TOP: What's the last thing a cyclist sees as the police motorcade runs him down...his butthole!
2nd: Mavic neutral support car at full throttle. They were screaming tires trying to keep up with the cyclists
3rd: Team Astana (Levi Leipheimer) trying to reel in the breakaway
4th: Race leader Jackson Stewart just past the King of the Mountain mark, in the midst of his 60 mile breakaway
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Today we started the peloton chase with stage 1, from Sausalito (Northern SanFran) to the coast, then inland to Santa Rosa. A solid route by anyone's standard.
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We elected to watch the race near the town of Occidental, a town "That Time Forgot". We wheeled into town, and it was filled with hippies, dudes selling that there mar-i-jo-wana, dreadlocks, and tie-dye shirts. Someone totally forgot to post on the town bulletin board that the '60's are now officially over. Great subs though at the local grocery...gotta slam a big sub after an evening of getting high I guess.
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We drove uphill to just past the King of the Mountain (KOM). This is a big hill climb that racers get extra points (and sometimes a time bonus) for winning...basically a race within a race. We got there a bit early, with plenty of time to relish our subs, drink a couple of bottles of fine CA vino, and make friends with the other race groupies.
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Suddenly, a CHIPS car FLIES by at about 90 mph...this is on a really tight back country road, with wicked curves and ups and downs. Then, another. Then another. Then, a pack of police motorcycles. "The peloton is coming, the peloton is coming" yells one of the groupies, in true Paul Revere fashion. And, a coming they are....Jackson Stewart out front, pedaling like his life depended upon it, then a break, then 150 other riders in full gear. I would estimate that they went by us at over 40mph...the sound was incredible, and they pushed "big wind" along the road...like a semi truck going by. Then, a break of a few minutes, and the slugs come on by, trying desperately to get back on the peloton.
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Then, it's all over. 10 minutes tops, raw excitement, and then time to pack up and head back to Occidental to see their new public art, "Ode to a Bong".
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Heck of a fun start to the race.
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"I'd be the slug in back" Lumpy out
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