And The Winner Is...

TOP: Finishing chute long view. Cyclists enter the chute at about a 90 degree turn at 40mph

2nd: Watching the cyclists out on the course via CCTV

3rd: Fabian Cancillara in full throttle down the chute

4th: Race winner Levi Leipheimer powers in for the win

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As we're walking over towards the finishing chute, Laraine yells out "Hey, there's Landis". Yes, disgraced (albeit still supported in some circles) former Tour de France winner Floyd Landis was hanging out in one of the courtesy tents. Don't know if he's guilty or not, but things don't smell all that good in Amish Country.

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The cyclists are now speeding down the finishing chute faster and faster. The top guys will exceed 40 mph...there are thousands of spectators crowded against the metal barricaides, the noise level is deafening...cheers, loudspeakers, helicopters, police sirens, you name it, that noise is being generated.

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Into the finish comes Cancillara, full tuck, and pedaling like his life depended on it. His time is a bit off however, and he finishes ~ 5th for the day (actually dropping him from 2nd to 4th overall). The last finisher is Levi Leipheimer, the yellow jersey wearer, and he powers in at an ungodly rate of speed...I was taking pix from bike level and it was like a car going by.

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Levi wins the day, retains the overall race lead (and eventually wins the overall race 2 days later). Word is that he will not be allowed to start the Tour de France this year (3rd overall last year) because his new team is being punished for past drug transgressions by riders who have since all either retired or been fired. This seems quite unfair to me. I'm not a huge Levi fan, but he has always tested clean, has no taint of being associated with any other scandals, and this year's team is brand new to him (his prior...Discovery...retired from the sport). If you concur, please surf to: http://letleviride.com/ and sign the petition.

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"Levi has no "L" in his loss column!

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Lumpy out

The Race of Truth - Solvang Time Trial

TOP: Yellow jersey wearer (race leader) Levi Leipheimer readies himself in the starting ramp

2nd: World Champion Fabian Cancillara fills the lungs before entering the start ramp

3rd: US Time Trial Champion Dave Zabriske heads toward bike weigh-in

4th: George Hincape test his position after a mechanical alteration

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Today we head up to Solvang, a very cute (albeit hokey) little town just north of Santa Barbara. Solvang is modeled after a Danish town, complete with snowflake artwork, metal roofs, and really bad food. In fact, we had far and away the worst breakfast of the trip in town. The race today is a time trial, often called "The Race of Truth" since it's just one man against himself. Each racer starts 1 minute apart, and rides till he either passes out or finishes. It's likely that the overall race will be decided today, and it's a very tight competition with Levi Leipheimer leading, but about 8 other cyclists within a minute of him.

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The race course is really nicely done, such that you can watch the cyclists take off from the start ramp, and then walk just one block and see the finishing chute. Plus, numerous massive outdoor TV screens for the spectators to follow the progress on the road. We skip the first hour or so, but then head over to watch the studs take off. We see them all...Cippolini, Fiere, Bettini, basically anyone whose name ends in a vowel. As it gets near time for the top 10 to leave, the hustle and bustle aproaches a fever pitch.

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I migrate down behind the start gate, and literally can talk to every rider from about a foot away...very cool. Their bikes are incredible, probably $10k-$20k apiece. Each rider comes into the start facility, has his bike weighed (there is a minimum weight requirement for safety purposes), then has a few minutes to compose himself, stretch out, our whatever. It's most interesting to watch everyone's pre-race ritual...George talks to the fans, Fabian sits nearly motionless and deep breathes, Levi is a dick to his mechanic.

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The most anticipated race looks to be Fabian, currently in second, but world road race champion, versus Levi, currently the race leader, and last year's overall race winner. Both phenominal time trial riders, and both looking very studly today.

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The final racers are away, and we hustle the block over to see the finishers.

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"I could been a contender" Lumpy out

It's Not US1 for Nutin'

US1, perhaps the prettiest road in the US.

Our Off Day

TOP: Tom and Kathy spend yet ANOTHER lunch drinking margaritas. Patron stock was up 5 points for the week.

