Tracking the Tour

TagFest: Tour

Today is the next-to-last stage in the second annual Tour of California. Last year they went right through my town and I didn't even know it! I was disappointed.

This year they again started in San Francisco and again American Levi Leipheimer won the Prologue. He's still in the Yellow Jersey (of tour leader) after winning the individual time trial in Solvang yesterday. Today they're down in Santa Barbara cycling through the hills and canyons. I'm listening to and watching the coverage online. The map shows a satellite image of the course and you can even track certain riders (little colored jerseys) on the map and on the course profile. It's awesome technology even if the audio does keep cutting out.

Right now there's a nine-man breakaway (the red car) ahead of the peloton (the blue car) by 3 minutes. Levi's yellow jersey is in danger so the Discovery team is working hard at the front of the peloton. They have to bring the breakaway back or (my favorite) Stuart O'Grady might be in yellow tonight. I'll update later.

ETA: The long run-in to the finish allowed the peloton to catch up and Levi and the rest of the Discovery boys finished with the pack. Stuey's teammate won the stage so his team, CSC, got some victory out of the day even though he didn't don the yellow. Tomorrow is a flat stage to the finish in Long Beach. We'll see if a breakaway can stay away and break Levi's heart.