Despite not being a World Tour race we seemed to have had a pretty popular thread for the Tour of California last year, so same again this year? Here is last year's popular thread for anyone wishing to relive the action.
(2.HC) 2015 Amgen Tour of California
The Amgen Tour of California returns for another year with a mix of World Tour, Pro-Continental and Continental teams from the Americas and the rest of the world. With some talented climbers, all-rounders and sprinters in attendance, such as Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan, we should be in for another exciting week of racing.
As usual you should be able to follow the race through the amazing Tour Tracker app via applicable devices or the web, found here. Be mindful that unlike previous years the live video feed may not necessarily be available in your region this time around, which is possibly the case in Australia it seems... Thanks SBS!
Stage 1: Sacramento - Sacramento (203.1km)
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The opening stage of the 2015 Tour of California is quite a contrast to last year's opener, with the tough climbs around the middle of the stage ditched in favour of an almost pizza pan flat parcours. Unless the weather or sheer stupidity decides spice up the race today's first stage should be one for the sprinters and their lead-outs.
Coming off several stage victories at the Tour of Turkey the outright favourite will be Mark Cavendish but several teams, led by MTN - Qhubeka and Drapac, will be hopeful of staging a surprise coup. I expect the Manx Missile and Etixx - Quick-Step to show everyone how it is done, but don't rule out the packed train of MTN - Qhubeka.
Stage 2: Nevada City - Lodi (193.7km)
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The second stage of the Tour of California begins at altitude in Nevada City before descending to our finishing line at Lodi. On paper it looks like a second consecutive stage for the sprinters due to the general descending nature of the parcours, but there will be several uphill ascents packed in along the way.
Looks like another one for Mark Cavendish if he is on form but several teams will again be hopeful of nicking the victory and the spotlight. I expect the Manx Missile and Etixx - Quick-Step to show everyone how it is done a second time round, but depending on the results of Stage 1 you can't rule out an upset.
Stage 3: San Jose - San Jose (169.8km)
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Moving on to Stage 3 and we come to our first stage for those with an uphill kick as the race traverses the countryside outside the city of San Jose and in the surrounding counties. Sprinters like Mark Cavendish likely need not apply for the stage victory today as the race goes above 4000 feed in elevation during the ascent of Mount Hamilton.
A tough stage to call a victor for thanks to some severe accumulated elevation gain and there being over 30 kilometres of tough up and down terrain separating Mount Hamilton from an uphill finish near the outskirts of San Jose. Could it be a day for the breakaway? A lack of race radio may help the break's chances but it will depend on how aggressively the General Classification contenders and pretenders wish to ride the stage.
A Peter Sagan stage perhaps?...
Stage 4: Pismo Beach to Avila Beach (173.1km)
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The fourth stage of the Tour of California could go in any direction when it comes to possible stage victors thanks to the presence of a tough climb topping out at ~2000 feet in altitude just a day after the difficult San Jose stage. On paper at least three or four of the so-called sprinters could survive the climb to remain in, or rejoin, the peloton due to the distance between the climb and the finishing like at Avila Beach, but built up fatigue may see a few riders hurting.
An interesting note, the starting point and finishing point of Stage 4 are just eight miles apart. Also, Jens Voigt was the last winner of a stage in to Avila Beach (2013), although not racing could the breakaway possibly steal the victory in his name and spirit?
Stage 5: Santa Barbara - Santa Clarita (154km)
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Another day and another stage that on paper that is written down as a chance for the sprinters. Several small but none-to-insignificant climbs litter the route, meaning whoever wins will have well and truly earned the spoils; could be hard for the break to stay away if the predicted tailwind in to Santa Clarita is in.
If a sprint is the end result then the wide roads will be the perfect host for it. Meanwhile, with the individual time trial the day after a number of well placed General Classification riders will be trying to preserve energy ahead of it.
Stage 6: Big Bear Lake - Big Bear Lake (24.2km ITT)
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One of the crucial stages for the General Classification hopefuls, the 24.2 kilometre individual time trial skirts around the edges of Big Bear Lake's shoreline. Neither a mountainous time trial nor a perfectly flat time trial the riders will have to navigate a lumpy parcours packed with bumpbs and dips, peak elevation gain tops out at ~250 metres but the accumulated total will be much higher.
