so... it seems as though they announced the 07 route secretly, but its on their website, it has the streets mapped out they are going on so we know exactly were they are going. I find this by surprise because last year they didnt unveil it until January.

http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages.html

Luckly I have Monday and Tuesday off from school.
These are they stages I should be able to visit:
Stg 1- SF
Stg 2- Sausalito-santa rosa
Stg 3- Santa rosa to Sacramento
Stg 5- Solvang
Stg 6- Santa Barbara- Santa clarita
Stg 7- Long beach

As far as the teams, since its apart of the UCI does this mean all the protour teams will be apart of it?

Anyone else going?

I'll be at the prologue...that's probably it.

It won't have all the protour teams. I would expect a similar lineup to last year's race. Discovery, Lotto and CSC are all confirmed as attending. I think T-Mobile might be there, Credit Agricole has hinted at it also.

Expect all the top domestic teams as well, Health-Net, Navigators, Colavita, Toyota-United, etc.

Silas

I'll be at the prologue...that's probably it.

It won't have all the protour teams. I would expect a similar lineup to last year's race. Discovery, Lotto and CSC are all confirmed as attending. I think T-Mobile might be there, Credit Agricole has hinted at it also.

Expect all the top domestic teams as well, Health-Net, Navigators, Colavita, Toyota-United, etc.

Silas

OK, i wasnt sure about the euro teams, Im pretty sure Credit Agricole will be there, I wonder if Saul Raisin will be there? maybe not though because its supposed to be a very hard race. Hushovd will be there... but we prolly wont see the same performance as in the Tour.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/dec06/dec12news

Quick-Step will be there as well. Bettini's interview on cyclingnews said that specialized will have him at the race.

Pretty sweet!

Silas

Quick-Step will be there as well. Bettini's interview on cyclingnews said that specialized will have him at the race.

Pretty sweet!

Silas

That would be totally f-in cool. Wonder if Boonen could be bothered to make an appearance?

That would be totally f-in cool. Wonder if Boonen could be bothered to make an appearance?

I think Bettini said that Boonen will be in Qatar while he is in California.

Still cool though

are there any hotels close to the finish of the prologue in s.f??

Pretty much any hotel near Downtown San Fran is within walking distance of the Prolouge. Might have to walk a few miles that day so bring some good shoes...

I secured a campsite up at the state park by Bodega Bay.

The plan starts with driving over to watch the Prologue on Sunday. After the prologue I'll drive north of town and camp overnight.

Monday morning will be riding around Sonoma with a plan to catch the climbing action on Coleman Valley road (and possibly driving over to Santa Rosa to catch the finish if I can beat the riders :) ).

I'll camp again Monday night then catching the race in Sacramento on Tuesday.

If anyone else is interested in camping drop me a PM and I'll fill you in...

I secured a campsite up at the state park by Bodega Bay.

The plan starts with driving over to watch the Prologue on Sunday. After the prologue I'll drive north of town and camp overnight.

Monday morning will be riding around Sonoma with a plan to catch the climbing action on Coleman Valley road (and possibly driving over to Santa Rosa to catch the finish if I can beat the riders :) ).

I'll camp again Monday night then catching the race in Sacramento on Tuesday.

If anyone else is interested in camping drop me a PM and I'll fill you in...

Steve-O.... you can make a simple loop by going N on 1, then take 116 to Duncan's Mills, Moscow Road to Monte Rio, Bohemian Hwy to Occidental, then Coleman Valley back to the coast. Not a long ride, but scenic and varied. I can recommend other roads depending on how much climbing and mileage you want.

BTW, according to the locals it isn't possible to get from Coleman Valley to Santa Rosa in time for the finish (this is based on some pro races that used to occur here back in the 80s or so... before my time)... Coleman Valley will have some terrific viewing spots where you can get some awesome pics though.

Appreciate the local knowledge! My only wine country riding experience was the Tour d' Organics Century two years ago. The route didn't make it over towards the ocean though (Mostly around Santa Rosa and up to Healdsburg). This is going to be a good trip!

So honestly what do you guys think. Has the Tour of California surpassed the Tour de Georgia in being the best U.S. pro-bike race? Since the UCI is talking about globalization I think that they are going to pick either ToC or TdG to become a pro-tour race in the States

Just to bump this thread up and give you guys an update on the teams that will be there. The big news, as far as I am concerned, is that gerolsteiner, rabobank and liquigas will all be there, along with previously confirmed protour teams like disco, lotto, quick-step, credit-agricole, t-mobile and CSC.


http://velonews.com/pr/prn/articles/11468.0.html

The 2007 Amgen Tour of California roster includes the following 18 professional cycling teams:

BMC Racing Team (USA)*
Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light Team (USA)*
Crédit Agricole (FRA)*
Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team (USA)
Gerolsteiner (GER)*
Health Net Presented by Maxxis (USA)
Jelly Belly Cycling Team (USA)*
Liquigas Pro Cycling Team (ITL)*
Navigators Insurance Cycling Team (USA)*
Predictor-Lotto (BEL)
Priority Health Cycling Team Presented by Bissell (USA)*
Quick Step-Innergetic (BEL)*
Rabobank Cycling Team (Netherlands)*
T-Mobile Team (GER)*
Team CSC (DEN)
Team Slipstream Powered by Chipotle (USA)*
Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team (USA)*
USA Cycling National Development Team (USA)*
*Newly announced

i'll be at stage 4 finish in downtown san jose, my hometown. may be i might attend the s.f prologue depending the schedule ( have to ask my boss if i could get off early ) note: thord husevd will be at palo alto bike store sometime in february. stay tune.

