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!

Riders at the 2013 Giro d'Italia

GIRO - Pro Tour

Riders in the 2013 Giro d'Italia

The Giro d'Italia begins tomorrow. Twenty-three teams of 9 riders each will roll across the hills and plains, and over the mountains of Italy for the next three weeks. The Giro is pageantry and competition at its best.

See the full preliminary roster of 207 riders from 23 teams of the Giro at VeloNews.com: Giro roster 2013 or at Steephill.TV.

Any rider who will be competing in the 2013 Giro d'Italia will obviously not be racing at the Amgen Tour of California, where I will be, enjoying the other riders on this list: Riders at the 2013 Amgen Tour of California

Some of the key riders competing in the 2013 Giro d'Italia which begins tommorow include:

SKY: Bradley Wiggins, Christian Knees, Danny Pate, Uran
Cannondale: Damiano Caruso, Elia Viviani (Ivan Basso pulled out this week due to a cyst)
BMC: Cadel Evans, Taylor Phinney, Marco Pinotti
Garmin-Sharp: Ryder Hesjedal, Peter Stetina, Thomas Dekker, David Millar, Christian Vande Velde, Tom Danielson
Omega-Pharma Quickstep: Mark Cavendish, Pauwels
Orica-GreenEdge: Matt Goss, Luke Durbridge, Michael Matthews, Weening
RadioShack Leopard Trek: George Bennett, Yaroslav Popovych, Jesse Sergent
Saxo-Tinkoff: Majka, Boaro, Daniel Bennati, Matti Breschel, Karsten Kroon, and Rory Sutherland
Astana: Vincenzo Nibali
Blanco: Robert Gesink, Paul Martens, Wilco Kelderman, Maarten Tjallingii, Jack Bobridge
Argos Shimano: Thomas Damuseau, Koen de Kort, John Degenkolb, Patrick Gretsch

Looking back at the podium - 2012 General Classification winners of the Giro d'Italia
Final General Classification last year

1. HESJEDAL, Ryder (GARMIN-BARRACUDA) 91:39:02
2. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) + 0:16
3. DE GENDT, Thomas (VACANSOLEIL-DCM) + 1:39

* Thomas De Gendt will not be returning in 2013, he will be at the Tour of California.

2013 Pedal Dancer top bets for overall win at Giro d'Italia

1. Bradley Wiggins 
2. Robert Gesink
3. Vincenzo Nibali  

More information: 21 Stages, Previous winners, Top-10 GC ranking of riders at GIRO:
See the statistics page by ProCycling Stats - 2013 96th Giro d'Italia (WT) 

I can't wait for three glorious weeks of watching early morning bike racing across the hills, along the coastline, and over the mountains of Italy. May is here!

Riders to watch for at the Giro d'Italia

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

Bradley Wiggins

Bradley Wiggins at 2012 Tour de France  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Robert Gesink

Robert Gesink at 2012 Tour of California  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Vincenzo Nibali

Vincenzo Nibali at the 2012 USA Pro Challenge  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Cadel Evans

Cadel Evans at 2012 USA Pro Challenge  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Rory Sutherland

Rory Sutherland has hit the big time and will lead the Saxo-Bank Tinkoff squad to the Giro in 2013  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Yaroslav Popovych

Yaroslav Popovych at 2012 Tour de France   ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Taylor Phinney

Taylor Phinney at 2012 USA Pro Challenge  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Peter Stetina

Peter Stetina at 2012 USA Pro Challenge  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Christian Vande Velde

Christian VandeVelde at the USA Pro Challenge  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Tom Danielson

Tom Danielson at 2012 USA Pro Challenge  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Wilco Kelderman

Wilco Kelderman at 2012 Tour of California  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Koen de Kort

Koen de Kort at 2-12 Tour de France  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Jerome Pineau

Jerome Pineau at 2012 Tour de France   ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Maarten Tjallingii

Maarten Tjallingii telling a story to my sister-in-law Suz at the 2012 Tour of California  ©By Mike at Pedal Dancer®

This year the Columbia team will not be at the Tour of California, they will be at the Giro d'Italia! Good Luck to them.

Team Columbia is going to the Giro, meanwhile Frankie Andreu will be back at the Tour of California, but as a Team Director for 5-hour Energy Powered by Kenda Racing Team.  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Image of the Day: Edvald Boasson Hagen

This is a great picture

I just came across this fantastic picture I took of Edvald Boasson Hagen at the 2012 Tour de France last July in Annonay, France.

Edvald Boasson Hagen  ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer®  (click image to enlarge)

Some riders just make me smile - Edvald is certainly one of them. He is also the current Norwegian Road Race Champion.

