USA Pro Challenge Announced
Smart concise powerful.
The 7-day stage race, USA Pro Challenge, will be August 19-25, 2013. Starting in Aspen and finishing again in Denver, with the time trial returning to Vail! This route looks good for 2013, including two new cities of Loveland and Fort Collins. The 2013 host cities of the USAPRO will be:
Monday, Aug.
19 Stage 1 Aspen/Snowmass Circuit
Tuesday, Aug.
20 Stage 2 Aspen/Snowmass - Breckenridge
Wednesday,
Aug. 21 Stage 3 Breckenridge
– Steamboat Springs
Thursday,
Aug. 22 Stage 4 Steamboat Springs – Beaver Creek
Two action packed days of racing in the wind chilled dust of Loveland, Colorado determined the next fleet of 2012 State Champions and brought an end to the cyclocross season. Shucks. Right when things were really getting fun and the weather was really dropping into the twenties and more snow was on the way.
No snow on the ground, but cold Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
Cyclocross is one of those sports where you don't expect or even want good weather. As if jumping, running, hopping, falling and pedaling over anything thrown in your path isn't enough, poor weather makes a cyclocross race even more exciting to watch. This year the Colorado State Cyclocross Championships (Cross of the North) was cold dry and dusty.
Weather and the unknown combine to create cyclocross Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
What is Cyclocross ?
I get asked this question a lot, even though I don't race it, I watch it. In Colorado, I believe Cross Season is the season of bike racing. Cyclocross is a form of bike racing on mixed terrain, raced outside in the fall and early winter. If you really want to know, Wikipedia will give you some basic cyclocross history. Or read a little more at CyclingRevealed.com. If you really want to keep up on the sport, become a regular reader of Cyclocross Magazine.
Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
Cyclocross is not road racing, or mountain biking, or bicycling, it is Cyclcross or CX. Riders are known as "cross racers," not cyclists. They are not even "riders" (as they are called in road racing) because they barely have time to ride with all that racing going on. Being at a cyclocross race is a surprisingly low-key and fun event with plenty of non-stop action.
Not cross dressers, cross racers. Although they do that too. Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
Cross racers look like this in very nice one-piece skinsuits; a reason why the Colorado CX season should end one week before Christmas.
Racers in highly photogenic skinsuits Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
For a sport with seemingly few rules, there is indeed a UCI Cyclo-cross Rule Book. I can save you some time by offering these tips: pre-register or don't, either way is controversial. Don't come to the start line unless called, if no one calls your name start from wherever you are and pedal like mad or you will have a LOT of people to pass. Don't go outside the lines. Lines are important in cyclocross, and because your brain is operating on low oxygen from the exertion, they tape or fence you into the course restricting your path so you have no choice but to pedal straight ahead. They don't even expect you to follow a map or count laps, they ring a bell really loud on the last lap then yell at you to get off the course, at which point you may stop, hopefully before getting lapped by the winner.
Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
Cyclocross is growing in popularity
In the wet and cold sections of this country smart people have adopted a sport popular in Europe and the UK for over fifty years (or 100 years, cyclocross is an inexact science). Cyclocross fills those winter months between the road and mountain biking seasons offering an only slightly more aesthetic alternative to indoor spin classes. Cyclocross is a fine excuse to get out and race against your friends. You don't have to have the perfect bike, or the perfect clothes or the perfect anything, you just have to be willing to rise early and show up ready to race.
Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
You get on your bikes and race around on a few-mile course that wraps around, up and over grass, pavement, woodland, sand, cement, boards, stairs, and occasionally people. You go and go until a bell sounds indicating the last lap has been achieved within a set period of 40-60 minutes of racing. By then everyone is spread out all over the hillside and you have no idea who just won, nor do you really care, unless it was you. You immediately find your friends, most of whom you willingly trampled over on your path to victory, and re-enact every turn and fall as if you were the only one in the race. Quite satisfying.
Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
Spectators
Spectators add to the style and scene of cyclocross. The sport is wildly popular in Belgium and in Oregon where fans turn out in the many thousands and hundreds respectively. Here is Colorado a few friends and a couple dogs will show up for races. However the racers marry so that more people will come watch them race, and have children to make more little cyclocrossers with the purpose to grow the sport. Or so it seems.
Like Father like son, Cyclocrosser replication in process. Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
The holy handup
The "hand-up" is a long-held tradition of cyclocross. Why spectators feel the need to hand something to a rider already struggling with jumping on and off a bike, I do not know. Coupled with cowbells, horns, and heckling - hand-ups are the ultimate entertainment of the spectator. Beer handups are tradition, but in Las Vegas at Cross Vegas (Cross Vegas - Vegas style), money is handed up to the riders, and that money originates in all sorts of places where some dare not tread. There is even evidence of a pickled herring handup in Chicago. This year Colorado favored the classic bacon hand-up.
nothing like a slice of bacon during a bike race Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
Gear
These are cyclocross bikes. Not a mountain bike, not a road bike, cyclocross bikes have slightly wider tires with equipment able to tolerate mud and snow while light enough to carry on one's back. Cyclocross is a perfectly beautiful reason to construct or buy an entirely new bike. And a new bike is always a good thing.
Yes expensive carbon wheels are used in CX as well.Photos by Karen at PedalDancer
Love the disc brakesPhotos by Karen at PedalDancer
Fun
First thing to know about cyclocross is it is supposed to be fun. Fun is the one word I hear often after a race. I fight the instinct to flee when a sweaty, slobbering, muddy rider approaches after a race because I know the chances of hearing "that was fun," are likely and worth it. That is the whole point of being at a cross race - fun. Little kids do cyclocross too. They categorize racers into age groups, otherwise there would be no telling the kids from the adults because all the riders are out there falling and jumping around in the dirt and calling it a sport.
Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
Fit
The next thing to know about cyclocross is you need to be fit. Unless you don't really intend to race (video), or are a spectator in which case you just need to have excellent heckling skills, ability to ring a cow bell loudly, good taste in beer, and the ability to digest barbequed sausages. But to race a cyclocross race you must be impermeable to the elements, able to race through the echos of insults, think clearly after spiking your heartrate to an unimaginable recovery level, and never ever give up. Ever.
If you want to see more pictures from the pros, visit the list of photographers on 303Cycling.com, they are good. There are also some videos on their website, including this really good video by Jamie Servaites of the Mens Open race.
2012 Colorado CX Champ
This year Yannick Eckmann won the Mens SM Open Category. I wrote a piece on a young 19-year old Yannick last year: A study of Yannick Eckmann. And this is a video of Yannick winning a race in 2011 in Boulder, Colorado (he is fast).
Cyclocross Nationals and Worlds 2012/2013
Cyclocross season in Colorado runs from September - December every year. All ages welcome. For an event schedule please visit: Bicycle Racing Association Colorado Race Events. Cyclocross Nationals consist of riders from Oregon, California, North
Caroline, Michigan, Wisconsin, other cold states and Colorado, a state which tends
to proudly dominate.
Photo by Karen at PedalDancer
It's not too late to take in some cyclocross racing online. Cyclocross Nationals are January 9-13, 2013 in Madison, Wisconsin CX Nationals website. Cycloscross Worlds are being held in the United States this year, February 1-3, 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky CX Worlds website.
Yes there is a world champion of cyclocross, the current title holder is 26-year old Niels Albert of Belgium. Sven Nys of Belgium is currently leading the world rankings for the 2012/2013 season, a fierce competition will surely unfold in Kentucky. The CX world champion woman is Marianne Vos of The Netherlands, although Katie Compton of the USA is currently ahead of Vos in the 2012/2013 rankings.The current American National Champions are Jeremy Powers (Rapha-FOCUS) and Katie Compton (Trek Cyclocross Coalition). Katie has won that title every year since 2004 except 2011. Wow.
The beauty of Colorado Cyclocross - I was kidding about the spin class comment above, but you probably figured out I was kidding about most of this post. Happy Holidays!
