I’d really like to see one of the stages again this year. I live in the bay area, and will be out of town friday of this week through monday. So that of leaves the stage from San Jose to Modesto. The past few years I’ve stationed myself along the area where the race passed twice, but was thinking about going up Sierra Rd this year. Recognizing that this year will be different for at least three reasons, I have a couple of questions for those that might have been up there before. How early do they close the road to cars? How crowded has it been up there in the past?
If I get the motivation to drive to Solving for the TT, has that usually been crowded, or is the route long enough and far enough away from LA and the bay area that you can still find a place to watch? Thanks
I agree with hks it’s great spectating in Solvang. I live in Santa Barbara and I’ve made it to the TT in Solvang the last 2 years and the spectating has been really good. Although the Lance factor might pump up the number of people in attendance this year, it will still be a great venue with lots of good vantage points to see the race. I would say there is very little LA factor there from my experience. The toughest crowd last year was probably 5 deep at the finish line. You can also walk through the team areas where all of the bikes, buses and repair guys are. It’s fun to see what the guys are riding up close and personal.
If you can get there early enough to actually get out on the course there is a hilly section about halfway through that would probably be a fun place to be. I’ve been at the start/finish area which is really close together. You can see the big guns start toward the end of the race and then walk over and see them finish 20-ish minutes later.
If you bring your bike, there are ways to get around the course without actually being on the course so that’s another option.
I’ll be watching at the finish of the San Jose-Modesto stage. The finish is about a mile from my house. The riders come into town and two 4 mile loops downtown before the finish. That allows me to be in the middle of the ring and potentially see them race by once and if I’m quick enough, maybe watch them another time in the loop. I should be able to then move to the finish line. All depends on how many fans show up and how crazy it is downtown. They’re hyping it quite a bit in the local paper, I would imagine the Lance factor drives up attendence. Looking forward to it here. I missed it completely last year due to work when Modesto was a start city.
Might think about watching stage 2 at some point as I have day off with the holiday and could stand to breath a little sea air. Sausilito-Santa Cruz has to be one of the more scenic stages.