Stage 3 - I'll either go to the start in Modesto or they have a sprint through Patterson - anyone ever go to one of these races? I'd like to take some pictures and feel the excitement..what would be better?

Hanging around for an hour before the start and watching them take off or zoom by on a sprint?

any input?


Amgen Tour Link

I will be going to the start of the race in Palo Alto and the finish in Pasadena. A friend of the family is racing for the BMC Professional Team (Tony Cruz). He just got back from the Tour Of Qatar and is ready to race the Amgen Tour. The team is newly formed and just got their UCI Proffesional Continental Status. The Tour Of California is becoming one of the larger Road Events in the US. It was alot of fun last year and expect the same this year too.

BMC Team Page here: http://www.bmc-cycling.com/

Tony is a great guy. My little brother is a good buddy of his too.

I'd reccomend going to the start. In some cases the peleton will make a couple "Neutral" circuits around the start line before they head out of town and begin the racing. Their's also alot of pre race festivities whcih can be really fun.

Wish I was there

Kamikaze what is your name and your brothers name? I will send regards to Tony for you. Our sons are best of friends. They have actually been riding at the Velodrome in Carson together. Who knows? maybe some future Madison Racers! They also have a chance to train for the Junior Nationals in August i believe.

Shawn & Joey Sinz.

Joey may be buds with your kid, too. Joey and Tony rode together quite a bit when Tony was state side with postal. Joey also stayed in Tony's apartment when he was racing in Spain trying to make it as a pro roadie. My brother told me about a time when he got to have dinner with Lance and the postie boys between moutain stages when the tour was close to spain. He said Tony hooked that up for him and a friend.

what is your kid's name, i'll run it by my little bro to see if knows him.

small world....

Shawn, good to meet you. Our sons are 16 and met just before they started highschool together. My son is Nick and Tony's son is Brandon. Here they are a few nights ago at the Velo. They are dressed like the discovery twins! Brandon in front of my son Nick on the tail of follow the leader.

Here are a couple more shots. The first one is my 17 year old son Zack being schooled by Johhny Walsh



The second pic is Tony trying out his new BMC Track Machine!

Way sweet pics!!!!

My 9 year old is looking to get on a road bike, and hopefully a track bike isn't to far after that.



BTW - WE lived off Ximeno & PCH. Joey graduated from Wilson, I think.

"Strong Beach"

Forgot to ask.

Do they still have the Long Beach Crit series & the Long Beach post office crit?

The crit series was run by a lady named Jan. They held about 3/4 races over the season at the same location. This was by far my fav crit race.

Shawn, not sure about the crits. I can almost say that they don't have them though. My boys are at Wilson too!

Willie - those pics are sweet. I'm glad to see that the boys are still way into cycling. Been a while since we talked, but nice to see the spirit of cycling alive in the kids. Where's your fixie

Thanks for the input, it's on Wednesday.. I think I will go to the start, maybe they will have some interactive booths or souvenirs etc...

Taking the Wife, we should have fun..I'll post pics