Stage 1 - Sights and Sounds
Some sights and sounds collected during the first Stage of the Tour of California.
Pre-race quotes
Ben Jacques-Maynes, Bissell
I’m feeling pretty good about yesterday, I definitely couldn’t have gone a single millisecond faster, that was… happy, happy with that, almost had a top ten and that would have been something to talk about, it’s fine, the legs are rolling good, I really can’t complain, it’s a good way to open the season.
There’s a lot of teams that have actual sprinters that may change things a little bit, if I had been three seconds out, then maybe, but nine, ten seconds that’s a tall order so will see what becomes of it all, it may just be time to sit and wait.
Maybe knowing the roads (going up Hamilton) is not to my benefit, I know exactly how hard and tortuous all those roads are, it’s not just Hamilton, it’s Del Puerto canyon, it’s San Antonio Valley and the two KOMs there, then Hamilton, then Sierra Road. I’m going to put knowing the descent to my objective.
Mark Renshaw, Credit Agricole
I’ll find out, the legs are not too bad, I’m still trying to recover from the flight. Last minute arrival, probably not the best thing but you know I want to spend as much time back in Australia as I can, I had a good ride at Tour Down Under, this isn’t a big objective but I’ll see if I can pick up a stage or be up there.
I’ll try and get one (win) early and get it out of the way but we’ll see what happens. There’s a lot of guys, a lot of sprinters here but I know that I’m doing as good as them after Tour Down Under.
Doug Ollerenshaw, Rock Racing
Feeling good and looking forwards to starting the race, put everything else behind. The prologue was pretty short yesterday and then this is when it really gets going. The form is good, a lot of distractions the last few days, certainly a little unsure how it’s going to start out here, but the form is good.
Andy Bajadali, Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast
I’m okay, I actually spent last week sick in bed, I didn’t really think I was coming to this race but I made a really good recovery and I’m pretty motivated. The legs are a little rough but I’m going to ride into it I think you know, I think it’s going to take a couple of days to come around. There are a few bugs going around within the peloton so, one of our guys is really sick so we’re really careful right now, it spreads around like wildfire, we’re motivated anyways.
One of our sprint guys is kind of out, he’s one of the guys, we still have Alex Candelario for the kicks and he’ll be there for sure. The other guys, we’re just going to look for opportunities all day.
Scott Nydam, BMC
The legs are good, the legs are fresh. We have some good climbers, a number of us can be in GC contention, I think, our plan all week is to race aggressive and fearless, make a show of this race. It’s a great race and I think we need to raise to the level of the race organization and AEG, and it should be a great week.
My dad is doing well, he won the first stage of the Tour de Le(u)kemia and his cancer is in remission, and now it’s just a matter of getting his white blood cells up and doing some work with his bone marrow so as far as now, the first round goes, there’s no reason not to be positive, great news.
Mario Cipollini
I try to follow the peloton.
Jens Voigt, Team CSC
I’m happy to be here, it seems to be getting bigger and bigger every year, more spectators, so I’m happy to come back. Sure we are amongst the favorites, we are facing some stiff competition just to mention Levi Leipheimer running into his hometown, it’s not won yet but we are going to try to win it today.
Post-race quotes
Jeff Louder, BMC
Yeah, it wasn’t really the plan for him (Jackson Stewart) to be alone, that’s what happens, but the plan was definitely to send a BMC rider up the road and Jackson was one of the guys that we were looking to have go so… he did it, he did a great job, it’s a big day for him. It’s perfect because Santa Rosa is BMC’s hometown, this is kind of where the management and everything is set so it’s perfect for us.
Jackson Stewart, BMC, winner of the KOM and Most Aggressive rider Jersey
I don’t think it exactly went to plan, our plan was definitely to be in the move, be in the race, but I didn’t think of me going alone, but it worked out that way, and we just set our sights on the KOM jersey and that was that.
Dominique Rollin, Toyota-United, fourth-place finisher
I am a bit disappointed because I had the legs to get the win. At the end of the course, I started my sprint with 300m to go, but I was cut off at 150m and I had to break. With the speed I was going, if I had taken a better line, I would have surely won the stage. However, to get fourth place today, especially since I wasn’t expecting it, it gives me confidence.
