The Tour of California rosters are announced, and I’m still wondering why I’m not in California…

By Jessica | Permalink | 2 comments | February 15th, 2007 | Trackback

Last year as the husband and I watched the Tour of California, we said to each other, “Y’know, we should really go down there next year for that.” Yes, well, we should have followed through with that thought, because the rosters are effing fantastic looking, and we’ll be watching it on television. Dammit.

I mean, how many times in your life - if you live in the US, anyway - will you get the opportunity to see the European racing circuit’s world-class riders in the state right nextdoor to yours? Yeah. I’m feeling quite silly that I’m not going to California now. Thank goodness blogger Bob has some sense in him. I look forward to his reports.

At any rate, back to the rosters…

We already knew some of the riders who’d be there, because they’d already announced it. The American contingent shouldn’t be surprising, as it’s their home turf, but they’re still big names - George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, Tom Danielson, Dave Zabriskie, Bobby Julich, Christian Vandevelde, Freddie Rodriguez, Chris Horner, and Aaron Olson (the latter two having Oregon ties).

But even beyond those riders, who would make the race interesting all on their own, the state just to my south will be hosting World Champion Paolo Bettini, World Time-Trial Champion Fabian Cancellara, former World Time-Trial Champion Michael Rogers, 2006 Tour de France King of the Mountains (the freakishly thin) Michael Rasmussen, the ever-popular Jens Voigt (a favorite in my house), and the winner of 4 Tour de France stages and 2005’s Points Competition Thor Hushovd. And, of course, my boyfriend Ivan Basso will also be gracing California’s asphalt with his tires.

(I would be remiss if I didn’t mention here that my mother-in-law and sister-in-law adore Thor Hushovd, and with very good reason. He’s a hottie. The husband and I had the pleasure of meeting him after Worlds last year, as he was on our flight from Munich to the US. We chatted with him briefly as we all left customs, and even though he’s significantly shorter than I’d imagined, he’s even more adorable in person.)

Yes, it’s a banner lineup, and even though I have to settle for watching in on television yet again this year, I’m going to enjoy it just the same.

If the above names aren’t enough to get you excited about the race, check your pulse then here’s something else to think about:

Also, injured Credit Agricole rider Saul Raisin, whose recovery continues, plans to ride each stage noncompetitively and visit with fans at the start and finish.

Home » Planning a Trip, Races, Riders

If you found "The Tour of California rosters are announced, and I’m still wondering why I’m not in California…" useful or interesting, please share it with others by bookmarking it at any of the following sites: