21 Feb 2009
The Tour of California
February is the month for the Tour of California. Every year most of the big names in cycling race down the state. I usually manage to watch a stage or two in person, but this year job demands limited my access. I was content to watch Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer and George Hencapie on the Versus Channel. I don’t know why I’m drawn to the tour, but my legs start twitching when I watch them fight up the hills or sprint to the finish. I am inspired to get out on the road and feel the wind in my face.
The week started out cold and wet. The stages down from Sausalito to Santa Cruz and San Jose to Medesto were especially miserable which may have influenced my inability to find time in my schedule during the day. As the tour headed into the Sierra Nevada mountains, the weather broke and the sun came out. I took advantage to get out and spin my wheels, inspired by Lance and Levi. As the race headed to Paso Robles where my dad lives, I chose to cycle to work rather than drive to down south to watch Stage 5.
The Tour of California has become the preeminent bicycle road tour in the US and rivals le Tour de France in audience and spectacle. To watch the cyclists riding the same roads that I ride brings it all home to me. Although my interest in cycling dates back 4 decades, the Lance Armstrong era has certainly inspired me and brought cycling to the mainstream. I was thrilled when the Tour came to San Jose in 2006. To me the Tour and le Tour are two high points of my year. Yesterday when Levi won the time trials in Solvang I cheered for our home town hero.
Bon Voyage, Jay
