2009 Tour of California - Stage 2 at Tunitas Creek

[francois]

From Alto Velo:
---------

Stage 3 will begin in Sausalito. It will cross over the Golden Gate Bridge and wind through San Francisco before heading south along the coast on Highway 1.

Just south of Half Moon Bay, Johnson said the course is expected to veer from the highway onto Tunitas Creek Road, where the riders will face their first climb, of about 2,600 feet. After connecting with Skyline Boulevard and La Honda Road, they will likely return to the highway via Pescadero Road.

Daunting Bonny Doon Road could be the cyclists' next climb. They'll ascend roughly 2,250 feet in 7.5 miles before flying down the crooks and crannies of Empire Grade Road into Santa Cruz. Both Johnson and Twisselman said they are looking at possibly routing the race through the streets of UC Santa Cruz before sending it to the downtown finish.

Bob Parker
--------------


http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_10843917

[mohair_chair]

Damn! That's a great route for a race. Tunitas is nasty in the middle, but Bonny Doon is a beast of a climb.

[ukbloke]

That sounds like a fabulous reason to take a day off work and go on a really long group ride! It might even be possible to watch the peloton go by in a couple of places.

[francois]

We are going to pre-ride this whole stage. Period!

I didn't say one day...

fc

[Dr_John]

That will put the Bike Hut on the map!

It will be interesting to see the peloton heading up Tunitas.

[robwh9]

Hmmm. Maybe catch them at the bottom of Tunitas, and then race them down to Santa Cruz via 1?

[tron]

So does that mean they will actually pave Tunitas Creek? Last time I was there the bottom section had been re-done and I was sort of excited that the whole road might be as well but it didnt last.

[Dr_John]

So does that mean they will actually pave Tunitas Creek?

I was on it a few weeks ago and they had completely resurfaced a good portion about 3/4 of the way up.

[thinkcooper]

Originally Posted by francois

We are going to pre-ride this whole stage. Period!

I didn't say one day...

fc

Count me in. We can do a BBQ and beer at my place for the finish.

[BlackSteel]

Is there a date set on this stage yet?

[ukbloke]

Monday 16h February 2009. All the stages are listed here.

[mohair_chair]

Originally Posted by thinkcooper

Count me in. We can do a BBQ and beer at my place for the finish.

Wouldn't it be fun to stand on the side of the road and set off the flame thrower as the riders come by?

[sometimerider]

Here is a Google maps version of what has been announced so far - about 115 miles. This includes a number of guesses (on my part and Google's part) as to the specifics. I will produce a map with elevations after I get a more precise description.

[mohair_chair]

There are some changes I would make on your route, but it's probably pretty close. My guess is that they will finish in Santa Cruz at the pier, or on the boardwalk. That's the photogenic finish.

[sometimerider]

Originally Posted by mohair_chair

There are some changes I would make on your route, but it's probably pretty close. My guess is that they will finish in Santa Cruz at the pier, or on the boardwalk. That's the photogenic finish.

It's moderately certain that it's going to finish at the clock tower (where my Google route ends). I actually heard this directly from Matt Twisselman (chair for this stage) a few days ago. Also see this (same link posted by Francois). But then nothing is locked in concrete.

[HammerTime-TheOriginal]

With (if) the Lobitos Creek cutoff, won't the route miss the bike hut?

[Dr_John]

Originally Posted by HammerTime-TheOriginal

With (if) the Lobitos Creek cutoff, won't the route miss the bike hut?

Yes, it will miss it.

That looks like a great route. I hope I can catch some of it.

[sometimerider]

Originally Posted by HammerTime-TheOriginal

With (if) the Lobitos Creek cutoff, won't the route miss the bike hut?

That was just a guess (on the part of Google, but it might well go that way).

[sokudo]

So, what is the best place to watch for a Valley denizen?
At the top of Kings and Tunitas, at Sky Londa or somewhere else?

Skyline at Tunitas seems enticing but there is hardly any space for a crowd. Besides, last 2-3 miles is not much of a climb so they will be pretty fast.

Sky Londa has space to wait for but racers will pass it like a blur at 35+ mph.

[Squidward]

From about the Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza to where Highway 35 shows up fatter on that map is the second 2/3 of my commute when I ride from the office.

According to that map they are going to climb from sea level, near The San Francisco Zoo, to about 500 feet above sea level near where Highway 35 and Highway 1 cross then drop back down to almost sea level in Pacifica. Unfortunately, if they actually follow the route on that map it would place them on narrow suburban streets in Daly City and Pacifica, cutting off a portion of these towns from the rest of the peninsula. I can see them riding straight up 35 to 1 and take the Highway down into Pacifica so that they aren't on narrow city streets. That makes a lot more sense to me. Still, this is sweet as I can walk five or six blocks and watch them ride by! I'm going to take that day off to watch this!

[sometimerider]

I just want to reiterate that the map I posted is guesswork based only on the few hints that have been posted about the route. The only things fairly certain are the start and end points, crossing the Golden Gate, and the climbs of Tunitas Creek and Bonny Doon.

The official route probably won't be announced before the end of the month.

[ukbloke]

Originally Posted by sokudo

So, what is the best place to watch for a Valley denizen?
At the top of Kings and Tunitas, at Sky Londa or somewhere else?

Skyline at Tunitas seems enticing but there is hardly any space for a crowd. Besides, last 2-3 miles is not much of a climb so they will be pretty fast.

Sky Londa has space to wait for but racers will pass it like a blur at 35+ mph.

On Tunitas you likely see some minor breakaway group but the big names will be clustered and the peloton will probably still be largely together. The action will likely be over fairly quickly. Haskins won't pose much of a problem either. I think you are more likely to see an attempt at decisive break on Bonny Doon or Ice Cream Grade and then the peleton will start to split when the hammer is down. A good spot might be around Bonny Doon itself, Laguna Creek, Ice Cream Grade, or along the top of Empire Grade. A breakaway has some chance of staying away on the run down to Santa Cruz, much like Levi's break on Sierra/Felter last year. However, that is all pretty remote unless you're coming up from Santa Cruz. This early in the tour it may come end up as a group sprint finish anyway.

I'[m also wondering about the next day's stage and whether they will do the Sierra/Felter loop, or just head out over Mt Hamilton.

[thinkcooper]

Originally Posted by mohair_chair

Wouldn't it be fun to stand on the side of the road and set off the flame thrower as the riders come by?

Fncking A! We could do it on the Bonny Doon tasting room parking lot. I have an "in". Or at the BDVFD lot at the top of Ice Cream Grade...



Note to teams: The descent down Empire Grade is safe at twice the posted corner speeds, and an easy 50 mph just above UCSC.

[Completebum]

I'm holding out hope they'll ride up Quimby West and link up with Mt. Hamilton Road by Grant Ranch. Might be too early in the stage for that climb though, oh well. rolleyes:

[BlackSteel]

It seems like the Tunitas Stage has quite a bit of climbing. I'm guessing over 8000 feet. To do Quimby or Sierra and Hamilton the next day in addition to the mountain top finish at Palomares and the ride down to Big Sur might draw a few complaints. Maybe not from Lance if he is really preparing for the Giro but those who have their sights set on the TDF may want to skip this race in favor of a flatter one earlier in the year. My bet is that Sierra or Quimby won't be included in this years route. It would be good Giro prep though.