This race has been a lot of fun to watch. 

Anyone catch Ben King's Strava from his breakaway victory on Monday? youch:

https://www.strava.com/activities/578595469/overview

Americas biggest stage race needs it's own thread!

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/california-analysis-let-the-mind-games-begin_218293

What the heck?!? The article is completely slanted towards the "grudge" match and the barely hidden animosity after last year's Mt. Baldy. To read the words actually spoken though it's the complete opposite: Horner has nothing but praise, admiration and respect for Levi.

What ever happened to the days when competitors could respect one another? Why does it have to be about personal animosity? Is this what the legacy of the uiniballer has left us? You have to hate the other guy to win?

I agree that Neal Roger's article is definitely slanted in a slightly disproportionate direction, however, that said. Pitting Chris "You want to know what I think, here's what I think and I don't care what you think about what I think" Horner against Levi "My only rival in boring pre-post corporate speak is George Hincapie" Leipheimer is sort of a tasty angle on an otherwise sleepy race. The passive aggressive media battle should keep these early stages interesting?

As much as I love the fact that ToC exists, it's usually been sort of a snooze fest to follow from a sporting perspective. Despite the fact that it's chock full of Pro Tour teams, the race always feels like a battle between 3 actual contenders, plus a field full of cat 2 pretenders. I mean, I know that's not actually the case, and the racers love TofC, prefer it to the Giro, some do; but I have a hard time getting amped up for this one.

Although a few years back, with Lance back in the saddle, Basso, Hamilton, Landis on hand, it felt really interesting and relevant. I wrote a blog about it in 2009

(http://ragweedmakesmesneeze.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-02-25T12:27:00-05:00&max-results=2&start=2&by-date=false)

This year, not so much. I'd rather be watching the Giro...except my cable company dropped Universal Sports and cyclingfan's internet links are terrible resolution.

But there is always Gazzetta TV with great streaming access.

Skipping the mind games and going straight to the race yesterday. I was pretty pumped how it unfolded. I thought the break had a good chance of staying away until they split from 8 down to 3. Then I still had my fingers crossed but figured they would get caught. Thought it was pretty cool that Sagan flatted at a very inopportune time and still won.

I don't have time to sit around and watch an entire stage, but I will tune in for the last 10k if I'm available. I posted this link on another thread but good coverage, free:

http://radioshacktourtracker.amgentourofcalifornia.com/

Sagan is a stud, I've ridden with him twice, and watched him accelerate like a bat out of hell, never seen any acceleration like it. Timmy Duggan did a ton of work to keep him safe today in the final 10 miles, and is a seriously nice guy in person.

How many times is this guy going to flat and still win?! The way he took the final turn then accelerated out of it was really impressive.

5th place...quietly proving that he's still got it, Fast Freddie Rodriguez finishes in the front of the front group riding for Team Exergy. Before he was superstar euro leadout dude (seriously, that guy gave good leadout) for Team Lotto, he rocked the domestic racing scene for powerhouse Team Saturn. Apologies for another name drop (too much reminiscing when you get old, slow and fat), but I'll never forget lining up at Downers Grove, looking to my right and saying to myself, "holy shit, I'm in the same race as Freddie Rodriguez!"

Posted By: Marc BertuccoApologies for another name drop (too much reminiscing when you get old, slow and fat), but I'll never forget lining up at Downers Grove, looking to my right and saying to myself, "holy shit, I'm in the same race as Freddie Rodriguez!"

Marc, have I ever told you about the time I raced against Francesco Moser former World, Paris Roubaix, and Giro Champion? It was epic... Maybe one day at Bunbury's I'll tell the tale.

click!
54 minutes, 19 seconds.
not bad

Posted By: Marc Bertucco5th place...quietly proving that he's still got it, Fast Freddie Rodriguez finishes in the front of the front group riding for Team Exergy. Before he was superstar euro leadout dude (seriously, that guy gave good leadout) for Team Lotto, he rocked the domestic racing scene for powerhouse Team Saturn. Apologies for another name drop (too much reminiscing when you get old, slow and fat), but I'll never forget lining up at Downers Grove, looking to my right and saying to myself, "holy shit, I'm in the same race as Freddie Rodriguez!"

He's a strong rider with quite a resume. Marc do you know what the story is behind him going from Lotto to Exergy?

Posted By: josephmueller
He's a strong rider with quite a resume. Marc do you know what the story is behind him going from Lotto to Exergy?

