USA Pro Cycling Challenge

Levi Leipheimer Wins! Stage 1 of the race and earned a 10 second time bonus.

Stage 2, will be 131.1 miles. Total climb of 9,746

It’s going to be good..

"Madame Cyclo-hag"  I like it!!!  Yes, this makes me happy.  Like G said, many big names make for a fun race. Levi has had 3 weeks at altitude which is to his advantage, an coming off a win at the Tour of Utah, he's in peak shape. Tomorrow will be a killer!   C

I love it too Madame. Big boys at altitude on serious hills. Ya gotta love it and we dragged a couple more out of the woodwork.
Proud papa watched #2 son take some trophies home at the velodrome this weekend. 

I'm really disappointed with the standard and quality of the coverage of this race, as well as with the race itself, despite the stunning setting.

Yesterday's 'Queen's stage' saw the coverage disappear for the entire final descent, before that the picture was constantly breaking up. Their excuse, that the wings of the signal relay plane had iced up, was something that really could and should have been foreseen. Today, during the time trial, not only were there no intermediate times at all, but a large number of interesting riders who did good times were never even in picture at all. Very amateurish, I'm sad to say.

As for the racing, if George Hincapie is capable of winning the 'Queen's stage' in a field like that, then there's something wrong with the course. The altitude and wind certainly sap strength, but the climbs simply aren't steep enough to make the kind of difference that a high mountain stage is supposed to make.

Nevertheless, I shall keep watching till the end, though I have to say that listening to those two complete and utter idiots who do the commentary is enough to try anyone's patience and to make you want to tear your hair out, if you have any... 

edit - one missing letter 

I’M sure that the event organizer are taking allot of heat for the coverage problems. The extreme altitude, low cloud cover and tree line are creating havoc for the repeaters. I just hope that this doesn’t jeopardize it from becoming an annual event. Many riders have never experienced anything like this and it shows from the climbs to the wet descents on stage 2 many riders played it safe.  I don’t blame them I would wont to finish this ride and add it to my resume also. This could be a once I a lifetime opportunity to compete in a ride of this caliber. That is why the biggest names in cycling are competing in that event and skipping the Velta a Espana. I hope that it returns for many years. I would love to go next year.

Take care,
Bill