Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/10/2015 08:04 PM |
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I never bothered to check the route this year....just saw today that tomorrow's stage ends in Lodi. My uncle is the the current Mayor there. Just got off the phone with him and got a few interesting nuggets re: the negotiations, costs, etc.
Up until last week, they still didn't have a contract signed with the race organization as they were still negotiating what the city was going to provide re: hotels, etc.
Funds are coming primarily through fund raising and the city is providing the "soft" costs (road closures, OT for police, etc).
Lodi is pretty small town and hopefully it is a nice little boost to their economy.
Will interesting to see if he gets on any of the podium coverage after the race...told him to point and wink at the camera if he does. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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zootracer
Posts:835
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| 05/10/2015 08:57 PM |
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It comes right through my town tomorrow. To be more specific it comes right through my ride route. Hopefully I can time my ride to coincide with them passing through. Thinking of camping out on some hill for awhile.
Yeah Lodi is a small town. I don't think Auburn bidded this year to be a host city. $$$$$$$$ |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 05/14/2015 07:05 AM |
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A buddy of mine was the county director of emergency services when the Tour of Missouri ended in Springfield. He showed me a massive spreadsheet showing the anticipated intersection closing time based on three different average speeds. He said it was a more complex and costly event that when the president of the US flew into town a few years prior.
To secure the time trial route in Branson the highway department lined up what looked like hundreds of trucks to create a secure lane on the highway. Not a cheap or easy event to host.
Somebody do that linky thing...
http://kwc.org/cycling/photos/media/Stage_3__Branson/1024w/Copy%20of%20IMG_0719.JPG |
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thinline
Posts:325
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| 05/14/2015 07:39 AM |
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My neighbors are close friends with the parents of a guy riding for Optum by the name of Michael Woods. He's doing pretty well, I think 16th overall after yesterday. And, he's a climber and there are some hills in the days ahead. It will be interesting to see how he does. Kind of fun to have someone to root for because of a personal connection.
As an aside, it's been fun to see Jens V doing commentary. He has a much more playful personality than I would have expected. |
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zootracer
Posts:835
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| 05/14/2015 12:51 PM |
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I rode my bike out to Meadow Vista for stage 2. Sat on the top of a hill and waited for about an half hour. Well worth the wait. Only problem was I should have spotted myself on the inside of the curve. 4 man break-a-way with a 5 min lead then the whole peloton together. Really could not tell who was who. Lots of fans showed up to cheer them on.
On stage 3 coming down Mnt. Hamilton. The curves are tight. I took a spill way-back-when on a descent. It's tricky. I rode all those roads at one time or another. Brings back a lot of memories. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/14/2015 12:57 PM |
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Mnt Hamilton is nice; rode it once while living in Palo Alto although I mostly stuck to Old La Honda and other local roads (just minutes from doorstep).
Was flipping between Stage 2 rerun and Ducks-Flames game the other day...dang cycling needs some help as a TV spectator sport and I don't even like hockey. Watching grass grow until the final circuit. Stage 3 was exciting though. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/16/2015 08:19 PM |
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I'm not much of a Sagan fan, but DAMN....that was an impressive ride today. Hat's off.....
ETixx is gonna be glad to have Cav there, but he can't win all 3 places in the final sprint.
Hate it when time bonuses decide the outcome of stage races. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Inferno7
Posts:344
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| 05/16/2015 08:28 PM |
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agree impressive, he must be thinking two seconds two flipping seconds. Always good to win the race straight up, but didn't JA get a bonus today? Sagan seems to be the Gronkowski of the peloton he amuses me yes like a clown (don't tell Joe Pesci). Alaphilippe (sp) vs. Aru in the future??
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 05/16/2015 09:55 PM |
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They called Sagan the neXt Merckx; now Alaphillipe has been crowned the net Hinault. Impressive rides by both but that's funny.
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zootracer
Posts:835
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| 05/17/2015 01:02 AM |
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| Not much of a Sagan fan either, but turning into one. Gads, he was toast at the end. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 05/17/2015 01:23 PM |
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Cosmic, re time bonuses: if there were none, Sagan could try to get in a break (not very likely to happen) and barring that, he and Alaphillpe would roll over the finish line in their respective places today. And all the sprints would be just for points for the fast guys. As is, these sprints matter far more!
Today's race far more interesting because of the time bonuses. I see the bonuses as like extra points and two strike foul balls. You could get rid of them and "purify" the game, but is it better? And every athlete in every sport has to play by the same rules as everybody else (and if they are smart and able, use them to their advantage).
Ben |
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 05/17/2015 01:40 PM |
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Cosmic, does it get much better?
Ben |
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zootracer
Posts:835
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| 05/17/2015 02:46 PM |
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| Which rider broke his handlebars? Yikes!!! Can't find anything online about it..... |
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zootracer
Posts:835
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| 05/17/2015 03:20 PM |
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| Now saying stem... |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 05/17/2015 11:08 PM |
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Sure, the stage today was exciting...no doubt. Was actually shocked it was as close as it was. And pros to Alaphilipe for snatching that 1 sec bonus on the intermediate sprint.
But it doesn't really change my opinion much on time bonuses deciding races.
And let's face it....the only reason that this race came down to today was a relatively weak field and a fairly boring route.
Just my opinion..... |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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