The
crowd gathers early, we were here at 11:30 am to see the riders in the
Tour of California bike race. It's lunch time so it's easy to get
out here just 3 miles from work. Many vehicles precede the riders,
mostly CHP cars and motorcycles.
Photos. Take a look, click on the small images to see the full size color images.
Stage Three is today and the start is in downtown Stockton at 11:30. The riders are expected some time around 12:30 in Livermore. Perfect for a lunchtime outing.
The
crowd gathers early, we were here at 11:30 am to see the riders in the
Tour of California bike race. It's lunch time so it's easy to get
out here just 3 miles from work. Many vehicles precede the riders,
mostly CHP cars and motorcycles.
This
is the intersection of Patterson Pass and Crossroads. There is a
little hill here. Most auto traffic was blocked from getting to the
Patterson Pass summit towards the right of this photo. Some 1000
people were reported to be at that summit.
Here
is a photo of the lead breakaway pack.
Just
after the lead pack passes, I point the camera up to the top of the little
hill. The little hill does not slow them very much. Check out
all the people. I estimate that there were 100 people here.
The
main pack is huge.
Here
they come.
And
there they go.
Then
the team cars and other support vehicles pass. It is a rolling production
for todays 94 mile stage from Stockton to San Jose.
Some
stragglers.
The
last few team cars.
My first bike race, it was pretty cool. Those riders were fast today.