So here is a story from a Triathlete i know from the Sierra Road Stage.
I had a late start yesterday due to a meeting, but I was riding full speed to Sierra road to watch the riders suffer up the 15% grade. As I got close, I noticed the helis headed toward the start of the climb: they were moving fast. I ended up at the base and saw a few stragglers head up the hill. I changed direction and rode down Piedmont to see the riders negotiate the sharp corner from Calavares (steep hill) to Piedmont. Waiting around at the corner I noticed that it was going to be an interesting turn because a stop sign with an elevated curb separated both lanes. I watched Levi and the chase group slowly round the corner and rocket toward downtown. Next I decided to ride down Piedmont on the sidewalk (not very many people were on this section). The next group of about 6 riders were overtaking me so I decided to ride a little faster abreast of them (yes, Im that guy). They fly by and I start up a slight rise in the road.
I hear Red Jersey, Red Jersey. Im wearing a vanilla Pearl red jersey. Red Jersey. Im thinking, WTF, Im on the sidewalk because there is a race on the road, does the race police want me to walk? I peddle faster. Red Jersey I kick it up a notch, Im amazed that a race volunteer can run that fast. Finally, Red Jersey is shouted very close to me. I stop feeling like Im going to be busted for a crime. I look around and it is a CSC rider. I need your rear wheel. 5 seconds elapse were Im trying to think about the fact that Im riding my road bike and not my newer Cervelo and my road bike has a 9-speed cassette. My response, Ok, but it may not fitnot the technical response that I wanted. Its better than this He lifts up his Zipp 404 that is trashed. Ok, I take the rear wheel off my bike and Im not quite sure if Im supposed to pop it in or he is going to do it. He puts it in, but the chain isnt lined up on the cassette I go down and line it up to pop the wheel in and he moves me aside to tighten the QR. He says- This had to be the slowest wheel change ever Me-uh, sorry. Do you want a boost? Yeah. I finally get my act together and launch him forward with a good full run in my cycling shoes (Im glad Ive got Crank Bros cleats). Come to the finish, Team CSC, We will hook you up. I then realized that I never even looked at his face and I dont know who is on the CSC roster this year.
Im standing around and now it is sinking in What am I supposed to do now? Im about 8-10 miles to the finish. I talk to several people on the side of the road and some of them thought that I was in the race and he was my team matenice. One of them offers me a ride downtown and I take it. It turns out that this guy is now retired from working 35 years in the same company that I work for. The day is getting more bizarre. It takes awhile to make it downtown with the road closures and by the time I arrive at the finish, Levi is on the podium. I go around to where the team cars are located, but CSC is nowhere to be found. I talk to a mechanic from Colorado with Mavic race support (he tells me- your a hero) and he gives me the hotel that they are staying at. I head home by riding light rail.
I call the hotel and bounce around a few rooms until I get ahold of Kim Andersen. After I tell my story, (yeah, Im that guy) I tell him that I wont be able to make any more stages He says, I dont know what we can do. Cant you mail me my wheel back; can you write down my address? No that woulnt work to well Im not great with writing english . Hmmm... What rider was it? Bobby . Yeah, you should talk to him heres his room number.
I call and leave a message with my phone number. Half an hour goes by and my phone rings Im on the phone with Bobby Julich.
He explains that he was turning onto Piedmont and he forgot about the traffic island and slammed into it. He continued riding for 1.5 miles when he saw me. There was no way that I was going to let you get away without me taking your wheel. I give him my address and comment that he could throw some zipps in with box He laughs and says that he will try and put something in there from the team.
How Julich did it from a race marshal:
I am a traveling Course Marshal with the Tour and I was working that corner and all I can say is that Julich is an amazing rider. He came down in a pack of about 20-30 and was in the back third. We were flagging like crazy but because of his position he could not see the median. He pulled his front wheel up at the last second, nailed the curb with his back, bounced up on to the front wheel (as if about to go over the bars), rode up onto the far sidewalk (there was a little opening where the curb was reduced as if at a cross walk), regained balance, and rode on.
Neutral support was ahead of them and team cars were still stuck on the hill. He immediately threw his hand up for a wheel, looked back and realized he was alone, and so he continued on.
Apparently this was so out there, everyone in the race caravan knows about it.
