The problem with the race coverage is that in the US it's not "safe" to put the motos/cameras in the field. In Europe there is a common disregard for safety for the sake of video. Having quite a bit of personal experience with the big races in the US, this has always been a issue.
The other thing that would have made for lousy coverage is that all the motos along with the team cars would have been pulled at the start of the Santa rosa circuit. It is small and in years past there have been crashes and issues with the team cars being backed up and dangerous.
I hope that helps. Please feel free to ask me any questions about the race, coverage, riders etc....
Omer
On May 18, 2010, at 10:05 AM, "Chris Alling" wrote:
Versus did not even show the last K. I would say that it was the last 200m.
All you saw was the sprint. They had this issue last year I would have
thought that they would have figured it out by now. They can televise the
European races under similar conditions.
-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Brian List
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 8:50 PM
To: cmurray@obra.org
Cc: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Observations from Tour of California
You saw more of the race than Versus showed. Apparently the weather kept the
helicopters down and riders were not seen on TV until the last kilo.
-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Candi Murray
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 7:40 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Observations from Tour of California
Davis to Santa Rosa, 110 miles, 53 degrees raining constantly.
Do Californians riders own fenders? Have not seen a single one. Lots of
public pre-riding the course, I want to tell them all to put on more
clothes. Why are they not wearing coverings on their legs? Brrrrr!
We are parked on the side of the road between the last 2 KOMs at about mile
85 or so. The two lane road looks a lot like the road up to Larch Mountain.
Narrow, no shoulder, tall trees towering above so that you do not see much
sky. Very pretty. Very wet.
We drove up the last descent and it was freaky scary to think of racing down
it, I would love to hear feedback from the riders. Steep and twisty. I
would have a hard time keeping the Mini Cooper ahead of the bikes. There
have been spectators parked along every possible pull out. There are not
very many of them. We came to this point because we have seen lots of
finishes, I have always heard that the circus prior to the Tour de France is
something to see, I wanted to see how the big USA race did. I was struck
with the lack of signage. Before we got on this climb the only signs we saw
were the standard road construction ones. No signs about the race, no Bike
on road signs. There is not just a lack of signage there is basically no
signage. Maybe they don't need it???? There were no marshals to police this
road at the time we headed up it. I worry about the unaware driving public
should then happen on this course that has no signage of the event. I am
really anxious to see the caravan and race enclosure. We should see
something soon.
1:32 We see the first motorcycle cop. Still lots of non race traffic.
1:36 A Rabobank vehicle just went by. Lots of cars looking for places to
park, there aren't any. Hope that they send a tow truck as some cars look
like they will have trouble getting out of the ditches.
1:41 Amber truck comes by playing music loudly. Plenty of recreational
riders are struggling with this climb, we are about 1/2 mile down from the
top.
1:45 More Amgen vans with 'marshals" signs on them, guess that answers my
questions. Specialized car.
1:46 HTC Columbia Vehicle
1:48 I have to pee, good thing there are lots of trees around here.
1:51 I love my IPAD, you should all get one. Yes I own stock in Apple.
Mike says it is a good thing for all of you that I do not have a Twitter
account. BTW he was passed by the whole Livestrong Under 23 team while out
for a ride this morning.
1:55 More Marshalls in vans. First fender sighting. No one seems to have
any frame pumps, do you not need them anymore?
1:56 Race Director car goes by
2:02 Looks like the sag wagon for the recreational riders, the last guy
just had gym shorts on. Still raining, kinda dark here in the trees. There
are still cars heading downhill toward the race. Did I tell you that when
we planned this trip the forecast was mid 70s. I didn't bring any rain gear.
Of course, Mr. Prepared did (he brought 4 pairs of cycling shoes alone) But
no closed toed walking around shoes.
2:12 Another moto cop. Race has been going on for 3:15 at this time. We
don't get any cell or radio coverage here. Seems like the rain is letting
up.
2:23 "Course Director" car goes by, Rain is back.
2:25 Two motor cops bring up the local mail delivery van. Gives a whole new
meaning to postal ;-)
2:27 Raining even heavier, 54 degrees
2:29 Cars honking, here we go, really pouring now
2:36 The honking got people out of their cars, but no riders yet, still
downhill traffic ????
2:39 Can hear a loud speaker down the hill stating that there are 5 riders
with a 4 minute lead- or I think that is what they are saying. Now comes a
car with speakers on it like a mobile announcer.
2:45 Still waiting. Not sure how long this climb is, we are about 1/2 from
the top. Can only see down about 200 meters.
2:50 More Police and some cars with VIP stickers on them
2:54 2 riders preceded by multiple photo motors and 5 or more official and
service vehicles. I can't tell who they are, they look young.
2:55 Certainly not 5 minutes, there is a whole boatload of riders less then
1 minute back. I hear someone shout "Go Andy" Is Schleck here? I can make
out George Hincapie. He sticks out because he is just so tall. Tons of
Vehicles. A spectator down the road is beating on a bucket, but it is hard
to hear because of how hard the rain is falling.
2:56 Another group of 15-25 riders, all wearing rain jackets, you can hear
different languages in the group.
3:01 Group of almost 30, all at the same ride pace.
3:02 Here is the race medical, a AMR rig all decked out with logos. One of
the cars is calling out there is just one rider off the back. I can hear on
the race radio that things are coming back together at the front.
3:07 Last rider, from Jelly Belly, there has to be more then 50 cars backed
up behind him. It is over. King of anticlimactic.
3:09 I thought it would be a bigger deal. I wonder if it would have been if
the weather had been better. I am sure that all the froo froo will be at the
finish. We spent most of the day and saw about 10 minutes of racing. It was
cool but I would rather be there for an OBRA event and watch people I know.
It was hard to identify any of the riders.
3:20 We are going down backwards from the next KOM. What a climb this must
have been. Kind of looks like Bald Peak only much longer. No idea how to
get home from here, so we will just enjoy the view. Very pretty countryside.
It is pretty much linked vineyards with very cool buildings. Did you know
that there is an Old Faithful Geyer in California.
Bye
Candi
Candi
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