STORIES OF INTEREST at the 2016 Tour of California
Did you know that Jelly Belly Racing Team has been together for seventeen years and is the only Pro Team based near San Diego, California, in San Marcus. Read more.
Peter Sagan, the current Slovakian National Champion and current World Champion Road, will sign a new team contract next year and is reported to be seeking a salary of over 6 million. Considering that the entire Jelly Belly team operates under a budget of 1.5 million (and gives out free jelly beans), that is a lot of money for riding a bike. In the words of Bob Roll, "Is he worth it? I think he is absolutely worth it. He is the best thing that has happened to professional cycling in a long while. He is a phenomenal rider." Peter will wear bib #1 as the defending champion of the Tour of California.
Legendary basketball player Bill Walton is a familiar face at the Tour of California. He loves riding a bike. Read more Bill Walton Is All About the Bike, By Jason Gay at The Wall Street Journal.
You might notice some changes in team names this year. Holowesko-Citadel is the old team Hincapie Racing. Rally is the old Optum. Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka is the old MTN-Qhubeka. Direct Énergie is the old Europcar team. Axeon Hagens Berman cycling team morphed out of Bissell Development Team. Note that the names have changed but not every sponsor or rider on these new teams is the same.
Did you know pro cyclist Taylor Phinney (BMC) is also an artist? And you have a chance to win a BMC bike custom painted by Taylor, enter bike contest on VeloNews. You might have known that Taylor's dad Davis Phinney works with the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's, did you know Taylor's mom Connie Carpenter is also a former Olympian cyclist and speed-skater, and a race stage announcer for women's pro cycling? Taylor's painted bikes look a bit like a Dario Pegoretti bike, read: A handmade Pegoretti bike, By Pedal Dancer®.
Fans gather to watch the stage start in Santa Barbara in 2015. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®
Spectators at the women's race in northern California, are up for a real treat in watching Great Britain racer Lizzie Armistead (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team). Cycling News reports that Armistead is indeed heading to California to race. US road champion Megan Guarnier, women's UCI Hour Record holder Evelyn Stevens, and two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong will also compete in the women's race.
We actually have another Host City for the Tour of California this year that should be acknowledges and appreciated - Modesto. Teams will be staying in hotels in Modesto between Stages 4 and 5 on May 18th. According to Lodinews.com, Modesto City Council voted to enter into an agreement (that agreement equalling a $75,000 cost in hotels and restaurants for teams and staff) with Amgen to host the riders over the one night, having finished the stage in Monterey, the teams will then travel to Lodi the next morning for the stage start.
The Directeur Sportif for the Axeon Hagens Berman (USA) team is Jonkheer ("The Honourable") Axel Merckx, son of Eddy Merckx who has been made a baron in Belgium. The team's bike sponsor is not Merckx bikes, instead they race on Specialized bikes. Keep your eyes open at the race because Eddy Merckx has been known to visit, looking like any other fan in the crowd looking to watch a good bike race.
Riders come and go to the sign-in stage at a stage start; lots of activity to watch for fans. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®
Stage 1 start time is 11:30 AM (the San Diego Local Organizing Committee has wrongly printed the start time as 10:30 am, this is incorrect). As at every other UCI race, riders must sign-in on the sign-in stage at least one hour before the stage start. There is also a customary singing of the national anthem before the start; these proceedings are not considered the official race start. The start time is solid, affecting road closures and TV coverage. So, show up early but the race starts at 11:30 a.m.
Tourism is real business. Host cities pay large sums to Amgen Tour of California to host a stage start or finish. Their motivation is to increase tourism by being seen on TV and by boosting visitors on race day and subsequent returns. Lodinews.com reports encouraging statistics overall from 2015, "Lodi Wine and Visitors Center has seen a 21 percent uptick in walk-in customers, and the number of visitors to the Visit Lodi webpage have increased by 163 percent. Hotels are reporting as high as 85 to 92 percent occupancy rates."
Fans huddle around a TV at a mountain top finish on Mt Baldy last year. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®
Team Novo-Nordisk deserves your attention, they are not only a team sponsored by a manufacture of medications for diabetes, they are a team of riders who have been diagnosed with diabetes. Not only inspirational but education for young athletes to understand the potential of their disease and being an elite athlete. Read more in an interview out of the U.K.: Former Team Novo Nordisk cyclist Joe Eldridge discusses his type 1 diabetes management. Also read Type I Training Tips from a National Champion (track), written by Mandy Marquardt of team Novo Nordisk
Not only did ex-pro Jens Voigt participate in this year's L'Etape California, the day when amateur cyclists took on Stage 3 of the Amgen Tour of California (from Thousand Oaks up Gibralter Rd to La Cumbre Peak in Santa Barbara), but you are guaranteed to meet and get a signed autograph from Jens during two Meet and Greets with a limited number of fans, in conjunction with V.I.P. Passes purchased in Santa Clarita or Monterey by paying $65 extra for a 1-on-1 with Jens. Go to this page select more info to ask about meeting Jensie. Or complete this form.
This year citizens who are cancer survivors, caretakers or those affected by the disease will have the opportunity to participate in the Breakaway Mile (walk) in three host cities: San Diego, Santa Rosa, and Sacramento. Register for the Breakaway Mile.
