Camera chopper following racers climb Mt. HamiltonStage 4 is a 81.8 mile route from Livermore to San Jose. This stage consists of two major climbs with the first being the back-side of Mt. Hamilton on Mines Road and Hwy 130. The second major climb is Sierra Road where there is a mountain-top finish.
The last 5+ miles of the Mt. Ham climbs 1,900' with average gradient of 8.4%. The road has numerous switchbacks and the gradient is unrelenting with no flat spots. It is a beast of a climb.
I positioned myself about four miles up at a hair-pin curve with fantastic views of the valley and open views of the road as it snakes its way up.
Click on pic once/twice for enlarged view
Peloton descending KOM 3 and hit the valley floor before the start of 5 mile climb
The only flat spot before the beastly climb begins
View across the canyon with main pack flying up 8+% grade
Ben Jacques-Mayne, Team Bissell, the break away rider less than a minute ahead of chase pack
Chase pack in hot pursuit
The fast pace shreds the pack and riders falling back
Ben Jacques- Mayne coming around a corner. . .
. . . and sweeping up
The pack closing in
Team Radio Shack setting the tempo
The speed of the riders is amazing!
Andy Schleck (in black) in the middle of the pack
Around the hair-pin turn and . . .
. . . and whoosh! . . . away they goStage 4 won by Chris Horner of Team Radio Shack
End of ATOC post
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