Maybe I should pedal backwards
Where do I begin after a super fun "slightly over-scheduled week," as my sister-in-law kindly described my constant motion as a fan at the ATOC last week. Every evening the logistical decisions were made, every day the scramble would begin, every evening the satisfaction would settle in. Being a fan at the Amgen Tour of California is a combination of slightly unknown directions, lots of surprises, funny moments, excitement, and a growing familiarity.
When I see a Grand Tour or a stage race day after day, I begin to recognize people as if they were customers frequenting the same local coffee shop every day. Not only the riders, but the directeur sportifs, the mechanics, the crew, the officials, the cameramen, and even the fans that chase the race just like me.
You'll see families out for the day, school kids who have skipped school, bike clubs, local racers, people on cruiser bikes, characters in crazy costumes, couples, groups of friends, people who have never seen a bike race before, and individuals like me that come solo because we like it that much. Whether for a day or a week, being at the race in person is a pleasurable mix of exhaustion and delight. It is totally worth the journey!
I think I will begin with the Finish.
Sunday the 2011 Amgen Tour of California wrapped up in Thousand Oaks, CA, home to the biotechnology company Amgen, the primary sponsor of the race since it's inception in 2005. Every year the race has grown. Although I perceived there to be less people in Solvang this year than in 2009, Thousand Oaks made up for it with huge crowds. It was difficult to walk up and down the sidewalks, with limited ability to freely move around the course or area. The Lifestyle Village stretched for blocks, and the commercial aspect of the event was raging. It was big and crowded, and I hope worth all of the sponsors time and money. The fans appeared to be enjoying it very much.
Now it is picture time again.
This time pictures from Stage 8, the final stage. My day began in the modern bedroom-community of Santa Clarita in a parking lot, and ended in Thousand Oaks where I stood along the barrier at the spot where the sprint started before the finish line. There was lots of Chris Horner time at Stage 8, he put as much effort into his PR as he did racing. I of course, preferred the stage start, but I tend to enjoy being at the Start Villages, or on the actual route, on race day. The Finish Villages are more about atmosphere.
This year the race organizers planned a Tour route which allowed fans (in cars) to be at both the Start and the Finish on most (long) days. They also arranged multiple laps by the riders at the start or finish, which was thrilling to watch as a fan. I took advantage of the opportunity to see the start and finish on the same day since it can be less common at the Tour de France, and won't be possible at the new USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado this coming August 2011.
The End
STAGE FINISH in Thousand Oaks - pictures of Stage 8 Amgen Tour of California
At the Lifestyle Festival at the Finish area in Thousand Oaks waiting for the racers ...
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| The city is named after the numerous old oak trees |
For anyone wondering, this is what Spider Tech is: pre-packaged kenisiology tape
Um, Barry Bonds was a fan at the race for the day (really).
And then they came. How the race went down ...
Chris Horner in the Gold Leader's Jersey (below)
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| Grischa Niermann, Oscar Freire |