The Giant-Alpecin team waits for an espresso outside the Rapha espresso trailer in 0215. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®
There are some firsts for the 2016 version of the Tour of California. This will be the first time the race has finish up Gibralter Rd to La Cumbre Peak in Santa Barbara, the first time Morro Bay has hosted a stage start, and the first time the race has ridden on the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey County. This will also be the longest distance (almost 800 miles) covered in the race with the most climbing (about 65,000ft).
For fans of the Spring Classics in Belgium and France, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) recently won both Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields and Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres. While young Logan Owen (Axeon Hagens Berman) recently won Under-23 Liège-Bastogne-Liège title and Jon Dibben (Team Wiggins) won the 2016 U23 Tour of Flanders version. Huge victories.
Fun to watch the riders warm up before the time trial (here Mark Cavendish and Julian Alaphilippe. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®
Sponsors: According the the bike blog The Inner Ring, Katusha's team name "is an abbreviated version of Ekaterina, Catherine in English and a famous Soviet wartime folk song in Russia." They are also the only WorldTour team at the Tour of California to be using SRAM components. Did you know Segafredo is one company making up the MZB group based in Italy, the group is the world's largest coffee producers. Did you know team Tinkoff gets it's name from Oleg Tinkoff who built his business brewing upscale beers for young professionals in Russia. Did you know the South African team Dimension Data is also sponsored by Deloitte, based in New York City, the company is the largest international professional services network in the world by revenue, and I am grateful they like cycling.
The city and county of San Diego have gone all out as the start host city for the 2016 Amgen Tour of California. Engaging businesses and local community support, they have many pre-race and Stage 1 activities planned for locals and visitors, including a celebration for the team presentation. More information: San Diego ATOC.
The annual Luther Burbank Rose Parade will take place in Santa Rosa on the same day, while the peloton is out on course, during Stage 6 from 12:15-2:15 p.m.. Joan Lunden, a breast cancer survivor, will be Grand Marshall of the parade in Santa Rosa, more information.
Fan wait in the VIP tent. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®
A particularly good deal is the VIP Hospitality Pass in San Diego ($209). The start line and finish line are not in the same place, but there will be VIP tents at both locations. I was told by the VIP Experience salesperson that a purchase of the Finish VIP pass in San Diego will get you into both places at the start and finish. Start VIP Hours will be from 10:00AM - 12:00 PM. Finish VIP Hours: 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Stage 7 in Santa Rosa will be another long day in the comfort of the VIP tent. Buy VIP tickets.
This year, Stage 3 up Gibralter Road KOM to La Cumbre Peak is the Queen Stage of the Tour of California. Stage 7 in Santa Rosa is calling itself the King Stage, but is also the Penulitimate stage.
Freddie Rodrigue and his so checking out the Jelly Belly swag in 2015. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®
Tour of California - maps, start and finish times, city website:
Stage 1 : Route Map 1 | Start 11:30 AM, Finish 3:40 PM | San Diego ATOC
Stage 2 : Route Map 2 | Start 12:05 PM, Finish 3:46 PM | Santa Clarita ATOC
Stage 3 : Route Map 3 | Start 11:10 AM, Finish 3:48 PM | Santa Barbara ATOC
Stage 4 : Route Map 4 | Start 10:10 AM, Finish 3:43 PM | Morro Bay ATOC
Stage 5 : Route Map 5 | Start 10:00 AM, Finish 3:46 PM | Lodi ATOC
Stage 6 : Route Map 6 | Start 1:04 PM, Finish 3:45 PM | Folsom ATOC
Stage 7 : Route Map 7 | Start 11:55 AM, Finish 3:45 PM | Santa Rosa ATOC
Stage 8 : Route Map 8 | Start 11:55 AM, Finish 3"45 PM | Sacramento ATOC
The communications and TV crew live in trucks on pavement for a week, here they share a meal before the action starts. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®
Deep on the TOUR OF CALIFORNIA GUIDE PAGE for fans at PedalDancer.com, original content has been compiled with great care to help the spectator learn more about the sport of professional cycling and have an enjoyable day at the race based on good information; leaving you free to have fun!
On the Guide Page you can find more information and tips on the race including:
Pre-race activities in San Diego
Team Presentation
How to watch the tour of California on TV and online live
Stage routes and maps for each stage of the Tour of California
The teams
VIP Passes and Experiences
Breakaway from Cancer Mile walk
L'Etape California
Blog Posts from Pedal Dancer®
Stories of Interest to fans
Tips on how to get an autograph
Team jerseys
Classification jerseys
About the priority of jerseys
Jerseys at time trials
Who will wear bib #1
Who to follow on Twitter
Bikes and Equipment at the Tour of California
Tips on viewing a time trial as a fan
Tips on Photography
Race Organization
What Host Cities do
Fan Education
Terminology for the race
Tips for spectators
The mist on the mountain obscures the TV screen as fans cruise the expo on Mt Baldy. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®
More Pedal Dancer® race coverage 2016:
How to watch the Tour of California Live in 2016
Team jerseys and team bikes at the Tour of California
Classification jerseys for the 2016 Tour of California
10 UCI WorldTour Teams to compete in California
Stage Route and Maps Tour of California 2016
Tour of California Host City activities: Stages 1-4 PART I
Tour of California Host City activities: Stages 4-8 PART II
Tour of California Spectator Guide Page