Riding South

The Tour of California is turning into a very good race. Today’s stage featured the toughest climb of the whole tour, up Sierra Road east of San Jose. The route went from Stockton to San Jose. There was a breakaway early on of about 16 riders that threatened the overall leader Levi Leipheimer, who was getting little support from the peloton to try to close the breakaway. Finally on the big climb he made his move and caught the remaining riders in the breakaway, though he was edged out at the finish by one of the breakaway riders, the veteran Jens Voight.

Tomorrow is the longest stage in the race, going from near Monterey to San Luis Obispo along the spectacular coast road Highway 1. It is also predicted to be quite wet with winds coming from the southeast at 15 to 30 miles per hour. I think the riders will all hunker in the peloton and not try anything outlandish — look for a sprint finish in San Luis Obispo.