If you live in Colorado, this is the day that you can donate to one of your favorite charities. The state-wide charitable day of giving is coordinated through GivingFirst.org by Community First Foundation and FirstBank to encourage 24 hours of giving where you live.
I gave
I gave to Trips for Kids a great program to get kids out to experience riding a bike. Their focus is youth development, environmental awareness, and health and fitness for kids. My friend Dustin gives his time to this wonderful charity. Dustin recently told me, "It’s pretty cool to see the reaction from some of these kids when they first see a “meadow”. Born and raised in Denver, yet don’t get to see a meadow until they're 13?!?!"
I like the Earn a Bike program - one of several programs in 2012 - through which 300 kids got involved in reconditioning and maintaining 300 bikes, the very bikes they would be riding.
Dustin explained that GivingFirst.org provides a proportionate match to any donations made to participating charitable organization, so today is the day to give. If you like - you can donate to Trips for Kids here. Or select your own Colorado charity from the search boxes on this page at www.givingfirst.org. 100% of every donation goes to the charity.
Give a little, it feels good, and results in good.
Trips for Kids Denver provides mountain bike outings and environmental
education to disadvantaged, urban youth who would not otherwise be
exposed to such activities. Our outings create a positive, fun outdoor
experience for children, while teaching valuable lessons about living a
healthy lifestyle, promoting environmental awareness, and fostering
self-esteem. Read more
Update: 2012 Colorado Give Day resulted in over $15 million donated by over 65,000 donors to 1258 different charities in Colorado. A 20% increase compared to Colorado Gives Day 2011.
After yesterday's route announcement for the 2013 Amgen Tour of California, I had a friend claim I preferred ATOC because I am a "Caligirl", whereas he prefers the USA Pro Cycling Challenge (I claim because he has never been to ATOC and because he likes races with really long confusing names). Sure I
was born and raised in California, but I have lived in Colorado for over 22
years. Forget what I say in the right-hand column of this blog about "light on
opinion, ... heavy on joy of the sport" because I have an opinion when it
comes to pro racing in America. Okay in any country. Without a doubt the Tour of California is better
I tried to find the hard facts on fan turnout and viewers who watched and tracked and tweeted, but I am no fool - they fudge those numbers, "almost 1 million fans" last year became "over 1 million fans" this year, as if they would report "slightly less than almost 1 million fans for year two of the USA Pro Challenge." Who are we kidding - I went to both, and both races had fewer fans this year. So instead I will argue my case with pure emotional opinion (this is after all a blog).
Amgen Tour of California (ATOC), now in it's 8th year, is in a whole different league above both the USA Pro Challenge and the Tour of Utah. ATOC attracts much better teams, much better riders, full out new matchy-matchy team equipment and major team support. The race actually means something on the race calendar and so do the results. The USA Pro Challenge is a notch above Tour of Utah which I am told really is the hardest of the three races and deserves much more attention than it gets. Truth is, sadly few care about the USA Pro Challenge abroad and the poor TV coverage didn't help. The name is vague and no one knows where Colorado is located. Most Europeans and Americans do know where California is located - thanks to Baywatch.
Maybe it was the name, the hyped marketing, the poor timing of the Armstrong news, or that the Vuelta was just so darn good last year, but the USA Pro Challenge drew light traffic. In my view, the Pro Challenge is more like a community race, not an international race, but perhaps that is exactly why my friend preferred the "PCC" as he calls it, because it has that hometown race feel (after all every stage included a town that was reportedly Tom Danielson's hometown).
In contrast, in the years I attended the Amgen Tour of California, I watched some truly awesome riders race - Mark Cavendish, Tom Boonen, Fabian Cancellara, Oscar Freire, Peter Sagan and others. Most of the best in the sport have paraded through the rosters of the teams in California. Also if you love bikes and top equipment, ATOC is a bike junkies delight. The best frames and wheels, shinny new apparel, big buses, top staff members. "Come on," I said to my friend, "Levi was in a Cruise America RV at the Pro Challenge."
