As much as I try to respect the ToU as another great US-based pro race, it's still little bro to Tour of Cali and the Pro Challenge. Besides the Americans, lots of names I haven't heard of (oh, and not even Tejay!), but that's just put in to more perspective by part 2 below. Mostly it was the announcers that I took great joy in mocking yesterday as I watched it. They were equally awesome today.
But this about the race, and the move that won it yesterday really was impressive. With 1 km to go, Greg Van Avermaet of Team BMC took off, and managed to keep a gap on the bunch. After the race, he said it was a planned move, and well executed. He followed that up with a 2nd place today, getting an additional time bonus, he keeps himself safely in yellow for now.
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| The Belgian celebrating like real Americans... with a cowboy hat. |
Pro Challenge Provisional Rosters Released
Meanwhile, USAPCC has cemented itself as one of the premier post-TdF destinations for professionals. Props to the race organizers to getting this off the ground in such amazing fashion, and the fans for showing up in droves and proving to the governing bodies this race is worthy of the 2.HC rating. For somewhere between those 2 things, and I'm sure some bundles of cash, the race has garnered another amazing roster. It will feature, among others, TdF winner Chris Froome, his 2nd in command Richie Porte, Andy Schleck, Tejay VanGarderen, CVV, Tommy D, Peter Sagan, Jens Voigt, Andrew Talanksy, Dave Zabriskie. I could go on. Point being, the teams are bringing their A-game to the US of. I'm stoked, if you couldn't tell.
Notably missing, Taylor Phinney is choosing (?) to stay in Europe, hit a couple of 1-day classics and prepare himself for world TT championship. I put the ?, because BMC may actually be putting enough fire power behind Tejay's victory that they left him off. Either way, it's a bummer, he made a nice showing last year and he's SO local.
Parting Thought: I kind of hope that if The Simpsons ever ends, Lisa ends up with Nelson.
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