2nd: Laraine in chocolate factory touring gear. In true fashion, she was able to help them make a better brand of chocolate leveraging her culinary knowledge

3rd: The chocolate factory we toured.

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We elected to take an "off day" from the bike race today, and did a tour of the Scharffen-Berger chocolate factory, along with a tasting. Kinda like the winery, but the results effect your thighs instead of your liver. The factory was quite cool, but Tom got asked to leave for dipping his hands in the chocolate vats. You have to watch him every minute. Laraine had lunch with the head chocolater, and by the end she had been offered a job, and given a plaque for her contribution to "The World of Chocolate".

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Kathy disappeared mid-tour, and, low and behold, didn't we find her and Tom at yet another Mexican restaurant, sipping margaritas. We're going to put invisible fence collars on the two of them going forward, as they're just impossible to keep track of.

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Tomorrow, we'll drive US1 along the coastline, just ahead of the bike race.

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"Smelling of Tequila and Chocolate" Lumpy out

Da Governator Ist In Der Housen - Part 2

TOP: Da Governator with local pol

2nd: Peloton sprinting through the downtown circuit. This was at about 40 mph

3rd: Tom Boonen as race winner

4th: "Super Mario" Cippolini, one of my all time favorite sprinters. Took 3rd place at about 40+ years old.

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We sprinted into Sacramento just ahead of the peloton, parked, and made a dash to get inside the finishing circuit. We were able to get within about 1/2 block of the actual finish line. Wild action, 3 circuits with the lead changing nearly every minute, and sprinter leadouts all jockying for position. It came down to a Bettini, Cavendish, Cippolini in a mad dash for the line, with Boonen using his 6'4' frame to power for the win. An awesome finish.

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We stayed for the awards, which were very cool with Da Governator himself coming out of the statehouse, to big applause, and presenting the awards.

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An exciting, fast paced day indeed. Tomorrow, we'll take another day easy before catching back up to the race.

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"Terminator" Lumpy out

Da Governator Ist In Der Housen - Part 1

TOP: Race leader hitting the KOM peak

2nd: The main chase group. Note Cancilliara out front, and around him Zabreski, Leipheimer, Hincape, and the rest of the studs

3rd: Spectator pack at the summit of the KOM

4th: Tom's "all ears" on race day

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Today was our first day chasing the race. We elected to start right at the summit of the King of the Mountain (KOM) climb. The climb was 3+ miles, straight up. For those Rochesterians, it had the feel of Bopple, and for those SanDiegans, very Torrey Pinesish. But, for THREE MILES!!! It took us something like an hour to drive up the mountain, between all the amateur cyclists trying their hand, the press cars, the police, and other spectators. The top was spectacular, with I would guess several thousands spectators all croweded in, racers names chalked on the roads, TV, radio, cops, firetrucks, and morons with huge moose racks tied onto football helmets.

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You could just feel the buzz as the lead racer came up the climb, to a thunderous applause. A minute of so later, a lone chase cyclist. Then, the huge noise of the main peoloton, with about 130 chasers all "dancing on the pedals". People were running alongside screaming in their ears to climb, there were huge cheers for Levi, Super Mario, Big George, Fabian (Kathy's favorite because of his cute, er, downtube), and many others. Huge excitement, albeit for only a few minutes.

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As the pack went by, we hustled back to our cars and elected to take the back road off the mountain to save some time. Now, it's called the back road for a reason...about 200 switchbacks and one hyperventilated Laraine later, we were finally back into civilization. Kathy knew what to expect with my driving, so she just went to sleep. Tom closed his eyes...laraine made the error of trying to watch. We all have lessons to learn in life...

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Now we're racing the pack to beat them to Sacramento, where we'll hopefully get a kick-butt spring finish, see the Governator, and schmooze with the racers.

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Racing the Sun Lumpy out

Vino, addendo...

TOP: Ana, our little yoga instructor, shortly before poking her eyes out

2nd: Easily the biggest, er, rooster, at the winery. We later ate him with a lovely cheese sauce

3rd: Ed in his "natural" pose. Why leave a hand empty.

4th: And Tom in his....