Tour of California on NBC today

[PotomacCyclist]

Longest-running U.S. international cycling races

Red Zinger/Coors Classic, 14 years, 1975-1988
Amgen Tour of California, 10 years, 2006-present
Tour de Trump/Tour DuPont, 8 years, 1989-1996
Tour de Georgia, 6 years, 2003-2008
USA Pro Challenge, 4 years, 2011-present
Tour of Utah, 4 years, 2011-present

Note: They didn’t mention the Race Across America (RAAM), which began in 1982 and is still running. It’s a completely different type of race. But it does attract an international field.

[PotomacCyclist]

Intermediate stage sprint with time bonuses, which were important because of the GC standings. Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan sprinted to the intermediate marker. Cavendish is trying to protect the time lead of his teammate Alaphilippe while Sagan was trying to pick up vital seconds on Alaphilippe.

In a photo finish, Cavendish just edged out Sagan for the intermediate sprint. He picks up 3 seconds, which is irrelevant for him individually. Sagan picked up 2 seconds. But Alaphilippe picked up 1 second. So Sagan gained 1 second on Alaphilippe. He is now 1 second behind in the overall GC standings.

Sagan has to finish the stage in the top 3, while Alaphilippe has to finish out of the top 3, in order for Sagan to win the GC classification. EDIT: Sagan would win if he finishes in the top 3 and ahead of Alaphilippe, unless Alaphilippe suffers from a mechanical problem and falls back out of the peloton.

They are doing 9 laps of a loop near the Rose Bowl. Sagan and Alaphilippe remain at or near the front of the pack. I don’t think Cavendish can go for the stage win without jeopardizing Alaphilippe’s chances for the GC win. What if Cavendish sprinted and won, but Sagan was in the top 3 and Alaphilippe was 4th? Then Sagan wins the GC. But if Cavendish holds back in that case, then Alaphilippe finishes 3rd on the stage and 1st in the GC overall.

[PotomacCyclist]

Time bonuses for the top 3 stage finishers

1st – 10 sec.
2nd – 6 sec.
3rd – 4 sec.

[Dickie]

Thanks Potomac! I was just sitting down at work to have a late lunch and saw your post… was able to stream the last lap. WOW what a finish! I think Cav had to go for the win to limit the time bonus chances for Sagan. Incredible finish.

[PotomacCyclist]

A 718-mile, 8-day stage race comes down to just a couple inches!

SPOILERS below

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Cavendish goes for the win. Peter Sagan squeaks in with a 3rd place finish to pick up the 4-second time bonus and the overall GC win. He beats out Tyler Farrar for 3rd place by a margin of a tire width or two.

They just showed onboard camera footage from Wouter Wippert, who finished in 2nd in the sprint, right on the wheel of Cavendish. That’s a wild scene that most of us will never see otherwise.

Daniel Oss, winner of the King of the Mountains, brought a bass guitar onto the stage. Apparently he also plays bass guitar in a rock band. It is California and it is Pasadena, hometown of the (Dutch-born) Eddie Van Halen.

Alaphilippe missed out on the GC win, but he did take the white jersey for top young rider. According to the commentators (Phil Liggett and Christian Vande Velde), Alaphilippe could be a future contender for the Tour de France yellow jersey. He will turn 23 next month.

Replays available later: http://tourtracker.amgentourofcalifornia.com/

The photo finish has already been posted.

[PotomacCyclist]

The replay is available now: http://tourtracker.amgentourofcalifornia.com/

Click on Replays and Stage 8. The finish is around the 1:29:00-1:31:00 mark of the video.

[mattotoole]

I love the Mt. Baldy stage in the ATOC! GMR/Baldy loops are a staple for SoCal riders. I started riding there when I went to Cal Poly Pomona, and did a lot more over the years. It was great riding to the snow in winter. (I skied a lot there too.) Summer heat and smog, not so much.

[Author]

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