Stage 7: Ontario - Mount Baldy (128.7km)
The penultimate and Queen stage of the 2015 Tour of California the General Classification hopeful will need to be on their A-game today if they want to walk away with the overall victory by the end of the race. Surpassing an altitude of 6000 feet by the summit of Mount Baldy, the peloton will be wracking some serious accumulated elevation gain with two other categorised climbs above 4000 and 3000 feet in altitude.
Notable climbers and Grand Tour riders who will want to show up for Stage 7 include Robert Gesink, Andrew Talansky, Warren Barguil, Peter Kennaugh, Janez Brajkovic and more!
Stage 8: Los Angelos - Los Angelos (105km)
The final stage of the 2015 Amgen Tour of California treats the riders to some of the famous sights of Los Angelos with a start near L.A. Live and the Staples Center. To finish the stage and race overall the peloton will complete seven laps of a 3.1 mile-long (~5km) circuit around the Rose Bowl near Pasadena.
Pick of the Favourites
General Classification
Choosing an outright favourite for the General Classification at this year's Tour of California could be harder than it was last year when Bradley Wiggins was in attendance and won the race by 30 seconds in front of second placed Rohan Dennis and 1'48" in front of third placed Lawson Craddock. Previous winner Robert Gesink, team mate Laurens Ten Dam, Andrew Talansky, Warren Barguil, Peter Kennaugh and other lessers lights should all be in with a shout of walking home with the overall honours.
Going against the rather poor form of the Cannondale - Garmin team so far this season, but with a short history which suggests that an American wins the overall the year before and after a foreign rider does, I am going to go out on a limb and bravely select Andrew Talansky. The American rider will be eager to prove himself in his home race (nationality) and reverse the fortunes of the Cannondale - Garmin team, on his day Talansky should be at least equal to his rivals.
Big Joe Dombrowski will be one of several American riders assigned to look after Talansky during the 2015 race after looking after 2014 victor Bradley Wiggins last season for Team Sky before switching to Cannondale - Garmin for 2015.
Sprinters
Thanks to his form at the Tour of Turkey the Manx Missile heads in to the 2015 Tour of California as the outright favourite when it comes to the sprinters. Will the Isle of Man sprinter be able to continue his run of victories? With a strong Etixx - Quick-Step sprint train around him for the race it will initially be hard to bet against Cavendish.
Great preview and I sure hope Haimar pulls a Zubeldia, he's in my velogames team for one reason!
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
I like the race, however I usually fall asleep every year at some point. I think I should just give up on following it.
Talansky for the win would be fine, Cannondale really needs some good vibes lately after that terrible spring campaign. Lots of climbers in this race who had a rather poor start to the season and I'd like seeing Gesink or Barguil win a stage.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Hard to say how Sagan will stack up against the competition in the sprints and what his form will be like in my opinion, but he is not forgotten I can assure him that. Now he has a mention for Stage 3 since I think that may be one of his better opportunities if others outpace him in the less difficult sprints.
Hoping MTN - Qhubeka can put in a good performance here with the likes of Theo Bos, Gerald Ciolek, Matthew Goss and Tyler Farrar here. Teams like United Healthcare also have some interesting options to play over the duration of the race too with Jani Brajkovic, Marco Canola and Daniele Ratto for example.
Edited by Malkael on 10-05-2015 20:28
cio93 wrote:
Talansky abandoned. No word as to why yet.
April Fools was over a month ago
Spoiler
Please? Crap, there goes velogames
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
cio93 wrote:
Talansky abandoned. No word as to why yet.
I hope it's nothing too serious, maybe a bit sick, and that he gets well soon, but other than that: Cannondale are piling fail upon fail this season.
Edited by Shonak on 10-05-2015 21:34
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
As predicted it was Mark Cavendish who took the stage honours in the sprint, with Peter Sagan drifting through for second place on the stage. Jean-Pierre Drucker perhaps surprisingly rounding out the podium for BMC, although the Luxemburger has had some decent Top 10 results this season at various races.
(2.HC) 2015 Amgen Tour of California
