Chris Jones’ Diary – Tour of California Stage 4
Chris Jones is a second-year professional for Team Type 1 who lives in Sacramento, Calif. Throughout the Amgen Tour of California, he is sharing his thoughts with Bike World News. After Wednesday’s Stage 4, he is in 74th place, 24:53 behind race leader Levi Leipheimer.
Wednesday’s stage started off super fast for the first couple hours with attack after attack. We had pretty much all of them covered until about the 50 kilometer mark, when one finally slipped away that we weren’t in.
We started climbing the first of five mountains and the break kept increasing its lead. Eventually the chase was eased a little bit so we just sat in. That gave me the opportunity to really think about what I wanted to share in today’s entry.
So here goes:
- I hit the fastest speed I’ve ever hit on a descent today – 90 kilometers an hour (that’s 60 mph). And no, I didn’t look to see how fast I was going while I was riding – I checked my Cateye computer afterwards.
- At one point, Tyler Farrer (Garmin-Slipstream) was riding with one of his gloves stuffed in his back pocket. For some reason, you could only see one of the fingers (the middle one). I asked him if he intended to do that and he said he had no idea.
- After we got over the top of the last climb, Mark Cavendish and Tom Boonen were riding near each other, kind of giving each other the stare down. They were probably looking to see how the other guy was going. Not too long after that, I heard Cavendish say that he wanted a deeper rear wheel. He apparently dropped back and made the switch so he could be faster in the sprint. Apparently that’s what he needed to win the sprint because he barely won it.
- Going over the climbs, there were tons of people everywhere and they’re getting a little crazy – probably because it’s finally getting to be nice and sunny. At the top of the last climb, there was a guy dressed as yellow devil who had syringes set up to look like a pitchfork. He was running alongside of us and the next thing we knew, he was on the ground, tumbling into the snow. There’s been rumors spread that maybe a certain rider (Lance Armstrong?) pushed him.
- There were a lot of Team Type 1 fans on the side of the road. It was good to see the support for us out in full force.
- At the end of the race there was a ton of dust on the road. That’s because they are handing out Livestrong chalk and people had written all over the roads in the town. So when we came through, it kicked up a ton of dust. You couldn’t see and you couldn’t breathe the last three kilometers. It was like riding in a yellow fog. Lance had drifted back and I was sitting about 80th wheel with him. We couldn’t see in front of us and the next thing we knew there was a gap – so we had to sprint to get back up and get the same time as the winner. I heard the guys from the city complaining about the chalk on the road and how it’s going to take a lot of time to clean it all up.
- They were giving out kettle corn at the finish line, so that made for a great midnight snack last night. It’s not too sweet, not too salty.
Related Posts:
For the latest in cycling news be sure to subscribe to our RSS feed .
Comments, questions, suggestions? Use our contact page to let us know.
Tags: Amgen·Amgen Inc.·amgen tour of california·California·Chris Jones·Levi Leipheimer·Mark Cavendish·Sacramento·Tom Boonen·united states
Chris,
This is the Yellow Devil in Question. First off…YES!, It was Lance that shoved me down in the snow. I guess he didnt like the “Live Clean” banner on the back of my cape.
Dont get me wrong, I Love Cycling, and have been one myself since my brother got me my Bianchi Spelissimo back in 1989. Greg LeMond is one of my heros…although, Miguel Indurain was quite a great cyclist when they were battling. I just want to see Lance come clean and retire already. There are many cyclists these days that I would like to see succeed, and he has done his time, and done well. Let some new blood come up.
-D
Hmmm. What you said got me thinking. You said Lance has “done his time” and it’s time for some new blood.
Whether anyone thinks that he is clean or not, he was away for a time for more or less a self imposed suspension. If we can welcome back Tyler Hamilton as you say in another comment, why can’t we welcome back Lance?
He’s not taking a salary, so no one is getting paid less or losing an opportunity to race because of his return. Let him come back. If he succeeds, great. If he fails, he fails.
– The Ed.
