Yesterday, like I posted yesterday, I woke up to the announcer for the Junior Men’s TT. And it kept up until nearly 5 pm, when the last women finished. So it was going to be tough trying to organize the best use of my time.
There is “hardly anyone here” and I probably saw 100 people that I personally know. I was talking to the police, which there are a million of. I asked the officer how many cops were working and he said all of them, plus a ton more. That a year ago their redbooks, which I guess is vacation time, was locked out this week. It is amazing how much of this city they have shut down to race bikes. A 10 mile loop yesterday, that went over the river on a major bridge, pretty much cripples everyone else’s ability to move around much. It is really impressive.
Most the people walking around the start/finish area are speaking foreign languages. Lots of people wearing their crazy home country costumes. It has a real European feel. Even the breakfast buffet in the Marriott seems more like something from Europe. There is a ton of fresh fruit, raw fish, cheeses etc. Plus eggs and potatoes. Europeans don’t understand why we eat potatoes for breakfast. I don’t get what they don’t get, potatoes sometimes taste good in the morning.
I did a couple rides yesterday. Downtown Richmond, for cycling, might be challenging. Especially with the course blocking off so many ways to get around. I might meet up with some locals one morning and do their ride. That is usually the best way to get the lay of the land.
The women’s time trial was crazy close. I thought Kristin Armstrong had one the event, but she might have gotten cheated by the wind. She started 2nd rider off and her time held up for hours. But the 2nd grouping went off a couple hours later and the wind died down a bunch. She ended up getting pushed all the way back to 5th, 21 seconds back. 1st through 4th were only separated by a mere 9 seconds. She needed to finish on the podium to automatically qualify for the Olympic Games next year in Rio. That was a drag for her. I saw her late last night in the hotel lobby and she was bummed. She said she is going camping next week and is going to try to forget about it. I don’t understand the seating process for the race, but it hurt Kristin badly.
I had an interesting dinner/wine meeting last night. It wasn’t really an interview, more like a catching up with a friend. We’ll see how the story turns out. Trudi walked over and ended up having wine with Eddy Merckx last night. Seems surreal, but normal at the same time. Funny how that is.
Today is the Elite men’s TT. I have to pick Rohan Dennis. He’s had a great season and I guess he was ripping the legs off the BMC team during their TTT victory, so he obviously has great form. Plus he hung at altitude, in Colorado, since the Pro Challenge, and thus, can’t really have any jet-lag from flying over here from Europe. I’m hoping Taylor Phinney, US, finishes in the top ten. That is an automatic qualification from the Olympics next year for men. That would be a great result for him considering he is just back from injury.
The men’s start isn’t downtown, it’s a ways out and they ride into downtown and to the finish, not laps like the other categories. I’m going to ride some, and then head out to spectate.
Kristin Armstrong heading off early. It wasn’t a good start time.
Trudi giving Kristin a hug after the race. She needed it.
The City of Richmond is very old and has some interesting architecture.
David Hiatt and Hans Selvog, juniors from back in the LeMond days, meeting up here to spectate. It was super seeing them.
I thought this was a great moment. I think this is Brandon Mcnulty, a junior that finished third in the time trial, after the awards ceremony.
Davis Phinney, who is here supporting his son Taylor, with Suzette and Trudi at the finish.
Trudi and my friend, Jeff Unruh from Topeka. Jeff was volunteering as a course marshall and we rode him partially back to his hotel.
Trudi just got a new BMC Di2 bike and yesterday was it’s maiden voyage. Nothing like the first ride of a bike being on the World Championship course.
Armstrong definitely got the worst time to ride. The wind calmed down by the third group.
Armstrong and Stevens did solid rides with Armstrong being the better of the two. If no bad luck strikes Armstrong, it seems to me she’s on target for a great ride in Rio. I’m not sure why there would be a question about her not being half the TT squad.
zero – I think it might come to a USA Cycling “rule” that says a woman that rides the time trial in the Olympics must also ride the road race. I may be wrong on this, but if that is true, then I very much doubt she will “qualify” to ride the Olympic road race, thus that would exclude her from the time trial. A podium spot would have qualified her automatically from the Olympics. Now it is coaches selection and unless they address this, it looks like Kristin might be left out. It is pretty much BS.
Good call on Rohan Dennis. I witnessed him hammer up to ABasin and leave nearly everyone behind.
Great to see David Hiatt and Hans Selvog pic. Those two were the original bike vagabonds that most riders today would never believe lived their lives on the run from one race to another on a minimal budget. Minimal as in zero. There must be a place in the US Cycling Hall of Fame for these two!
Totally Dig Trudi’s New Bike, I encourage her to keep a journal during her upcoming journeys.
I imagine Armstrong was seeded the way she was because she’d been retired for three years before this season, and hadn’t done any international racing this season. Seeding is pretty straightforward, you’re not going to be seeded with the top group based on winning worlds several years ago. I know she won some TT races this season, but they were primarily against US-based racers, not international. She did well to get 5th, and hopefully will use it as motivation.
That kids got some big ass hands.
Thanks Steve,
I know the IOC works hard to limit the number of athletes at the games, so that makes sense.
USAC loooves Armstrong, so maybe she’ll get in anyway. It’s very hard to criticize in this case because she delivers when she’s in form.
For those at work, here’s live timing for the Men’s TT RIGHT NOW http://live.tissottiming.com/
Do any of us seriously think that it’s a good idea to guarantee an Olympic berth to someone based on their results from a year ago? Myself, I’d prefer to actually go with those who are actually “on-form” when it actually counts.
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About that dinner meeting…everything I told you was a lie
Carytown Bicycle Company is leading group rides every morning at 8am from the shop (3112 West Cary Street). They promise to include part of the World’s course. So if you’re looking for a local ride in Richmond… From them:
We will be hosting a group road ride every morning at 8 am, from Carytown Bikes, Cary Street location starting this Thursday September 17th to Sunday September 27th. The ride will be 2-3 hrs in length (longer options are always available) and depending on road closures, we will be riding the last 5km of the road race course every ride! The last 5km is pretty cool and most likely where the races will be decided.
The ride will include sections of the Team Time Trial and Road Race course.
Hope you can make it! Never know who’ll show.
Also, check out the RABA website, raba.org, for possible rides.