The Wrecked wheel
Julich on his
The
I had a late start yesterday due to a meeting, but I was riding full speed to Sierra road to watch the riders suffer up the 15% grade. As I got close, I noticed the helis headed toward the start of the climb: they were moving fast. I ended up at the base and saw a few stragglers head up the hill. I changed direction and rode down Piedmont to see the riders negotiate the sharp corner from Calavares (steep hill) to Piedmont. Waiting around at the corner I noticed that it was going to be an interesting turn because a stop sign with an elevated curb separated both lanes. I watched Levi and the chase group slowly round the corner and rocket toward downtown. Next I decided to ride down Piedmont on the sidewalk (not very many people were on this section). The next group of about 6 riders were overtaking me so I decided to ride a little faster abreast of them (yes, Im that guy). They fly by and I start up a slight rise in the road.
I hear Red Jersey, Red Jersey. Im wearing a vanilla Pearl red jersey. Red Jersey. Im thinking, WTF, Im on the sidewalk because there is a race on the road, does the race police want me to walk? I peddle faster. Red Jersey I kick it up a notch, Im amazed that a race volunteer can run that fast. Finally, Red Jersey is shouted very close to me. I stop feeling like Im going to be busted for a crime. I look around and it is a CSC rider. I need your rear wheel. 5 seconds elapse were Im trying to think about the fact that Im riding my road bike and not my newer Cervelo and my road bike has a 9-speed cassette. My response, Ok, but it may not fitnot the technical response that I wanted. Its better than this He lifts up his Zipp 404 that is trashed. Ok, I take the rear wheel off my bike and Im not quite sure if Im supposed to pop it in or he is going to do it. He puts it in, but the chain isnt lined up on the cassette I go down and line it up to pop the wheel in and he moves me aside to tighten the QR. He says- This had to be the slowest wheel change ever Me-uh, sorry. Do you want a boost? Yeah. I finally get my act together and launch him forward with a good full run in my cycling shoes (Im glad Ive got Crank Bros cleats). Come to the finish, Team CSC, We will hook you up. I then realized that I never even looked at his face and I dont know who is on the CSC roster this year.
Im standing around and now it is sinking in What am I supposed to do now? Im about 8-10 miles to the finish. I talk to several people on the side of the road and some of them thought that I was in the race and he was my team matenice. One of them offers me a ride downtown and I take it. It turns out that this guy is now retired from working 35 years in the same company that I work for. The day is getting more bizarre. It takes awhile to make it downtown with the road closures and by the time I arrive at the finish, Levi is on the podium. I go around to where the team cars are located, but CSC is nowhere to be found. I talk to a mechanic from Colorado with Mavic race support (he tells me- your a hero) and he gives me the hotel that they are staying at. I head home by riding light rail.
I call the hotel and bounce around a few rooms until I get ahold of Kim Andersen. After I tell my story, (yeah, Im that guy) I tell him that I wont be able to make any more stages He says, I dont know what we can do. Cant you mail me my wheel back; can you write down my address? No that woulnt work to well Im not great with writing english . Hmmm... What rider was it? Bobby . Yeah, you should talk to him heres his room number.
I call and leave a message with my phone number. Half an hour goes by and my phone rings Im on the phone with Bobby Julich.
He explains that he was turning onto Piedmont and he forgot about the traffic island and slammed into it. He continued riding for 1.5 miles when he saw me. There was no way that I was going to let you get away without me taking your wheel. I give him my address and comment that he could throw some zipps in with box He laughs and says that he will try and put something in there from the team.
How Julich did it from a race marshal:
I am a traveling Course Marshal with the Tour and I was working that corner and all I can say is that Julich is an amazing rider. He came down in a pack of about 20-30 and was in the back third. We were flagging like crazy but because of his position he could not see the median. He pulled his front wheel up at the last second, nailed the curb with his back, bounced up on to the front wheel (as if about to go over the bars), rode up onto the far sidewalk (there was a little opening where the curb was reduced as if at a cross walk), regained balance, and rode on.
Neutral support was ahead of them and team cars were still stuck on the hill. He immediately threw his hand up for a wheel, looked back and realized he was alone, and so he continued on.
Apparently this was so out there, everyone in the race caravan knows about it.
The Wrecked wheel
Julich on his
The