[...] Stage 5 updates Versus video of Cavendish taking Stage 5.DayPortPlayer.newPlayer({articleID:"76824",playerInstanceID:"85A2AF24-3DB6-B851-C54B-2B44EF9116AA",domain:"oln.dayport.com"});Chris Jones Diary, where the Yellow Devil makes an appearance and comments about his scuffle with Lance Armstrong.Bike World News has an Tour of California Photo Contest. Submit your photos, win a prize.As far as I'm concerned, Ken Conley wins the prize. Below is a sample, but see all of his photos at his website.Photo by Ken ConleyGraham Watson has some pretty good photos, too.I was supposed to interview Phil Southerland of Team Type 1 today. He called me early this morning before the stage start when my cell phone battery died. Aaagh! We've rescheduled for tomorrow morning, and Kristian will take a couple of photos of Phil for me.Photo by Ken Conley Enthusiastic crowds turned out at the start of the race today in Visalia as race leaders Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Astana, Michael Rogers (AUS) of Team Columbia-Highroad, David Zibriskie (USA) of Garmin-Slipstream and Lance Armstrong (USA) of Astana led the peloton into Stage 5 of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Equally impressive crowds lined the streets in Paso Robles to witness the incredible sprint to the finish line that saw Mark Cavendish (GBR) of Team Columbia-Highroad take his second consecutive stage win in the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Leipheimer maintained the overall lead after coming in 15th place in the longest stage of the race. Day six of the 2009 race included no King of the Mountain competitions, but two sprint competitions on a flat, fast day of racing that took the riders from Visalia to Paso Robles.Moving into second and third overall were Rogers and Zabriskie, respectively.“This was the day that I was planning on winning this year,” said Cavendish. “It was a hard day; harder than expected. It seems like they’ve replicated the Tour de France with the speed and the par course. It has been incredibly hard.” Photo by Ken Conley Team Columbia-Highroad again delivered Cavendish to the finish line at the front, where he sprang off the lead-out wheels to win with ease. And once again it was Quick Step's Tom Boonen (BEL) who finished second in the stage, just ahead of Pedro Horrillo (ESP) of Rabobank. “This stage win is massively important,” added Cavendish. “Any stage in the Amgen Tour of California is big. It’s big for the team, and this one is a bit more personal because it’s close to home. Every other stage is important, but this one is a bit more personal.” Despite the apparent ease of victory for Cavendish, it was a long, hard stage for him and the rest of the field. A six-man group escaped only seven miles into the 134.3- mile route from Visalia to Paso Robles, with early attacks led by Jelly Belly's Matthew Crane (USA), who was eventually joined by Jeff Louder (USA) of Team BMC, Robert Gunn (AUS) of Fly V Australia Powered by Successful Living, Glen Chadwick (NZL) of Rock Racing and Cameron Evans (CAN) Ouch Presented by Maxxis. Cruising through the flat San Joaquin Valley floor under sunny skies, the escapees steadily opened the gap to a maximum of eight minutes mid-way through the race, with Astana leading a steady tempo in the field. At 50 miles to go, Quick Step, Team Columbia-Highroad and Saxo Bank began sharing the load at the front, and the time differential decreased rapidly. The breakaway splintered under the pressure, with Chadwick being the last one reeled in with less than three miles to go, when Team Columbia-Highroad led Cavendish to take over. With the sun hanging high in a flawless baby blue sky in Paso Robles, all of the top riders finished in the main group, completing a long, flat stage leading into the critical Individual Time Trial in Solvang tomorrow. Photo by Ken ConleyIt’s going to be a big showdown tomorrow,” said two-time defending champion and overall leader Leipheimer. “You have the three-time World Champion Michael Rogers and Dave Zabriskie, the National Champion, so it will be special. I’m actually really looking forward to it. I feel good; I’ve felt great throughout the whole race. I feel pretty awesome about keeping the lead.”There were only two changes in the jerseys today, with Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer™ Most Courageous Rider Jersey going to Matthew Crane (USA) of Jelly Belly Pro Cycling and the Herbalife Sprint Jersey going to Cavendish. The other jersey winners remain unchanged with Leipheimer in the Amgen Leader Jersey, Robert Gesink (NED) of Rabobank in the Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey and Francisco Mancebo (ESP) of Rock Racing in the California Travel & Tourism Commission King of the Mountain (KOM) Jersey.“The crowds today in Paso Robles were absolutely amazing,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. “It was great to see such an enthusiastic response from a new host city. We had a great race today, and the best part is, it is still anyone’s race tomorrow. Tomorrow should prove to be a critical day for the world-class cyclists and a remarkable day for the spectators who come out to see the always popular time trial.” [...]
[...] Maglia Rosa. Props to Byron, who writes a little more about the Yellow Devil. The Yellow Devil also left a comment with Chris Jones' Diary.2009 Amgen Tour of [...]
To the Yellow Devil in question,
Do you have a name? I mean, we know Lance Armstrong, sure, but can society know the full name of the gutless wonder who’s willing to physically threaten a professional cyclist with a prop worthy of a clown?
While you are entitled to an opinion of Lance Armstrong, you are not ensured a place on the road whereby your dagger poses a risk to all riders.
In 2003 Lance Armstrong fell down during a crucial climb on Luz-Ardiden when a fan interfered. Armstrong was a gentleman offering the media after he won the stage, “It was my fault, I was riding too close to the fans.”