I was a total sucker for, and in great admiration of, Timmy Duggan's American National Road Championship win in 2012 with hardly any team support (other than the fabulous Ted King, et al) because it was real grass roots and no smoke and mirrors. I believe the USA Pro Challenge however should know it's place in year two. Honesty is best and promising huge crowds to these small mountain towns, while charging large fees to be host cities, without delivering, is misleading. Also it is noticeable that the number of sponsors for the Pro Challenge are fewer than for the Tour of California. This stuff matters for the longevity of a race.
Tour of California is really the only big race this country has so far, with the USA Pro Challenge building steam. I'd rather see one strong well-supported race that will last. Amgen heroically contributes over 4 million a year to fund the Tour of California (which costs almost 1.5 million a day to operate and is still not profitable). The Pro Challenge (with similar operating costs) is costing the major financial backer Rick Schaden far more in personal millions (over 10), than they receive simply because they are trying to develop a good race into the future, which I appreciate, but please don't over-inflate the status. According to the Sports Business Journal the Tour de France has an estimated operating budget of $100 million
and is thought to net $30 million to $50 million in profit, the majority
from TV rights, and has been going strong since 1903.
Signs of Change
The United States only has five races sanctioned by the sport’s international
governing body, the Union Cycliste International (UCI), with one possible new addition in 2013 - the Keystone Open. But just today CyclingNews reports that the Tour of Battenkill, now in it's 9th year, has thrown away it's connection as a UCI sanctioned race, stating "It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to have that UCI tag on an event,
at least at our level, because it has such a negative connotation with
the public and sponsors." Also the long-running Philadelphia TD Bank International (29th year) has been renamed the American Cycling Classic race and downgraded from 1.HC to 1.2. The Tour of California,
Tour of Utah, and USA Pro
Challenge remain the three big stage races in America.
7 golden rules of travel
I further support this emotional argument (or as my friend called it "quite a rant") with the 7 golden rules of travel - cost, convenience, calendar, companions, consumption, activities, and bang for the buck.
Cost
Hotels in both states will run you $120-$160 a night. Colorado however has far more camping available. Flights to major cities are less costly. Denver is a major hub but you will need to rent a car and add on a day to drive deep into the Rocky Mountains.
Convenience
Getting to a stage-race start in Durango, Colorado, takes a bit more logistics than arriving into San Diego, Los Angeles or San Francisco, which probably explains the low turn out at the start of the 2012 USA Pro Challenge(and why Durango did not bid for the race to return in 2013).
Calendar
A fairly basic 1-week stage race in May has a better chance of fitting into a team's training plans than a race late in the season when rider health and fitness and availability becomes a question.
Companions
I have a family who routinely gathers for stages of the Tour of California. They also travel to the Tour de France, Giro, Criterium du Dauphine, but they won't come here to Colorado. Why - because the feel of the race just doesn't compare.
Consumption
Food in California is fresh and wonderful, so is the wine, although Colorado specializes in small micro-breweries. Let me just say, a meal in Santa Barbara or San Francisco will always top a meal in Colorado Springs or Steamboat Springs.
Activities
Chasing the tour is easier in Colorado, with plenty of outside activities before and after each stage available nearby, but the day at the race (in my opinion) is more fun in California.
Bang for buck
If you are looking for that European grandiose mood of a pro race - go to California. If you want to have more exposure to the riders and Directeur Sportifs - go to California. If you want better VIP - California. If you want to ride to a tough and fun mountain top finish - California. If you want to ride incredible mountain scenery in between the stages (except for the tradition of hostile throwing of tacks on the road in this state) - Colorado. If you want knowledgeable fans - Colorado. If you want tender small town moments along the routes with riders (the reverse high-five gestures) - Colorado. If your want spectacular scenery and smaller roads - Colorado. If you want the ultimate ProTour fan experience - go to Belgium. I know, I love France and I will always take a small stage of the Tour de France on a weekday, or any mountain top finish, but Belgium (not Boulder) is the cycling center of the Universe.