I am collecting some images of riders I took last year who will be riding in the Giro or in the Tour of California (for a post coming tomorrow ...).  Edvald is not on the list of riders racing the Giro for Team Sky this year. Shucks, looks like we'll have to wait until the Tour de France.

Read Team Sky's Race Guide Giro d'Italia (excellent) to see who they will bring to the Giro under team captain Bradley Wiggins.

And check out the new Team Sky Pinarello time trial bike they will launch this weekend. Pinarello launch the Bolide

Team Skys new Pinaerllo Bolide Time Trial Bike.  Photo from the Team Sky website

A bolide is a fireball, could be related to a meteor, which means this bike is FAST. Read more about the Pinarello Bolide

Photo of the Day: Bicycle Colorado Gala

Colorado Cycling Scene

Last Friday I was happy to attend the Bicycle Colorado Gala fundraising event. I especially enjoyed talking with Chris McGee and Keith Nordstrom of our local Bicycle Racing Association of Colorado (BRAC), and Kris Thompson and Amy Thompson of 303Cycling.

I am a regular reader of 303Cycling.com, and I am honored to have some of my photographs featured on the top banner of the BRAC website. I check into both websites regularly to read about upcoming races and local Colorado race results and news. It was very enjoyable to speak with these enthusiastic cyclists who contribute so much to the local bike scene here in Colorado.

Just a reminder that the Koppenberg race is this Sunday, May 5, 2013, in Superior, CO. This race is always a fun one to race or watch. See the Koppenberg Race Flyer for more details. Also join in a recent discussion on 303Cycling.com about your favorite race or event in the area.

Chris McGee (BRAC), Kris Thompson (303Cycling), Keith Nordstrom (BRAC), and Karen Rakestraw (Pedal Dancer) at the 2013 Bicycle Colorado Gala in Denver, Colorado

California Here I come

Right back were I started from

It is May and that means the Tour of California begins one week after the Giro d'Italia. Ain't May great. If you can't make it to Italy for a spectacular team time trial in the 2013 Giro d'Italia, why not head to California? I'll be there, joined by my brother Mike, and trusty photographer and friend Willie. We plan to have some fun in California, my home state.

Sometimes I do things right

One trick I have learned as a fan, is to make accommodation reservations early for popular host cities. Way back in November, when the route of the 2013 Tour of California was announced, I saw an incredible "Cycling Holiday" opportunity when the organizers paired a Stage Finish in the town of Santa Barbara, with a Stage Start in Santa Barbara the very next day. This combo suits the cycling tourist perfectly, and I scurried to make a modest reservation at the Marina Beach Motel.

Today I pulled up that hotel reservation I made in Santa Barbara to discover the Finish of Stage 4 is 1.3 miles away and the real Start of Stage 5 is 1 block away. One block!! YES. A bit of time spent cross-referencing some of the leading reservation sites for reviews, knowing a bit about Santa Barbara, plus pure luck, has me perfectly situated to attend two stages of the Tour of California in convenient style.

Will you be traveling to see the Tour of California in Santa Barbara?

Read the official Amgen Tour of California City Spotlight page: Santa Barbara - host city to Stages 4 and 5.

Location of Santa Barbara in California. Photo from www.countyofsb.org

CYCLING: ATOC Tour Organizers have collected five recommended cycling routes (with maps) in the area, check them out at: Cycle Santa Barbara Routes (below). Or try the Sideways Film Location Ride II (52.3 miles). Or more ideas of rides from BikeMap.net.

1. Hope Ranch Loop
2. Montecito Loop
3. Mountain Drive Loop
4. Carpinteria Loop
5. Gibralter / East Camino Cielo

WINERIES: Santa Barbara is also wine country, if you have the interest, read more: Santa Barbara County Wineries, or see the PDF file of the Tasting Rooms map.

They have a few wineries in Santa Barbara County - this is California!

SURFING & BEACHES: If you think of Santa Barbara as the Rincon and surfers, check out the surf and beaches of Santa Barbara. Or read more descriptions, information and photos at TravelGrom's Surf Spots Santa Barbara.

wannaSurf.com location of surfing beaches in Santa Barbara (click image to enlarge or see additional map)

From Evan Thomas, a local who writes a Santa Barbara surf and travel blog titled TravelGrom, comes this advice, "Point Conception divides Santa Barbara into two surfing areas, North County and South County.  North County is isolated and wind-swept.  Only hardcore surfers make trips to these waves.  There have also been several fatal shark attacks in North County. South County is more user-friendly, but less consistent.  The best time to surf Santa Barbara is in the winter, when big west swells enter the Santa Barbara channel." Thank you Evan for sharing the news.


