TOUR OF CALIFORNIA STAGE 7 - LA CANADA

let me just start by saying what a new found deeper respect i have for this years tour of cali riders, what a miserable day to race. it was COLD [high 40F 5C], WET and just down right awful. so i had the brilliant idea to go STAND in this weather for an hour, catching cold waiting for the break to hold on and pass us first. all in all it was actually a lot of fun, i found a great spot on berkshire, plenty of parking [hugh deal in LA] and a corner that the riders would have to slow down ever so much for us to see a little more of them. the promotions caravan came by first, ok, so it was not as big as the TdeF, as it was actually only the toyota guys passing out tre cool cow bells [sorry to the lady i knocked down to get one, just kidding] and whats-u-ma-call'em noise maker sticks. by now i am starting to get really cold and the cow bells, as much as i love them are starting to give me a migraine [really my body just wanted to ride yesterday and i didn't get out]. the announcer truck came by blearing the race news and telling us when they would be coming by. various police, race marshals [they must have 50 for this race] cars, photographers looking really COLD on the back of the motorcycles, went by long before the peloton. then all of a sudden the cow bells went to 11 and break went flying by, than a few minutes later the cowbells went to 11 again and the very meager and depleted peloton went by with levi's boys leading the way. and then it was all over.

observation one observation i had besides the fact that i actually had fun being on this side of a race, was the truly enjoyable time the locals in the neighborhood were having. the race seemed to bring the kid out in everyone and a place a genuine smile on everyones face. which under the weather conditions was extraordinary. i even heard a middle age house wife just blurt out "wow, i really had a good time, watching this race was so much fun". now you have to understand that this was coming from a non-cyclist, just joanne public. this is the real story of the day and the incredible draw this sport has compared to others. we can whine all we want about the drug use stories and astana not in the tour and blah blah blah, but this is the story that the press will never tell. why they don't tell the story i don't know, but is is what we all feel inside and what keeps this sport going. viva la peloton.



[announcer truck pre-break race info]


[the break]

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