Rainy Departure

We got up very early, before 5, for our assignment to provide radio support to help out the City of Davis in hosting the start of the Tour of California, the race starting at noon. It’s quite windy when we head out, a strong breeze from the southeast in advance of the coming rain. I put on my full raingear garb — tights, jeans, rain pants (by now quite ripped and in need of replacement), my heavy weather boots, synthetic fleece sweater, mittens, neck warmer, hat, and rain jacket over which I put the orange volunteer t-shirt, all of which is needed because we end up spending the next six hours standing outside in the rain. (At least we got a nicer looking t-shirt than most of the volunteers, due to the technicality of supporting the City of Davis rather than the Amgen Tour itself.)

Our post was the City Hall parking lot, about 5 blocks from the starting line by Central Park. This was set aside for VIP and overflow media and race staff parking. I was over on A Street, one block further away from the race start than the B Street entrance to the parking lot where Pica was stationed, and it turned out to be a pretty lonely outpost. Only one or two cars ever parked on my side of the lot. (As the coordinator of our radio ops put it later on, I guess VIPs melt in the rain). Pica at one point wanders to my side to share the rumor, later verified, that Lance Armstrong’s time trial bike had been stolen. The weather throughout the morning is a mix of wind and light and medium rain.

At 11:30 we’re given the clearance to go off-duty and I start heading towards the race starting point to meet up with Pica. My route takes me through where all the team buses are parked: a chaotic melange of cycling fans, race team staff, and cyclists making the final adjustments to their garb and setting off on their bikes to the starting point. We take up position somewhat behind the actual starting line, and don’t see that much, a brief look at a big pack of cyclists moving on out. It was however quite cool to be standing right opposite the Astana team car and looking into it, rather like finding oneself six feet from a major league dugout and seeing the manager ponder the handwritten roster. We start wandering back towards our car, and hear over the radio that the riders have made it west past the point where they can actually start racing.

After dithering about what to do for lunch, we end back home and get online to check on the live action at cyclingnews.com. The Spanish rider Francisco Mancebo has gone off on an early attack and has taken a substantial lead (at one point over 10 minutes) on the rest of the peloton. We settle in for a nap. Charlie is very confused by our behavior today, tries to rouse us a couple times, gives up, but on waking I find him dozing cuddled up next to me.

I get up at 4:30 and check the race play-by-play. Much excitement! Mancebo is still leading, but only by a minute or so, and the race is into the final circuits around the city of Santa Rosa. The major contenders for the race, led by Astana (Armstrong and Leipheimer’s team) have been in hot pursuit of Mancebo and their elite group of about 17 riders are about a couple minutes behind Mancebo. They don’t bridge the gap though; Mancebo wins the stage and takes the overall tour lead.

It’s a fantastic start to the race. Had the weather been good, what probably would have happened is that the peloton would have arrived in Santa Rosa together and there would have been a bunch sprint at the end, to be won by the likes of Tom Boonen. The lousy weather however favored a breakaway and the peloton was loath to ride it down, having their hands full with maneuvering in the rain and lots of mechanical difficulties. In the end, the heavy hitters in the peloton had to take action, blowing the field apart: the main peloton finished over 5 minutes behind Mancebo.

Tomorrow the riders leave Sausalito toward a finish in Santa Cruz, heading first of all over the Golden Gate Bridge. And more rain is coming.