So honestly what do you guys think. Has the Tour of California surpassed the Tour de Georgia in being the best U.S. pro-bike race? Since the UCI is talking about globalization I think that they are going to pick either ToC or TdG to become a pro-tour race in the States

It only took one year for the ToC to surpass the TdG. There are more bike fans in California and corporate sponsorship for the ToC.

Just to bump this thread up and give you guys an update on the teams that will be there. The big news, as far as I am concerned, is that gerolsteiner, rabobank and liquigas will all be there, along with previously confirmed protour teams like disco, lotto, quick-step, credit-agricole, t-mobile and CSC.


http://velonews.com/pr/prn/articles/11468.0.html

All the riders were very impressed after last year's event so it wasn't too hard to recruit more European teams.

So honestly what do you guys think. Has the Tour of California surpassed the Tour de Georgia in being the best U.S. pro-bike race?
The ToC is a well run race, getting a good turnout from the European pros, but has not yet learned to use the mountains effectively. Until there's a Brasstown Bald stage in the ToC, the ToG will be the "better" race.

Last year's ToC was won at the time trial. It'll be the same this year. The rest of the race might just as well be the Amgen California Coast Classic (a multi-day charity ride).

JSR

The ToC is a well run race, getting a good turnout from the European pros, but has not yet learned to use the mountains effectively. Until there's a Brasstown Bald stage in the ToC, the ToG will be the "better" race.

Last year's ToC was won at the time trial. It'll be the same this year. The rest of the race might just as well be the Amgen California Coast Classic (a multi-day charity ride).

JSR

whats wrong with a flat race? it favors sprinters, and time trialists. plus it might be too early for racers to get into that much climbing in one week.

whats wrong with a flat race?
Boring! I can't believe they go through the Bay Area without going into the Santa Cruz Mountains, into SoCal without going into the Santa Monica Mountains. A "sprint" finish up the 900' Rock Store climb with 10,000 screaming fans would be a ball! They proved last year that Big Sur, as beautiful as it is, provides no opportunity to separate from the peleton. A trip up Santa Rosa Road in Cambria would fix that!

The ToC will never be able to incorporate the big climbs of the Sierras, so it won't ever look like the European Grand Tours. The 3,000'-4,000' hills of the coastal ranges, though, could make for some competitive stages for all-rounders of the Bettini, Vinokurov, Valverde type of rider - guys with a useful sprint as well as some climbing ability.

Don't get me wrong, I'll be out there supporting the race. But the parade of Chamber of Commerce moments needs to evolve to a more competitive format. AEG stated their goal is to make a race of the quality of the major stage races. I think they've got a long way to go before their vision is realized.

Just my 2c.

JSR

...A "sprint" finish up the 900' Rock Store climb with 10,000 screaming fans would be a ball!...

That would be awesome!

Boring! I can't believe they go through the Bay Area without going into the Santa Cruz Mountains, into SoCal without going into the Santa Monica Mountains. A "sprint" finish up the 900' Rock Store climb with 10,000 screaming fans would be a ball! They proved last year that Big Sur, as beautiful as it is, provides no opportunity to separate from the peleton. A trip up Santa Rosa Road in Cambria would fix that!

The ToC will never be able to incorporate the big climbs of the Sierras, so it won't ever look like the European Grand Tours. The 3,000'-4,000' hills of the coastal ranges, though, could make for some competitive stages for all-rounders of the Bettini, Vinokurov, Valverde type of rider - guys with a useful sprint as well as some climbing ability.

Don't get me wrong, I'll be out there supporting the race. But the parade of Chamber of Commerce moments needs to evolve to a more competitive format. AEG stated their goal is to make a race of the quality of the major stage races. I think they've got a long way to go before their vision is realized.

Just my 2c.

JSR

Most likely they need to keep it on the coast for now to generate a following from the locals and provide a reason for a major company to want to sponsor the event. Race organizers would've made a big mistake by INITIALLY trying to take advantage of California's diverse geography (mts, desert, etc) by taking the race inland to the more sparsely populated areas of the state. There would be fewer spectators, and what major company is going to shell out big bucks to sponsor a race that nobody would see? Without the sponsorship, the race would fold immediately. Obviously, race organizers are doing something right when you consider how many ProTour teams have decided to participate this year.

In response to another poster's question as to whether ToC has surpassed ToG, I'd say it's a push. However, I think ToC has much more potential mainly b/c its spot on the calendar is more convenient for the ProTour teams. By the time ToG rolls around, most ProTour teams are firmly entrenched in Europe for the rest of the season.

The ToC is a well run race, getting a good turnout from the European pros, but has not yet learned to use the mountains effectively. Until there's a Brasstown Bald stage in the ToC, the ToG will be the "better" race.

Last year's ToC was won at the time trial. It'll be the same this year. The rest of the race might just as well be the Amgen California Coast Classic (a multi-day charity ride).

JSR


uhhh, you are aware that this race is in February? One could easily plan a 150mi/25,000' stage in the bay area but who would ride it? The pros are still putting in base miles that time of year. The ToC attracted so much attention from the Euros because they had unbeliveably nice weather last year, the stages were challenging without being too hard and the food and hotels were much better than they are used to on the continent.

Instead of comparing the ToC to the Giro or TdF it should be compared to other off season races like the Tour Down Under or Langkawi. I think it compares favorably.

-G

I would like to see the Tour of California move into the mountains as well as there is plenty of that in this state. I also wish that the date of this Tour can move later into the season like april or may so it wouldn't be a "break in" race. I wish I can see the prologue in SF as that is were I am from. I saw it last year and it was great, it was so weird to see these people as you were only able to see then on tv or mostly on the internet. It's funny because most the riders are so approachable, not like basketball players where they go from there game to their gucci clothes and ferrari and out a secret exit.

I'm thinking about going on a little road trip to long beach. that would be a fun weekend.