See here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbpHflmmKVM
Armstrong is a human being, a professional athlete, cancer survivor, comeback King twice over and while you’re free to say what you choose, perhaps two words would be most wise, “I’m sorry.” And hey, put down the Twinkies tm if you plan on doing the Giro or le Tour Day France.
Regards – Viper
Viper (is that YOUR real name?),
Yes, my name is Michael. You will not get a last name, because Blog-Stalkers like yourself utilize this information for your own sick pleasures.
Second, if you look closer at the photos, especially the second one, you can see that I have my cell phone in the hand closest to the riders. I am also not trying to defend myself by any means. My intention was just that, to make a statement, not to “Physically Threaten” ANY rider whatsoever.
Thirdly, as you say, I am free to say whatever I choose. I believe that its folks like yourself that sit in front of computers and televisions, and have no ambition to get out into the real world and make a statement. You make judgements upon others from your armchair, and have no aspirations to stand in the face of adversity and possibly huting someone elses feelings in person.
In closing, that was a nice personnal attack regarding the “Twinkies tm”.
Yellow Devil-2
Viper-0
-D
Yellow Devil,
You look good in yellow, the color suits you well. While you may think of yourself as some hero, what you did was a cowardly act.
Yellow Devil, I saw ‘Hero At Large’ in 1980. I knew John Ritter, watched John Ritter and you Sir are no John Ritter atmo:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080863/
Protest? Have a point to make? Do it with words and actions, not seeking fifteen minutes of fame. Your costume along with a banner, fine, but your silly syringes were a danger to all and well over the top. St. Michael was famous for his sword, not a pithy prop.
Whatever points you hoped to score were all lost as you ate the snow. Was there any yellow snow?
True Mike, I do sit in front of a computer at times, but I also sit on a saddle on a bike. You should try it, might offer you a revelation of respectmo.
A fan of the sport are you? Or a fanatical Lance-hater? And who made you Saint Syringe to insult to the level that you did, screaming without words and doing it all without facts. If a dude wearing yellow and black denim builds a syringe and throws it into the forest, does it make a noise? And would anyone care?
The questions are simple, what was your intention, your payoff? To generate a spectacle? You did, but you were on the laughing end of it. You offer, “I just want to see Lance come clean and retire already…it’s time for some new blood.” Really? That sentence along with a buck can’t buy you a stale cup of coffee. Lance should retire due to the whim of some fanatic? Are you really Paul Kimmage in disguise?
It’s Mr. Armstrong to you, Mike and that man you threatened and insulted helped pull Levi to the first place podium. Astana was superb and I don’t think Chechu, Popo or Lance Armstrong really cared about your fifteen seconds of fame.
You move out there was slick and deduced, developed and derived from hatred, resentment and jealousy. Food for thought atmo. You’re not the Greatest American Hero you thought you were:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Q3orQhEcA
Regards,
Viper
PS. I dig Ring Dings, Twinkies not so much.
Let’s try and keep this to a civil discourse, folks. This is moderated and I will stop this if it gets out of hand.
[...] pro Chris Jones of Team Type 1 keeps this blog about the Tour of California. It’s a pretty interesting read, and full of stuff you wouldn’t hear Bob Roll talking [...]
[...] pro Chris Jones of Team Type 1 keeps this blog about the Tour of California. It’s a pretty interesting read, and full of stuff you wouldn’t hear Bob Roll talking [...]
Michael,
Don’t think that just because Viper wrote nasty things here about you everybody agrees with him! Many, many people think that your bit with the syringes is spot-on. Everyone from the NY Times to VeloNews is terrified to report on doping in the sport or to call LA out and here you are on national TV doing just that. Go to Road Bike Review – Doping Forum, to see all your supporters.
And to Viper – I think you are pretty harsh on Michael for exercising his freedom of speech like he did – and not everyone who wants LA to come clean is a “hater”. We love the sport and hate to see it given over to dopers.
I prefer to save my ire for folks like Michael Schumacher, who is stone cold busted and still denies that he doped.
Niko,
You offer, “We love the sport and hate to see it given over to dopers.” If this is your defense or support of Michael the Yellow Devil’s actions, then you’re still not cooking with gas atmo.
Is this the War on Dope? Yes, a doper under every rock and behind every tree? Or is the reality that Lance Armstrong was never, ever found guilty of doping and his haters assume too much?
Mr. Armstrong is guilty of helping Levi Leipheimer win ToC, guilty of training hard and riding swiftly. Until you have proof, evidence or facts, you’re wasting your time.
