California Racing

For Hal, stay on the bike

In Europe spring is time for the hard nose races of Northern France and Flanders. In the US it means C-A-L-I -F-O-R-N-I-A! You have to admit that American's flock to the promised land for sunny stage races while the Europeans tough it out in snow and rain across hard cobbled roads.

It was a big month for California racing...

It all started off with the San Dimas Stage Race (formerly the race known as Pomona Valley) down in So-Cal. Their website is down...i guess they shut down after the race is over. HealthNet just crushed the field in the opening Time Trial placing 4 guys in the top five. One of the resident Canadians (Gord Fraser) went on for the win.

The Tour of California was announced for next February. This sounds very cool but it sort of has this wishy washy United Tour of Texas vibe going. Either way. it is right by my house...SWEET!

Simultaneously some dipshit city councilman tried to put the Kaibash on the San Francisco Grand Prix because of police costs. They will probably move to Seattle or some other annoying west coast city. Email the annoying councilman and give him a piece of mind.

Anyway...Redlands just finished. HealthNet dominated again, getting win for Wherry but they are starting to lose some friends in the pack. Apparently Healthnet just rode the legs off of everybody (April 1 post) for the hell of it.

Sea Otter is up next...its the last of the big Cali races until San Francisco, if it happens. A bunch of cool european mtn bike pro's usually show up for this one. Last year Belgian doper,Filip Meirhaeghe, showed up for the Mtn bike race and did some local Cali road races before he tested positive. I supposed Healthnet will dominate again unless Horner comes back with some Spanairds.