2011 Tour of California

[creekster]

Bookmark this link

http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages.html

They announced the first three stage routes today (they already announced cities, but here are maps of the specific routes). More to come soon.

[PaloAltoCougar]

The first stage follows the 2009 CUF Ride, going past our finishing point twice. It will be interesting to compare times.

The second stage is also under consideration for the 2011 CUF Ride, although we'll cut off the last 70 miles or so as it's downhill, easy, and unworthy of Team CUF.

[PaloAltoCougar]

The Fourth Stage details are up, and I'm really excited about it, as they'll be going over portions of routes the missus and I do pretty much every week. But I've avoided the last two climbs, up Mt. Hamilton (over 4,000 feet, and I'm told it's like Mt. Diablo), and then a killer finish up Sierra Road. This will be a Tour de France-like finish that will really favor the climbers. Sierra Road (known locally at The Wall), is a steady climb of 3.5 miles with an average grade of 10%. I'm going to volunteer to help with the stage, and would love to be somewhere on that climb, or on Mines Road which I've done many times.

[creekster]

PAC that is an epic stage. Are you going to volunteer to course marshall then? I usualy try to do stuff around stage starts becasue there is always a lot for free stuff being handed out there. Yes, I am cheap and easily swayed by almost anythign free.

[PaloAltoCougar]

PAC that is an epic stage. Are you going to volunteer to course marshall then? I usualy try to do stuff around stage starts becasue there is always a lot for free stuff being handed out there. Yes, I am cheap and easily swayed by almost anythign free.

Good tip, I'll try that. I assume if I were so inclined I could help with the start and then take off for San Jose for the finish? I'm in. We'll also witness Stages 1 and 2 from the Tahoe Condo, riding portions of the them the day before.

[creekster]

Good tip, I'll try that. I assume if I were so inclined I could help with the start and then take off for San Jose for the finish? I'm in. We'll also witness Stages 1 and 2 from the Tahoe Condo, riding portions of the them the day before.

ABsolutely. We did that last year on the stage that left Davis. Ask to be security and ask to be assigned to a team detail, if possible. You do NOT wnat to work aparking lot. Unless it happens to be Lance's bus, which is what I did last year. The best job, I think, is working the clebrity tent at the start area. That was hard to get last year, though. Although the best way to get what you want is to show up a little early. Then you can usually pick it. In prior years the security guys got different color t-shirts from course marshalls. Last year, however, it was all day-glo orange.

[PaloAltoCougar]

ABsolutely. We did that last year on the stage that left Davis. Ask to be security and ask to be assigned to a team detail, if possible. You do NOT wnat to work aparking lot. Unless it happens to be Lance's bus, which is what I did last year. The best job, I think, is working the clebrity tent at the start area. That was hard to get last year, though. Although the best way to get what you want is to show up a little early. Then you can usually pick it. In prior years the security guys got different color t-shirts from course marshalls. Last year, however, it was all day-glo orange.

Again, great tips. I shall go and do.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I finally received an acknowledgment from the City of Livermore and I'm definitely in as a volunteer for the May 18 Stage. Volunteers are still needed, apparently.

[PaloAltoCougar]

The Tour starts Sunday, and the forecast is not pretty with rain and snow currently in the mix. Cuffers who did the Tahoe loop two years ago can appreciate the fun the riders will have as they go 1.5 times around, finishing up at Northstar when the wind and sleet should be especially fun. We'll be there, but I may view it on Versus from the comfort of our condo living room.

BTW, at the course marshal orientation I attended last week, I learned that Versus will be televising every stage live from start to finish. It will be fun, and very humbling, to see them cover roughly over 200 miles of our favorite routes (in half the time we do it).

[Parrot Head]

One of my co-workers went out for a lunchtime ride today and ended up on the training route alongside Hincapie and Team BMC for a bit. Needless to say, they weren't together very long.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Stage One is scheduled to begin in just over three hours, but we awoke a few minutes ago to discover six inches of new snow outside, and it's still coming down. The race's website states that an announcement concerning today's race will be made at 9:00 PDT. Major bummer.

[Coach McGuirk]

TOC is off to a great start. Today's stage has been moved to Nevada city.

[bluegoose]

Stage One is scheduled to begin in just over three hours, but we awoke a few minutes ago to discover six inches of new snow outside, and it's still coming down. The race's website states that an announcement concerning today's race will be made at 9:00 PDT. Major bummer.

This sure is wacky, especially considering that they moved the TOC to May to avoid the crappy weather they were getting in February.

[PaloAltoCougar]

This sure is wacky, especially considering that they moved the TOC to May to avoid the crappy weather they were getting in February.

It's very unfortunate. In the days leading up to yesterday's much anticipated first stage, the Tahoe area was rockin' with anticipation. We've never seen so many cyclists out, and there were lots of parties and signs on both ends of the lake. Then yesterday's storm totally destroyed everything. When we left to go home, 80 was essentially closed so we sneaked over Donner Pass on the small road that was once the only way over (and which we hope this year's CUF ride will include). The snow was coming down heavily, it was totally socked in, and a few cars had spun out and were stuck, but Mrs. PAC's trusty all-wheel drive got us over and home.

We've gone over the pass many times in December and January in much, much better conditions. It's been a crazy spring.

[bluegoose]

We've gone over the pass many times in December and January in much, much better conditions. It's been a crazy spring.

Glad that you guys made it home ok. It has been a crazy spring. Yesterday, we shattered the all time record for the lowest daily high temp. Previously, the lowest high had been 56, but yesterday we only hit 51, with rain, lightening and hail storms through much of the day.