Stage 6 Finish: Denver

After six days of traveling this great state, I'm home and wondering how will I get through tomorrow without my camera, bike, and the most exciting bike race I've seen? 

The finish in Denver was exciting.  Seven laps around Downtown with fantastic racing and fantastic photo ops.  I got a few good frames.  Tough to choose what to put here, so I'm eating a lot of bandwidth on this one. 

This will be the last USAPCC blog post, but I will continue to post other work when I feel it's good enough to share.

I hope you enjoyed the photos.  I sure enjoyed taking them.

Thanks for following!!!

 

WHAT?  You won?  I thought I won. 
Vivian's arms went up before the line, but Oss won the stage.

Top three finishers today: Oss, Viviani, and Fast Feddie Rodriguze

Garmin Cervelo:  First Place Team

The Overall 1,2 3

Stage 5 Finish, Breckenridge

 The day began with a tasty b;fast at the Fireside Inn.  A very comfy place.  Then an hour and half ride to Copper and back, finishing with a Sprint Race on Main Street.  I took third in my age.  I would have taken at least 2nd, since I beat the guy who took 2nd in both heats, but thought there were only the two heats and I left to get ready for The Race.  I missed out on two cow bells....Oh well.

No sign of Cadel or the BMC squad.  The peleton came flying down from S. Main, kicking up the caulk dust the entire way.  I thought they were on a dirt road. 

Waiting for the Peleton....

The Sprint

The Win: not sure who's happier, Elia or Daniel

The look of Victory

Looks good for doing all the work today.

OK, he must be getting tired of this....

The real Look of Victory

Birds eye view of the awards ceremony

The wait is over....

The winning ride

Stage 4, Start, Avon

Avon was psyched for the start and the town had a hometown feel to it, unlike Vail.  They know the riders, even the less popular. It was amazing to hear them call out the names of the rider as they approached the sign-in stage. 

Again, I snagged a spot right at the entrance to the sign-up board.  Most of the riders were willing an eager to sign autographs.  The Schleck brothers, Basso, and a few others big names that weren't doing as well as hoped, weren't so eager, although they did sign.

Here are today's pics.

Check out this cool chalk drawing at the start.

This guy stopped me in the Expo in Avon and asked me if I knew (he said the name and I can't remember what he said).  I said no, so he told me the thus guy invented the color photography method and I should remember him as I shoot the race.  I said I would, but really, I had other things to think about.  He went on for a while as his cat climbed all over his back. A colorful guy.

At the Start:  Daniel Oss and Elia Viviani

You won't be seeing this bus much longer....

The Ride

Fast Freddie Rodriguez is BACK!!

Big George Hincapie enjoying the day

Cadel being good to his fans.  The crowd loves him.

Danny is from CO and was a top Cyclocross racer. People in the crowd asked him how he liked the 'road' and he said something like it's just different.

Andy Schleck: not much more to say.  He doesn't seem very happy these days. 

Christian Vande Velde is enjoying his race!

Tom looks good for having a stomach flu before Vail.  One tough rider.

Levi: In Yellow again.  He's happier in Yellow then he was in Green.  Not sure why :)

Liquigas riding to the start:  

Jens riding to the start.

Chad Beyer

Brent Bookwalter

At he start.  There was a cool chalk painting at the start.

Stage 3 Vail TT

Here are Mike, Bryan, and Jim ready to climb Tenn Pass.  

These guys are following the race on their bikes.  

EPIC!

Here are today's photos.  I had a great spot  about 50yds from the start house, in the first turn.  

Jen Voigt

Andy Schleck

Danny Summerhill  (Boulder)

Ivan Baso

Cadel Evans

Cadel Evans

A Roaring Crowd

Christian Vande Valde

Levi Leipheimer

Tom Danielson

George Hincapi

Tejay Van Garderen

Levi with the Kiss (for winning the TT)

Christian Vande Velde (2nd)

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Christian, Levi, and Rafael Infantino (3rd TT)

Walter Pedraza Morales (KOM)

I think he's enjoying the moment!!!

Levi (Sprinter and Yellow)

Tejay (Best Young Rider), Levi, Walter Pedraza, Andre Steensen (Most Aggressive)

He's happy again!