The Yellow Devil Cult has a personal hatred (or jealousy) of one Lance Armstrong and while the YD hasn’t defined his reasons why, just this, “I just want to see Lance come clean and retire already. There are many cyclists these days that I would like to see succeed, and he has done his time, and done well. Let some new blood come up.”
Logic tells us all these cyclists in le peleton play by the same rules. Train hard, eat right, rest and make it happen. Cheat…and you’ll get caught. So while you or the Yellow Devil want to raise your arm and point your finger at Armstrong, remember that when you do so, you have three more of your very own fingers pointing back at you. Until the Yellow Devil has proof, evidence, he has no beef, merely a bruised pair of buns.
You, the Yellow Devil and all of us, we are fans. We watch the races, we don’t participate in them, their results or the drug testing process. Only a radical/fanatic would think he/she can demand Armstrong’s retirement, “Cause I like the sport, man and ya know man, Lance should let new blood come up and stuff man.” Hey man is that freedom rock, turn it up atmo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKDk-mg1J9Q
While Armstrong was retired did EPO disappear? Exactly. Lance is back, he looks very capable on the saddle and if he chooses to ride around Austin, Colorado, the Criterium International or Flanders, he’ll do so of his own free will. Your personal bias or beliefs will play no role/roll.
Root for your favorite cyclists, enjoy the sport as you gain nothing from slanderous statements. Support someone or something, don’t simply sit there and attack Lance Armstrong cause it’s cool. Raise the level of your debate, not the decibel of your anti-Lance shrillness. Throwing beer onto the field of play from the bleachers is all too easy.
The points on the needles of the Yellow Devil’s prop seemed acute. If he had more than just, “We love the sport, hate to see it given to dopers” and some evidence or facts to support his stance, his words at the podium in this debate would be as sharp as his dagger’s needles. Until then, he’s just some guy wearing yellow denim.
Regards,
Viper
[...] Kimmage–Joe Lindsey–The “Yellow Devil”–Levi [...]
Yellow Dude,
I came to read my friend Chris Jones reports and stumbled onto this thread.
I am a professional MTN biker and Triathlete and do some road racing and film road races. I know how peleton dynamics work and I have to agree with viper. Not on the doping issue, but the rider safety issue.
I saw the incident and vipers initial point was safety. You can make any statement you want, but not at the cost of the riders safety. You were getting pinched by the peleton and were a clear hazard. Lance was not offended by your statement but probably by your disregard for the safety of every rider on the course.
I understand it was not your intention to put anyone in danger, but you have to realize that you did. Not with your prop, but your whole body. The roads are icy, wet and slick and you are running a tight line between the snow and the riders. I would have picked a spot where there was more room between me and the riders and room to bail if I have to.
Its awesome to see so many super fans and hope to see you out there again. I wouldnt get offended if I were you. Just constructive criticism.
Thanks
BTW Chris, I actually wanted to ask about the Candy’s on your road bike. The Candy’s are MTB pedals and have longer spindles than road pedals. Did you replace the spindle with the short spindle or are you just running mtb pedals on your road bike? I noticed the Candy’s when we pre-rode the Stage 4 course.
Are Paul Kimmage, Yellow Devil and Richard Sachs happy now?
It’s a very sad notion when those ‘in’ the cycling world take glee in Lance’s injury.
When the question was posed on Serotta Forum, “What would it take for Lance haters to be happy?” One of the choices offered was…Lance gets sick again. Clearly a harsh, barren and abrupt choice, but one which should leave a horrible taste in the mouth of those who adore Paul Kimmage’s vile verbiage.
Lance isn’t sick, isn’t the cancer of the sport and anyone who jokes, “Hey, at least he has two collar bones” while claiming it to be humor, no. No Sir, not when Lance-haters have a history of bashing him. Making fun of Lance’s fall today is akin to mocking the tears of a man as he buries his dog…it’s a big no-no atmo and classless.
Paul Kimmage received some scary support from some Big Names in the Cyling Universe here:
http://www.serotta.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56174
Lance Armstrong crashed today and while there are more mouth-breathers out there, quietly or outwardly smiling, at least there are sone lone voices of reason here, see posts 34 and 35 here:
http://www.serotta.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57436&page=1&pp=15
Viva Lance. *
* = If there is a fellowship of cyclists which we hear about, talk of, then let’s see it. Let’s see it atmo, let’s see that specialness amongst those who not only build frames, but ride them too. And that includes all riders, even Lance.
Leave your response!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Advertise With Us
Alltop
Categories
Visit Our Sponsors:
Mademen.com
Cycling is a great men's health activity to help you stay in shape.
1-800-FLOWERS
Recent Posts
Most Commented
Most Viewed