Not entirely sure, but it kind of seemed like maybe the Euro-lifestyle/pay scale/away from family situation wasn't worth the tradeoff anymore. And so when Rock Racing came onto the scene they made lots of promises, and I wouldn't be surprised if they offered him similar money to race in the US, (with aim towards getting invites to Euro races eventually) to what he was getting in Europe as a first and second lieutenant for sprinters/classics guys.

"Last March I was left without a team when Rock Racing folded and I was building a house and had a new born, so we had a lot going on,” Rodriguez said. “I decided it was better to concentrate on my family and get everyone situated. I spent that year launching my own clothing company [Prooff] and the Fast Freddie Foundation so we teamed up with Team Specialized development and work with kids.”

Uh, Sagan, uh..... Hmmmmm.

BOOOOORRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNGGGGG (but he is awesome)

can't they redesign ToC so that there's at least a BIT of GC shakeout in the first 4 days?

The best thing about ATOC is that it is easily possible to ignore it and invest the time following a decent tour unfolding in Italy.

the radioshack tourtracker picture quality keeps me coming back (i'm such a fool)

also . . . i like watching timmy duggan in all of his hair-lipped glory. awesome seeing a tiny guy set the pace all day.

why doesn't the giro have its own thread? Rodriguez stuck it today!

DId Haussler just stop pedalling toward the end there as Sagan kept driving to the line?

hmmmm

Dombrowski only 64 seconds back!

Whatever. I'm not someone that throws around the doping card, and generally dislike it when people say that about anyone who puts in an impressive performance, but....... I have a really hard time believing Sagan isn't doping.

You know what Sagan and I have in common? We both wear the same dope sunglasses, complete with fugly side white and red advertising panels!

Posted By: Jeff OwensDombrowski only 64 seconds back!

Whatever. I'm not someone that throws around the doping card, and generally dislike it when people say that about anyone who puts in an impressive performance, but....... I have a really hard time believing Sagan isn't doping.

I dunno, I do like the kid, but I think a lot of it has to do with the lack of strong Euro field sprinters to stop him. Traditionally doping has been a GC contender thing, not so much a sprinter thing.

But he's not just a sprinter. He gets over the mountains with the climbers really well. Was it last year's Tour de Suisse, where he rocketed up a big mountain, caught Cunego on the downhill, then shot past him for the win? Please.

Yeah yeah, Sagan...

How about Zabriske's move today in the final KMs? Didn't work as planned but it was awesome.

DZ's move had me at the edge of my seat. I can't remember the last time someone got that big of a gap in the final 5k of a sprinter's stage.

I'm not so quick to pull the doping card on Sagan. This has been his trajectory for the last couple years, so I think he would have had to be doping the whole time.

Haussler for the classics next year.

remember this one from a couple of years ago?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIY1-DcoW3g

In the 1991 TdF I believe there were two late solo escapes that stuck on consecutive days.
S5 was won by Jelle Nijdam and S6 by Thierry Marie.
Both were great prologue riders and pursuiters.

If you've got an iPad or an iPhone check out the RAI app for live Giro video. Good quality. I have it running on my desk next to my computer at work. Totally high quality video...but Italian commentary so I watch it on mute.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rai.tv/id501323740?mt=8

Mattie, he wrote: "Traditionally doping has been a GC contender thing, not so much a sprinter thing."

No. For every sport, for every pursuit, be it physical or mental, there is probably a drug that could be tried if you're looking for an edge. EPO is an aerobic drug, but sprinters have been using it, too. Zabel admitted to using EPO. Amphetamines and steroids are for anaerobic efforts. Petacchi was busted for overdosing on Salbutamol, but anti-asthma medication is over-prescribed in the pro peloton when compared to the general population.

Besides, if local riders are doping, and we have proof of this, just about everyone is suspect. Big-time riders who cheat probably have sophisticated methods. Domestic riders, even domestic pros, are pretty unlikely to be tested, so they probably don't need to be that sophisticated.

It's worth noting that the top NRC riders over the past several years, have all been caught at one time or another. Nathan O'Neill, who won it a few times, was a repeat offender. And he was caught with stimulants. Tom Zirbel who kept losing to O'Neill was caught,with steroids. And Rory Sutherland, when he was younger, rode for Rabobank, which sacked him because he tested positive for Clomid, which helps ease the transition off of steroids. And this is before we get into guys like Zaijeck and O'Bee.

Clomid. Did someone say Bundy?
Wait isn't clomid to help get pregnant?

Captain America!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYG1YzUglAw