2011 Amgen Tour of California - Stage 3

Stage 3 was a 122 mile route from Auburn to Modesto on mostly flat and rolling terrain. No major climbs on this stage.

I found a great spot on Scott Road with humpy rolling terrain that provided a great backdrop to today's race.

The 7 man breakaway group had about a 4 minute lead on the main pack at this point.

Click on pic once/twice for enlarged view

It began to rain when the riders were about to arrive

Dedicated photographers braving the whipping rains (above and below)

The 7 man breakaway group comes over the first series of rollers

And away they go

This was a good spot. A pro photographer stops to take photos of the peloton

The pack comes over the horizon . . . how exciting!

A side-blowing headwind forces the peloton to form an eschelon . . . making for fantastic head-on shots

Levi and Team Radio Shack

Broom wagons sweeping the course

Greg Henderson, Team Sky, wins Stage 3 in sprint finish

Scroll down or click on "older posts" to see Stage 4 blog entry

2011 Amgen Tour of California - Stage 4

Camera chopper following racers climb Mt. Hamilton

Stage 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 go

Stage 4 won by Chris Horner of Team Radio Shack

End of ATOC post