You really had to feel for the pros in northern California today. Normally they’d be riding through baking sunshine with a nice tailwind, dreaming of post-race comfort in the wine country of Napa Valley and environs.
Alas, it was wet and sloppy, just like … Italy! Today’s Giro was a spigot slog as well.
Brett Lancaster (Cervélo TestTeam) won the second stage, right before a group of 27 riders that included Lance the King.
The big shakeup should happen tomorrow, with some nasty serial climbs along the spine of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Back in my racing days I would train daily on these routes along narrow, steep and winding two-lane roads with no shoulders, killer views and near non-existent traffic. I loved it. There’s no place on earth like the sky-to-sea climbs and descents of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
But it should test the peloton plenty. We may get an indication for the first time in 2010 of what kind of shape Lance Armstrong really is in.
More from VeloNews, where you can also find a video replay of the stage.