The results speak for themselves
Winners of the 2012 Tour of California - Peter Sagan / Robert Gesink (GC)
Winner of the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge - Christian Vande Velde
Winner of the 2012 Tour of Utah - Johann Tschopp
Inside view
This past year I got to experience these races from the perspective of being Press. The level and professionalism of the Press at the ATOC was far above the USA Pro Challenge. Press at Tour of California worked hard and were better organized, they seemed more selectively chosen, and produced a good variety of news. USAPro had a lot of unafiliated photographers who were simply posting to their private Facebook pages. It was like the Open category compared to the Junior category at a local race. It feels good to be part of a well run race.
In 2012, I was fortunate to attend the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Tour of California, Tour de France, and the USA Pro Challenge. I experienced excitement, thrills, hard bike climbs, fantastic food, and moments that far exceeded expectations. I met amazing fans and got to know many of the riders much better. But I can honestly say - I didn't have fun at the USA Pro Challenge. Traveling should be fun, being a fan should be fun, cycling should be fun. The Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix were FUN!
I will attend both the Amgen Tour of California and the USA Pro Challenge again this year, although I must admit a loud cheer rang out when I heard that Boulder was not bidding for a stage in 2013. I saw Boulder's stage last year as an attempt to secede from the Union. It was as if Boulder was creating a race within the race and taking full personal credit when truly none of the USA Pro Challenge would be possible without the backing of Rick and Rich Schaden and the organization of Medalist Sports. Plus I can easily envision all those Boulder cyclists riding their bikes north to Loveland or Estes Park for 2013.
Give it to me straight
Eight years of planning a race versus two years probably explains much when I compare the Tour of California to the USA Pro Challenge, but I am tired of people not being direct about this sport, not everything is peachy and I would want to know where to best spend my time and money. I spoke with both cyclists and non-cyclist this past year who had gone to the USA Pro Challenge the first year, but hadn't managed to get out to a stage the second year. "You gotta go," I said. It is vital that fans turn out on race day. We need to fight for these races to stay viable, and honesty is the best policy. Don't tell us that over 1 million fans came, tell us that every one of those 1 million fans were important. This is not the time to fake that all is okay.
Don't deny that we face a challenge to sustain and build the sport of cycling in the United States. 2012 was a rough year, but we are Americans, we know how to rebuild from the ground up.
So back to the topic of the route of the 2013 Amgen Tour of California - yes, the route is much better than last year - so GO! I have already made 2 hotel reservations and called family to 'save the date'.
See you at the race!
Update 12/11/12: VeloNews.com says the USA Pro Challenge is better. But keep in mind they are a Boulder, Colorado, based publication and extremely dependent on a good PR relationship to keep their place as the number one news source for the race, so if the race grows, so will VeloNews' access. And we all know that access and not stepping on toes, and reporting the right news, is good for journalists, never mind the fans. This close relationship in cycling journalism, may also be why Lance Armstrong was left to run his empire for years. But VeloNews shockingly calls the best race in America the USA Pro Challenge, and the best day of racing - the Flagstaff stage, held out their back door. I guess we all like going to see a pro race after sleeping in our own beds and then create history out of convenience. Read: Velo Best Race: USA Pro Challenge; Most Dramatic Day of Racing: Rory Sutherland wins on Flagstaff.
In my opinion that little local stage did not compare to this - the most dramatic stage win of 2012 - Stage 15 of the 2012 Giro d'Italia when an attack 18km into the race held all the way until the end, even when challenged within the last hundreds of meters.
I would however like to give praise to the online Tour Tracker announcing by Neal Rogers and Brian Holcombe (VeloNews staff members). Their race announcing was a highlight from the 2012 USA Pro Challenge. I hope to hear more from those two.
.
ATOC DATES
May 12-19, 2013 8 stages 750-mile race 16 teams 128 riders
Start: Escondido, CA (San Diego County) - southern California
Finish: Santa Rosa, CA (Sonoma County) - northern California
Mt Diablo - Time Trial in San Jose - South to North Route - Santa Barbara - Golden Gate Bridge
The route for the 2013 Amgen Tour of California is about to be announced (see info on the route below ...). You can watch the Press Conference LIVE in just a few minutes at 1:00pm PST (California time) at this link: [COMPLETE] Watch Tour of California Route Announcement Live. I'm excited for this year's race. Setting a good route for 2013 is
important for the health of the race and to keep it's place as the #1
stage race in America - "America's Greatest Race". I will be there, for
sure.
2013 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA SCHEDULE, DATES, HOST CITIES
The 8-day stage route runs from south to north this year and has a mountain top finish on Mt Diablo! (The last 100 meters are 17% grade). Finally finishing in Santa Rosa where a nice local glass of Sonoma County grown wine will be well-deserved.
How brilliant to flip the direction of the race. I love it, the mountains included are great, and Santa Barbara is back on the schedule. Fantastic news for the fans for one of the most beautiful cities in California to again be included in the race. I have missed Santa Barbara's inclusion, I am sad not to see Solvang as the host of the ITT (the town will always be my favorite) but San Jose has earned the right. The community of San Jose has been a host city every year since the beginning of the Tour of California and has the ability to be impressively organized.
Huge news - the 2013 Tour of California is going across the Golden Gate Bridge again!
Stage Date Route(Exact stage route to be announced in January 2013)
Stage 1 Sunday, May 12 Escondido
Stage 2 Monday, May 13 Murrieta to Greater Palm Springs
Stage 3 Tuesday, May 14 Palmdale to Santa Clarita
Stage 4 Wednesday, May 15 Santa Clarita to Santa Barbara
Stage 5 Thursday, May 16 Santa Barbara to Avila Beach
Stage 6 Friday, May 17 San Jose (Individual Time Trial) (mens & womens)
Stage 7 Saturday, May 18 Livermore to Mt. Diablo
Stage 8 Sunday, May 19 San Francisco to Santa Rosa
Last year Pedal Dancer had a crew at the race, read more at: 2012 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA. We'll be back in 2013, see you at the race in May!
Comments: They should have filled the seats (or had no seats) at the press conference today to make it appear like it was well attended, because it was not, which was not a good sign. Although a very good sign is that the stage-race includes the major biking counties of San Diego, Santa Barbara and Sonoma. I say - take the race to the cycling fans! With this route, the organizers of the Tour of California have done just that! This is a route where we can ride our bikes to the race!
Is it a good route? There
are climbs in them hills! This year's route includes the cycling
communities of San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Sonoma counties, there is
no reason why the first stages could not include some punchy climbs,
especially if they are placed early in the stages and early in the tour.
"Show up ready to race on day 1" is what the ATOC needs. I remember last year gave us a solo breakaway into Big Bear which actually held
- that was excitement. And the look of pain on the rider's faces up Mt
Baldy - that was real. Take this race back to the small cities (give
them a break on the price), to the beautiful roads, to the cyclists/fans who
like to ride to a stage, to the people who stroll through the expo area,
to the GC who must race from day one - and this race will be one worth
watching and attending. I don't need epic, I want good racing. I also
don't need it to be hyped as anything other than what it is - the best
stage race America has to offer. And please - give the sponsors more
exposure, in these rocky days of cycling, if money still talks, we need
to show up and listen.
Note: The Tour of Romandie is April 22-28, 2013 in Switzerland. The Giro d'Italia runs from May 4-26, 2013 in Italy (thus riders in the Giro will not be at ATOC). The Criterium du Dauphine takes place June 2-9, 2013 in France.
Tis' the season for cyclocross and this race had a run up. The Run Up from Hell they called it, and it was pure entertainment. Spectators gathered to watch riders attempt a steep half-frozen muddy hillside on a cool morning in Colorado. Most times I try not to post pictures that make people look bad, but in this case bad was good. How could I not laugh (and heckle) at people falling and slipping all over a hillside. I was laughing so much (and I was not the only one) my lens was shaking. Lots more pictures at this link from Big Ring Cyclocross, Parker, Colorado, November 24, 2012 - by Karen at Pedal Dancer. Or at 303Cycling.com
looks like they are taking the ridge
Gage Hecht
friends - a day at the race
See you next Sunday at Castle Cross (Castle Cross Gold).
