Serious enough for me to take the day off yesterday and spend a GREAT day in Macon. Had a conversation with some of the under 23 USA team before the start. They were even more excited than I was about all the international riders because they really knew who they all were.
If all goes well I’ll be leaving for GA at 5pm today. About a 5 hour drive. Going to watch the time trail tomorrow. I cannot wait to see it. I just hope that nothing happens to make the trip not happen. The weather is going to great too. I feel like a might jinx it by saying I’m going. I’ll probably have to work. I want to see Hincapie and Cipolinni (sp) and Ekimov and Julich and and and and well, Lance.
Yeah it’s serious enough to talk about. I went to Macon Monday for the press conferences, and was able to sit in on the conferences with Mario and Lance. Way cool. I even asked them a question each. Couldn’t resist. I may have sounded like a dope, but that was a once in a lifetime chance to at least say something to them. I asked Mario about the mountain stages and Lance about his new time trial position. Lance said he had a new helmet that hasn’t been unveiled yet, and won’t be for a while. He was a little vague about the new position. If I get the chance, I’ll ask more specific questions later in the race.
I even made the Cycling News website. Or at least half my head did. This is a photo on the site of the press conference. That’s me over the left shoulder of the lady in the striped suit with the pink blouse. So it’s not jaylew’s magazine cover, but it’s almost neat nonetheless. Here’s the link:
When we got to the host hotel, Mario was walking around the lobby, just hanging out. He let us take a couple of pictures of him. Felt like a geek, but hey, it was Mario! This is a very cool event, and it’s turning into a major race. Last year it was OK, but the bar has been raised this year.
I’m supposed to go to a meeting in Atlanta Thursday, after which I’ll travel to Rome to watch the time trial. I also want to go to the mountains Saturday and watch the mountaintop finish on Brasstown Bald.
Yeah, it’s big. And there are a lot of UCI points up for grabs as well.
. . . skipping out of work, and my boss is going with me! Very cool. He had two hip replacements in the last two years and is just back on his bike for about 6 weeks. 25 flat miles at a time, but considering he thought he might never be active again, he’s thrilled.
Stage 5 has a 3-gap reverse loop before the run to the finish. I’ve ridden this a bunch (much slower no doubt) and plan to get three viewings of the group if I can. Hit one gap, then reverse the loop to the next gap, going in the opposite direction of the peloton, catch them at the next gap, then hit it back to town for the finish. I’m taking the Nikon so if I get any good snaps I’ll figure how to host them and post them here.
Needless to say, I’m stoked! Should be very cool, especially if we can get some sort of break or split on the first climb to make it interesting. I’m thinking of putting on red overalls, some deer antlers, grab a pitchfork and be the southern version of The Devil dude who haunts the grand tours across the pond. Hmmm, I smell a VeloNews cover!
Anyway, not too small to talk about. I’m fully on the live Cnews coverage, feet tapping at the finish, just like the tour.
Stage 2 finished in Columbus where I live. I skipped work and my buddy and I drove up to Pine Mountain where the 2nd KOM competition was held. After they passed, we hauled ass to the finish where Mario won the sprint. At the KOM competition a USPS rider threw his water bottle at me. It was awesome!! I felt like a little kid at a parade. I am so stoked, makes me wanna go ride!!
I raced with Dan Bowman on “Nat’l Team” in '03 when we were both on the Suburban Homes team. He’s a awesome young talented guy from Michigan. He’s hoping for a top 25 finish once the mountains begin. It would be awesome to have him finish out the tour. He’s just a little kid with the heart and head of a veteran.
Its pretty amazing. I’m originally from Macon; now livin in Colorado. All I ever got there as a cyclist (that’s my background) was a loud honk, a middle finger and a “get outta the road you lycra wearing freak!” Amazing that they’re getting such big crowds.
Do I miss it? Maybe. I just see it as one of the many sacrifices that I’ve made to get where I want in multisport…
I’m supposed to go to a meeting in Atlanta Thursday, after which I’ll travel to Rome to watch the time trial.
I love it. Traveling to Rome (Georgia) to watch Super Mario in all his majesty.
When Mario won Stage 2 in Columbus he wittily quipped that it had taken him too long to “discover America.” Perfect. I guess the Mario fan in me (I can look up to him even though he’s two days younger than me, right?) is really coming out. I’m so stoked to see him win again in the U.S.
We’ll see how the time trial goes. Julich wants the win, and Lance doesn’t want to hand it to him. Then Voigt and a few others are looking to impress as well. Should be a great race.
Went to the start for stage two yesterday in Thomaston, GA. It was great. Crowd was decent. Got there early and got to see all the bikes and gear the teams were using. Friend got Lance to sign his SI cover. All the guys were polite, most people there had never seen anything like it, signed autographs and had pics taken. Great event. Good turn out. Even got some free Jelly Belly! Now, how can you beat that?
Just finished my thesis on Tuesday and I am working the time trial today. I will probably drag my girlfriend to the mountain finish this weekend. Great field in Georgia (not peanuts) whoda thunk it? I live in Atlanta and haven’t seen anything on the news, I just don’t understand the lack of press.
There was no lack of press yesterday at the time trial. I missed the first stage, but got there just before the first rider crossed the finish line. When Lance arrived, it was a zoo. The buzz was incredible. At the awards ceremony and after the press conference, it was crazy. TV cameras everywhere, mobs and mobs of people begging for autographs. I got pinned next to a building because some guy was trying to beg a water bottle from Lance’s road bike. A USPS guy was pushing the bike through the crowd, and this guy was walking beside him begging for one of the two water bottles on the bike. For all I know, it wasn’t even Lance’s bike. But it was in the press conference with Lance, and this guy wanted a water bottle BAD!
I covered that stage for my local paper. I got some decent pictures, and some good quotes in the press conference. I just got in the office – I didn’t get home until after midnight last night. When things calm down, I’ll collect my thoughts and maybe share a few y’all.
I knew Lance was a celebrity, but I didn’t know he was that much of one. People absolutely worship the guy. It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
