Tour of California - Finishing Line

Its truly been amazing to see how far the Amgen Tour of California has come in three short years. The final attendance tally of 1.6 million for the 2008 edition has to qualify it as America's premier race, while the quality of its field makes it comparable to any race of its size held in Europe today. France may have its "Race to the Sun," in Paris-Nice, but the United States may just have found its "Race in the Sun" [OK, well maybe not this year].

Random Thoughts & Images
The Lion's Roar
Although Rock Racing's initial foray into the Tour of California started off unfavorably, with the expulsion of three of its riders, its young season was saved by the exploits of a 41-year-old retiree, Mario Cipollini. The ever popular Le Reone brought an excitement not only to the race itself, but also to a peloton that should have passed him by some time ago.


Soaked In Passion
It was the most miserable of the 8 day stage race, but you would be hard pressed to see it on Dominique Rollin's [Toyota-United] face after his victory in San Luis Obispo. After a long and soggy affair, which could easily be construed as a death march on two wheels, the only water that really mattered were the tears seen welling up in Rollin's eyes on the podium.


Mellow in Yellow
Levi Leipheimer [Astana] winning his second consecutive Amgen Tour of California was certainly historic. But this year's edition of the race was a series of first in yellow as Fabian Cancellara [CSC] became the first non-American in race history to wear the yellow jersey after winning the Prologue, Brooke Miller [Team TIBCO] donned the yellow after winning the Inaugural Women's Criterium, and Tyler Farrar [Team Slipstream-Chipotle presented by H3O] took home the team's first yellow jersey in its short history.


Comings & Goings
Levi Leipheimer coming up to the finish line of the Prologue. Liz Hatch [Team Vanderkitten] going away from the field to take a prime. [click each to enlarge]


Marketing is Everything
Somewhere "The Angel of the Mountains," Charly Gaul must be smiling as Specialized has gotten some serious mileage from their "Angel" who is often positioned appropriately along the race routes. The company's latest to "get her wings" was so seemingly ubiquitous that even I stumbled into a photo-op.


Hidden Gem
It wasn't the best photograph that I took, but it certainly will go down as one of my favorites. As a result of some untimely photographer etiquette, I missed the two-handed victory salute by Tom Boonen [Quick-Step] in Sacramento. But as I searched through my images, I found the one below.

Its not the best in compostion or in quality, as it was taken as part of multiple exposures when the peloton screamed by on its second circuit through downtown, but its content was surprising. On one of the final circuits, on a wet surface, and at great speed, Boonen is seen attempting to animate one of his charges.


The Team In TIBCO
One of the people I was hoping to catch up with in California, and finally meet in person, was Amber Rais [Team TIBCO]. Several months ago, we previewed her environmental website, Elemental Action [more on that later] and she graciously took the time to answer a few [all right, my many] questions. Though she was suffering from some serious jet lag [a result of flying to California from Austria just a few days before the Inaugural Women's Criterium] she rode in a supporting role for teammate Brooke Miller. After the race, her enthusiasm and joy for her teammate were unmistakable.


The quality of Team TIBCO's riders alone makes them a real force on the Women's circuit, but that type of comraderie makes them downright scary [not bad for the 2008 team's first time racing together].

Closing Time
After running around Solvang with our artist, cycling enthusiast, and soon-to-be racer friend, Kathleen King, covering the Stage 5 ITT, my last, and lasting image of covering the 2008 edition of the Amgen Tour of California was the sun setting through the mountains on an otherwise raining week.


Photos: Vero Image (second); Leonard Basobas