| HOME | ABOUT US | HOBBIES | FRIENDS | PHOTOS | FAVORITE LINKS |
 |
|
I enjoyed following the AMGEN Tour of California for four stages this year. Tour organizers made changes to the tour that allowed me to see the last stages of the tour. The weather was fantastic and the experience was better than ever. I hope you enjoy the stories and pictues I took during the races. Dave McGrath-Wagner |
| Thursday, May 16, 2013 - Santa Barbara, CA to Avila Beach, CA |
|
I left Concord, CA in my car at 2:30 in the morning and drove to Santa Barbara to start following the AMGEN Tour of California. I parked my car at the one and only KOM on San Marcos Pass. I watched the racers pass by and then I drove to Avila Beach to get a great spot very close to the finish line. The pictures below show the peloton as they pass along and head to Avila Beach, CA for the finish. Jens VOIGT, RLT won Stage 5 with a time of 04:41:16. Tyler FARRAR, GRS came in second with a time of 04:41:22 and Thor HUSHOVD, BMC Third with a time of 04:41:22. Dave McGrath-Wagner |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Friday, May 17, 2013 - San Jose Time Trial, San Jose, CA |
| The time trial was really exciting. I drove up the backroads to get a parking spot about a mile from the finish spot on the course. The course featured a 1.7 mile 950 foot climb up Metcalf Road to the finish line. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing won the time trial with a time of 48:52. Lieuwe WESTRA, Vacansoleil-DCM came in second 23 seconds back and Rohan DENNIS, Garmin-Sharp with 28 seconds behind the winning time for third place. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Saturday, May 18, 2013 - Livermore, CA to Mt. Diablo (near Danville, CA) |
|
I enjoyed watching the race on my home turf. I have rode Morgan Territory Road many a time located on the back side of Mt. Diablo. I got a great spot for the first KOM of Stage 7. I had the opportunity to hang out with
the father of Jacob Rathe of Team Garmin-Sharp. He had rented a bicycle from Livermore Cyclery. He shared about his son's success and experiences. I also had the opportunity to chat with Don Hobbs, technical director for the Coors Classic from 1983 to 1987 and founding race director of the Tour de Trump. He later came over to shake my hand while I was waiting for the racers to finish Stage 8 of the AMGEN tour in Santa Rosa, CA Dave McGrath-Wagner |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sunday, May 19, 2013 - San Francisco, CA to Santa Rosa, CA |
|
I arrived earlyl at about 7:30 am to get my spot right on the finish line for Stage 8. The experience of socialing and chatting with other race fans was a lot of fun. The peloton took three circuit laps before finishing the race. Tejay van Garderen won his first major stage race in America. Peter Sagan of Cannondale Pro Cycling won the final stage which was 80.7 miles from San Francisco to the cycling mecca of Santa Rosa, CA. Dave McGrath-Wagner |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Links to the Top Professional Bicycle Teams in the World
| Team Saxo Bank |
| Team Radio Shack |
">  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| HOME | ABOUT US | HOBBIES | FRIENDS | PHOTOS | FAVORITE LINKS |