BMC Training Camp: On My Way

A final photo to show the scene in Omaha the night before my departure.
So I left early Wednesday for my first trip of 2010, headed to California for the BMC Racing Team's training camp.

I have been to Santa Rosa, Calif., three times previously: all during the stages of the Amgen Tour of California. Here are my memories of each trip:

2007 (working with Toyota-United):
First memory: that the press room was about a seven-block walk from the finish line. To this day, this is the farthest I have had to walk from finish line to press room at any race. Ever. I will also not forget how packed the stage finish was for this race. How packed? I had to use my whistle to cut a line nine-deep at the finish line just to get across the street. And I also made the mistake of not being on the right side of the street (one I have never made again) for the finish of the race. Course marshals cut off access to crossing 45 minutes before the race arrives. I didn't know that and got stuck on the side of the street opposite the media tent.

So I was left to try and look over the heads of people as the peloton zoomed by for the first of three laps on a finishing circuit through the downtown streets. After the first pass through the finish line, some people left – apparently thinking the race was over. Oops. Good for me, though, as I got to work my way up to a spot about three-deep from the barriers. This was the year that a massive pile-up ensued and I seemed to be the only one who took a time on the gap between the crash and the leaders. It proved to be a moot point in a situation that has since become known as "The Levi Rule."

I also recall staying that night at the "Pink Flamingo" hotel, where I got sick overnight. I was a little concerned I would not be ready to work the next day, but everything worked out and I have yet to get sick at any stage race since (knock on wood).

2008 (working with Rock Racing):
A post-race autograph session is my memory of this year. It was a bit cold and damp after the long, tiring stage. But the Rock Racing riders didn't complain one bit as they signed autographs for about an hour after the race. (The crowds were huge.) This also marks one of the most memorable stages for me for all the wrong reasons. While I was walking back from the media room, cutting through a parking garage and mall, when I received a call that my Uncle (Arch) had died. I was stunned. And I also couldn't talk at length to the person who broke the news to me because I was in the midst of a bit of crisis management related to the autograph signing. It was not a good day.

2009 (working with Team Type 1):
Cold, wet, damp. Those are easy words to describe the stage. Thankfully, Team Type 1 had Joe Haddad and his motorcoach to help keep the riders (and me) warm after the race. I recall Phil Southerland and Fabio Calabria, after being excused from riding the finishing circuits, riding up to the bus. Fabio was so cold he crashed trying to hop a curb. It was a miserable day. By the way, Rock Racing won the stage (a completely unexpected result) and we (then Elevation Sports & Entertainment) did not have a PR person to facilitate the finish line and post-race protocol.

Behind The Scenes: Tour of the Basque Country

First, a big thank you to Universal Sports for providing live, daily coverage of the Tour of the Basque Country. Not only is each stage being streamed live (without commentary, but with natural sound) on Universalsports.com, but it is also broadcast tape-delayed on the network with commentary at least two more times.

For the second straight day, an incident caught the attention of viewers posting on the live thread on the Podium Cafe forum. Thursday, it was an officials car nearly taking out the three riders in the breakaway. Friday, it was Marco Pinoti's post-race change in the "green room" that sparked a flurry of posts.

Here's the screen grab of the moment that generated all the attention:

But more interesting to me was actually this shot of team cars at the finish of the race:


Notice the satellite dish on the Caisse d'Epargne team car. It reminded me of the time Toyota-United Team Director Harm Jansen went out and purchased a small TV the night before the International Championship in Philadelphia. We mounted it in the team car to take advantage of the five-plus hours of live coverage on the local ABC affiliate. Curiously, the TV didn't meet with our satisfaction, though, and was promptly returned to the store later that night.

Next Up: USPRO Championships

The professional cycling season is winding down - but it gets busier before the racing stops at the end of September.

On tap for this weekend are the USPRO Championships in Greenville, S.C. I attended this event last year (see photo at right) while managing press for Toyota-United, a team that is going away after this season.

Last year at this race, I ventured out on one of the team bikes to check out the road race course. It was a 16-mile(?) loop that included the climb of Paris Mountain. Initially, I was tagging along with one of the riders, Justin England, but heading out of town toward the mountain, I told him not to wait for me.

Once onto the climb (which is denoted by the words "climb starts here!" painted on the road), I knew I was in trouble right from the get-go. I had hardly begun going up and I was already down to two gears. I also didn't know the climb, so as I rounded every bend I could only hope it was the one that led me over the top.

Unfortunately, the climb that takes the professionals about 20 minutes took me about 45 (including three stops and a phone call home). But once over the top, I enjoyed a fast (45-50 mph) descent back into Greenville.

I doubt I will get a chance to ride the course this year, but it is good to have experienced it at least once.