PEDAL DANCER FAN TRAVEL GUIDE

If you have come to Santa Barbara to simply watch the race and celebrate with other fans; the city of Santa Barbara has lots of activities planned for spectators: Santa Barbara spectators

My dream trip to Santa Barbara as a fan at the Tour of California will entail:

Stage - Finish into Santa Barbara

ATOC - Map location of Stage 4 Finish in Santa Barbara

DAY 1 2013

• Early in the morning, drive Hwy 101 into Santa Barbara.
• Have an early lunch at La Super Rica Taqueria (622 N Milpas St, open 11am, CLOSED WEDNESDAYS), good Mexican food, selecting any small dish specials from the chalk board (cash only). Some claim that Los Agaves Restaurant is even better (larger portions) with a nice atmosphere and food, one block down from La Super Rica (at 600 N Milpas St). Or for out-of-towners, perhaps a beach setting at Boathouse at Hendry's Beach (2981 Cliff Dr.) for its location.
• Stroll the shops along State Street. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and a treat at The Anderson (1106 State St) and walk down to the ocean, or hop on the shuttle bus, continue along the beach (left) parallel to Cabrillo Blvd to Cabrillo Park (2.3 miles).
• Walk around the Finish area and the ATOC Lifestyle Festival village. Scout out the location of the team buses and the final podium stage.
• Line up about 100-200 feet before the finish line along the barriers to watch a fast bunch sprint for the line (the finish is typically around 4:30pm). Or join in the fun at the $75 Finish Line Viewing Party.
• Watch the podium presentation and then go to the team buses just for the fun of it.
• It's time for a nice glass of California wine. Be spontaneous.
• And then a good dinner, perhaps a visit to Tupelo Junction (1218 State Street, 5pm-close, happy hour 5-7pm), or Le Petit Valentien (1114 State St), The Wine, Cask, Downey's, Louie's, Opal, Zia Cafe, The Brewhouse. (more suggestions coming)
• Return to my conveniently located hotel, download photos and post to my blog.
• Sleep well, excited that this California native, now living in Colorado, is meters from ocean waves breaking on the sand. 

What a great location for a race day hotel!

location of my hotel - it pays to plan ahead

Stage - Start in Santa Barbara

ATOC - Map location of Stage 5 Start in Santa Barbara

DAY 2  2013

• Rise and Shine
• Breakfast at Backyard Bowls (331 Motor Way, open at 7am) in the Lower State Street area. Or you could try the old original Sambo's just a couple blocks from the start (216 W Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara), for the most traditional basic American breakfast.
• Head to the Start area to watch the team soigneurs and mechanics set-up for the days race near the hotels where the team buses will be located.
• Locate the start line (same as the finish location of yesterday's stage) and sign-in stage, so I can visit all and figure out how to best move around between the areas.
• When the team buses and riders begin to appear (approx. 1.5-2 hours before the start) walk around trying to recognize my favorite riders. Watch the rider procession up and down the sign-in stage, or position myself where I can see the riders come and go from their team buses to the stage. *Tip: If you see Bob Roll, follow him, he will be interviewing the top race favorites, who will come out of their team bus for the interview, which you can overhear live.
• Find a place behind the start line (where you will be right next to them) to watch the riders line up and wait for the stage start, listen to them sing the national anthem before rolling away on their way to Avila Beach.
• After the stage start, try a late breakfast or lunch on the beach at the casual basic Shoreline Cafe (801 Shoreline Dr., 9am-8pm) located along the shoreline near the start. Or a later drink with a touristy view at the Endless Summer Bar-Cafe.
• If you are departing Santa Barbara to the south, continue along Hwy 101 to the town of Carpinteria. Stop for a burger at The Spot (389 Linden Ave, 10-6:30pm) and then walk the nice State Beach nearby.

Sambos in Santa Barbara.  Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer

Transportation

Downtown-Waterfront Electric Shuttle (9am - 6pm): "The Downtown-Waterfront Shuttles provide frequent service along State Street and the Waterfront area. Shuttle buses and bus stops are marked with blue and black sailboat symbols and the shuttles travel on State Street from Sola Street to Stearns Wharf and along Cabrillo Boulevard from the Harbor to the Zoo. The shuttle fare is 50 cents one-way. State Street service includes a stop every block and runs daily every 10 minutes between 10am and 6pm."  For more information, visit: Waterfront Shuttle in Santa Barbara.
Printable map with bus stop list (398KB PDF)

Waterfront shuttle map in Santa Barbara

Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle Sign - look for the sign and get on the bus

Being a fan at the Tour of California

All this fun and that was only two of eight total stages of the 2013 Tour of California.

