Tour of Cali vs. TdF

I've been kind of laughing at myself watching this year's Tour of California just because of a revelation I had the other day.

I don't miss a stage of the Tour de France, and haven't for years. I always notice stores, shops, buildings, things along the road, etc. and think something along the lines of "ohhh, look at the exotic (whatever)."

Watching this year's ToC, I'm thinking "they just rolled past a Taco Bell/Starbucks/Long John Silvers, you'd think the organizers could have picked a nicer route."

I wonder if there are folks in Europe watching the feed thinking in the reverse of what I do with the Tour de France. "Ohhhh, I wonder what they sell at that 'Staples' store?"

 

They better learn to care. Think of the big names in this race that passed up on the Giro.

No, it's not a grand tour, but I was actually surprised at the number of big names that turned up. My first reaction to the ToC going head to head with the Giro was "that's stupid" but I guess the guys who have true Tour ambitions would rather race eight days in Calif. vs. doing a three-week race beforehand.

 

Reminds me of some of those car racing video games featuring different parts of California. I think its a good race, not only for the variation of geography but with the weather conditions racers encounter. Remember last year where they had a downpour between Davis and Santa Rosa and snow in the Sierra foothills. Probably a good idea to move it from March. They need to his 17-mile Drive, Mulholland Drive, Sunset Boulevard, and why not Lombard Street?

 

Attended two days and had a blast. The crowds in DTLA and in Westlake Village were huge. Equally huge was the disapointment in not seeing ToC @ the Rose Bowl this year. As for the aerials, I thought the stage through the "There Will be Blood" country around Bakersfield looked pretty cool and different.

Wish the ToC could add another element by racing in Palm Springs or Death Valley for a leg.

Also very happy to see my favorite team -- the world's best bicycling squad -- bring the victory home to San Luis Obispo!

 

I also liked how the last day wasn't a parade. Rogers, Levi and Dave Z put on some of the best racing I've seen in a while on the final stage, and it was heads up. It was a great finish.

 

The US will never have quaint castles and charming old villages to roll past for a bike race the way Europe does. But that's OK.

I'd love to see ToC expand to 10-14 days.

I'm bummed there isn't more UCI-worthy stage racing in the US.

Personally, I can't wait for the Tour of Utah to make a stroll through some of the most amazing cycling scenery in the states. Going to be a fun, fun week in the 801

 

Outing Alert! Idy is actually Fredcast Dave!

 

I've met him and we've been seen in the same place at the same time.

I am, indeed, a Fred. But not Dave

 

I await word on a Tour of the Bronx; or a Tour de Bensonhurst.

"Hey! I'm ridin' here!"

 

I was kind of hoping to see a night stage through Compton or Watts perhaps.