DiabloScott

1. I really don't think the world needs another 3-week GT. There are lots of very prestigious and glorious 1-week stage races and I think we ought to concentrate on being one of the best of those rather than taking on the G T and V.

2. There is just no way there were 300,000 people there today. Consider this: the whole course was roughly 2 miles. Counting both sides of the street that makes 21,000 feet of curb space for spectators. Dividing 300,000 by 21,000 gives 14 people deep for EVERY FOOT OF THE COURSE! Now there were lots of people at both ends and at the expo, and there were some places that did have 14 people deep (not every foot though), but there was also a lot curb space where no one was standing. I just don't like it when people make up numbers (not you Mike - whoever told VeloNews).

AppStateEvan

The amount of commercials was disgusting.

TCR

Yea, there did seem to be A LOT!

DXchulo

A time machine? The Tour of California will never be able to match the history. Not only that, but they'd definitely have to change having it in February.

I'm glad their goals are high, and I hope the race is here to stay, but I agree that they should focus on the type of race they have going right now.

gregm

Hell yes.

Stood for hours at the fence right BEHIND the starting ramp. Saw every single rider get bike checked/weighed, and wait a couple of minutes to start the run. Chris Horner walked right up to this little boy next to us, and handed him his water bottle when it was his time to go up on the ramp. The wife & little baby daughter of Freddie Rodriguez were on the other side of us right before Freddie's run, and Freddie came over to give them a kiss. Mom kept saying, "Look, there's papa!" as Freddie was up on the ramp.

Thor, Paolo, George, Levi, Rasmussen, Jens, Ivan, Fabians C. & W., David Z., O'Grady, etc. etc. etc., each and every one zero to 3 meters away for a couple of minutes each. Dang, way too many pictures...!

It freakin' rocked.

Came home and watched the Versus coverage. I guess it was kinda ok... but it basically sucked compared to being there, which was unreal. Don't mean to rub it in, just callin' 'em like I see 'em.

Going to Santa Rosa tomorrow, and Sac on Tuesday!!!

-Greg

bdcheung

grem: you have got to create a gallery for these pics! WebShots, PhotoBucket, I don't care, but I'm sure there are TONS of BF'ers who wanna see the pics!

biffstephens

TIVO!!!!!

I didn't see one actually....

I thought it was great coverage, was a little miffed at the fact the Phil kept saying he hoped the clock wasn't wrong on Jason Donald's time.....Hey the guy could just hang....give him some credit...

I am for any coverage personally. I got the spanish channel last year to watch the Tour of Spain....I don't even speak the language....I will take what I can get and not look a gift horse in the mouth....

gregm

Ok, just barely dumped a couple hundred shots off of the card, haven't had a chance to really go through them. Here's something for starters... sorry about the slow connection. Will put more of them someplace faster, hopefully by tomorrow!!

Here's a taste... if you need captions, then I guess you're pro cycling's latest fan; welcome to the sport!

-Greg

SteveE

I was 50M from the finish line. Took some nice pictures (I'll try to post some later) but the battery died just as Levi came around the last corner. Great day. Lots of fun. Not as raucous as Fillmore St. at the now-defunct SFGP.

pokalex92

i also went to the prologue. pretty sweet. I was on stockton on the second hill, second turn. I'll try to post pics asap. but I must say, it was awesome! I missed basso though. levi was a powerhouse going up that hill.....

pokalex92

did paolo change his clothing before his time trial? b/c he wasn't wearing the world champ kit when I saw him.....

gregm

Yup.

-Greg

gregm

omg, lol -- so I was trying to get a clear pic of Paolo when he was queued up for the prologue. This guy was standing in the pit, pretty much blocking my shot. He noticed I was trying to take the picture, and he goes "You want a picture of Bettini?" What the heck, I give him my camera, he walks over to Paolo, and takes the pic.

The guy had on a T-Mobile sweater. I put two and two together tonight... my guest picture taker was none other than Bob Stapleton, manager of T-Mobile! Haha. How nice of him! Totally cool.

Here's Bob's picture of Paolo...

-Greg


Edit: ...and here is Bob talking to Levi! https://traffic.its.berkeley.edu/2007...s/Image98.html

gregm

Here is a link to 100 snapshots from today...

https://traffic.its.berkeley.edu/20070218_toc/

-Greg

G60

what should i expect if i go check out the finishing areas and their festivals?

on a whim i decided it would be fun to actually go and see part of the race in person.

i'll probably attend the finishing area of stage 4, in San Luis Opispo...what should i expect there? how early should i get there in order to get a good view?

NomadVW 

I might be wrong, but he would have to change because the event is not of the type he is World Champion in? (Same reason Hincapie changed)

DrPete 

You might be wrong, but you're not. That's exactly why. Only Cancellara wore the stripes for the TT.

NomadVW 

And Zabriskies stars&bars

TheKillerPenguin

very cool!

Also, it looks like Bettini is following herr Kaiser's training plan.

Dead Extra #2

Thanks for pics you lucky dog! How great is cycling? It's the only sport I know of where you can stand on the "playing field" with your heros.

botto 

what? the "look like i smelled someone's deviled egg fart" training plan?

TheKillerPenguin

I was thinking more like the all-you-can-eat strudel diet.

botto 

yeah, he was thinner last year:

branman1986

not to make it an OCP discussion, but what are your thoughts on Slipstream/Chipotle's argyle kits?

They're sorta GAP-ish, but I really like them, definitely different...

Snuffleupagus

I believe that he's on the chianti, lasagne, focaccia, pancetta and extra dolci meal plan

Ne voglio ancora?