I will also be attending Stages 1 & 2 in the San Diego area. I will be staying near Escondido where my friend and fellow Pedal Dancer photographer Willie already has a group dinner planned for us at The Stone Brewery in Escondido. What fun that will be.

Although I will be doing Media again this year for the race (Stages 1-5), much of my day will be spent as a fan and tourist in California. After all being a cycling tourist is what truly attracts me to the Tour of California and chasing races. Well that and the food in California, or is it the beaches, the fast bikes, the fun fans, the weather, seeing friends and family.

I have a promise out to Joylynn, whom I met outside of Pau last year in France (she too was chasing the Tour de France), to take "more pictures of legs" at this year's Tour of California, maybe like this post from last year Time Trial legs. I am set on fulfilling that promise.

There will be lots of good riders at this year's Amgen Tour of California - look for tomorrow's post about which riders will be riding the Giro and which riders we can expect to see in California.

Santa Barbara Photos

Santa Barbara harbor area

Santa Barbara - the beach area where the Amgen Tour of California will start and finish in 2013

Lifeguard station.  Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer

Boats along the shore in Santa Barbara. Photo by Karen at Pedal Dancer

La Super-Rica Taqueria

La Super Rica's delicious food

The Boathouse at Hendry's Beach

The Boathouse at Hendry's Beach at night. Photo by Sabrina Huang

Tupelo Junction Cafe

Fresh food at Tupelo Junction

A morning bowl of goodness at Backyard Bowls

Shoreline Cafe

The Spot burger shack in Carpinteria, California

An American tradition

Carpinteria beach

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

Tom Boonen   ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein for PedalDancer.com

Options for viewing the race for Fans:

Stage 5 : Route Map  |  Route Profile  |  timetable  |  Santa Barbara spectators

Choose your experience: 

• Start Area: Lots to see as teams and riders prepare for the days race, fun photographs and autographs. Good for families and knowledgeable fans. Fantastic during Individual Time Trials as the riders warm up, weigh & measure bikes and roll down the start ramp.
• In any town: You can sit and enjoy a meal at a cafe and then go to the side of the road to watch the riders race by at any point along the route. Good for locals, tourists, or those wanting to avoid the crowds.
• In the countryside: You may picnic or hike before the riders come through on the road, then watch the flash of color roar by.
• On a mountain: Cycle out to a mountain pass to watch the riders climb - lots of atmosphere and fun with the fans. Good for cyclists or walkers.
• Finish Area: Enjoy a meal before or after the finish. Visit the Festival of vendors and sponsors. Watch a very fast exciting sprint finish to the line. Limited rider viewing, but fun anticipation and event atmosphere. 
• Stay over in a host city if possible, sometimes you will see staff walking around the bustling towns, mechanics working on the bikes, or the riders stopping in for an early morning coffee. 

Typical timing of a race day:

• 8:00-9:00 - arrive, park, have a meal in a restaurant or coffee shop (arrive 2-3 hrs before the start time), or begin your ride out onto the course. 
• 9:00-12:00 - watching fans, staff, riders at the Start area prepare for the day. Team buses arrive 1.5-2 hours before the start time. 
• 10:30-12:00 - the race begins from the Start village. The roads in the direction of the race will not be passable while the riders are racing on them. Individual Time Trials start about 1pm.
• 1:00-3:00 - riders hit the climbs for the day. Use your Apps to track the race.
• 2:00-4:00 - watching fans and waiting for riders at the Finish area. The Lifestyle Festival is typically large and active at the Finish. 
• 4:00-5:00 - riders race across the Finish line. 
• 5-5:30ish - awards ceremony on the podium at the stage near the finish line (within 30 minutes of the finish). Bikes are cleaned and packed up near the team buses. Riders might transfer to nearby team hotels in team cars. If the team travels to another city, they will load in the big team buses. 
• 5:30-7pm - give back to the host city and take in a meal or shop while the traffic settles. 

See you at the race!

Post race update: The hotel where I stayed had FREE beach cruiser bikes for use by their guests. I picked up a bike lock from the front desk, hopped on a bike, and rode over to the stage start from my hotel. It worked perfectly. The Belgian guys from team Omega Pharma-Quickstep were giggling as I rode up with media badge flapping, camera slung over my shoulder, and all smiles. California Crusin' at its best!

Reports from the race:

• Amgen Tour of California - Stage 5 results
• California Cruisin' - Stage 5, Tour of California
• California Cruisin' - Stage 4, Tour of California
• Amgen Tour of California - Stage 4 Results

For more information please see the Pedal Dancer Guide Page: TOUR OF CALIFORNIA
.