Man in the Arena

Rock Racing: So Hot Right Now

Jesse@Active — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 23:07:52 GMT

In the movie Zoolander, Owen Wilson's character Hansel seems to be constantly followed around by House music and an entourage. His introduction in the film is preceded by a deep bass beat followed by an off-camera baritone saying "HAN-sel."

That's what I think of every time I see a rider or vehicle from Rock Racing. The newly-formed Continental team was created by fashion designer Michael Ball of Rock & Republic.

And when they roll up, you know it. They're generally one of the first teams to have a presence near the start and finish lines...mostly due to the tent set up to sell $9 water bottles and Rock Racing trucker hats.

But when the team bus rolls in, someone quickly hops out and puts down the lime green traffic cones. They're one of the few squads to put up a barrier (those rolling strap kinds that you heard people in line at a movie theater or H&M). And they draw hordes of onlookers.

The Rolls Royce they sport helps too.

Despite being a sponsor of the race, the Amgen organizers only allowed five of their men to participate. Issues with phantom doping investigations got in the way (more about that on Bruce's blog). But that still doesn't stop them from drawing attention. Italian Mario Cipollini--aka Super Mario, aka The Lion King--seems to have a camera crew with him wherever he goes.

Check out his ride. That's a limited edition (as in, made just for him) Cipollini bike. It also comes in white and regular road black.

But there are other riders on the team here in California worth mentioning, including Fast Freddie Rodriguez, who is back on a U.S team for the first time since 1991. Michael Creed is a young rider who's looking to prove he's not just filling a roster spot. He's currently hammering it on Stage 7, earning both sprint and KOM points.

But let's be honest, the team members the fans have really been going ga-ga for are the Rock Racing podium girls.

The team seems to be everywhere. Without a number for the race, the excluded Rock Racing riders Tyler Hamilton, Oscar Sevilla, and Santiago Botero--along with a few riders from other squads who've bowed out--took to the highway to get some riding in ahead of the peloton.

Their website is a little bare, but check out the commercial they made for themselves. Hard core.

It'll be interesting to see how the team plays out over the course of this season and next. Will bike teams become the new yachts for rich guys with time on their hands? Is Ball the Mark Cuban of cycling? Can he take the black and neon green to France in a few years?

Will Rock Racing even be back next year?

Beats me. But honestly, they're fun to have around.

Stage 3: A Sunny Demeanor

Jesse@Active — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:22:37 GMT

My morning started off kind of cool in that I found out I was staying at the same Ramada Inn in Modesto as the Saunier Duval-Scott team. I offered to help carry one rider's bags down the stairs--he was dressed in his kit and looked a little confused as to how he would get his leather case and metallic rolling luggage down the wet concrete steps--but he politely refused. On top of that, they were driving around in unmarked mini-vans. Wow. Here's this European Pro Tour team making its way through the budget motel circuit in California. Wonder what they thought of the continental breakfast...

For today's start in Modesto, large, bulbous clouds hovered over the sky. They seemed to loom as a warning for what lay ahead: the 4,360-foot peak of Mt. Hamilton and the category 1 climb up the Sierra Road. The clouds seemed to overemphasize how mid-size and modest Modesto felt (I couldn't resist the name game there, but it fits). Compared to the other stops in the Tour so far, it had the easiest parking and the most...curiously interested crowd. There weren't as many cyclists and most people seemed to have come out for the spectacle of the whole thing more than any interest in the actual race. It was fun to see pretty much every elementary school class in town lining the streets ringing cowbells. As a reporter for the Modesto Bee later told me, "That's because kids in Modesto grow up with cowbells!" But it was a genuine interest and enthusiasm, and it was cool to be a part of.

The morning was marked by a Slipstream rider, Tyler Farrar, in the yellow jersey. Unfortunately, he would withdraw from the stage, and thus the race, because of a stomach virus that might have affected more than one rider.

After the start, I found my way to San Jose while the riders tackled the hills. Because the roads up Mt. Hamilton were closed to everyone but locals only, I skipped it. (Also, it was 35 degrees at the top and I packed light.) However, here's a blog from another Active community user, ToshiMoshi, who made the trek.

By the time I got to the broadcast in the press room, Levi Leipheimer and Rabobank's Robert Gesink had broken away from the peloton and were tearing it up the Sierra Road. Leipheimer is the defending AToC champion and was making his first real run at the yellow jersey. The mindset of the journalists around me was that the race had now really begun.

The finish was a fast sprint into the city. I was able to finally get myself into the press area just beyond the finish line. An exciting place to be, but not the best view if your aren't wearing a special vest and behind an enormous lens.

Leipheimer seemed to concede the stage to the 21-year-old Gesink, who was the Best Young Rider at last year's Tour of California. And as well he should, Gesink did the majority of the pulling for the two breakaway riders. Said Leipheimer a little later, "He was the guy I picked to be my ally."

Here's a shot of Geslink being interviewed by our very own Bruce Hildenbrand for the AToC DVD:

He was seriously overjoyed to be the day's victor. In comparison, Leipheimer was...stoic for a guy getting smooched by the podium girls. To busy concentrating on the remainder of the Tour? The guy might be a pedaling powerhouse, but he's not exactly a smile machine.

Let's compare. Levi:

It's the same look! Blue Steel. Le Tigre. The same look! (Sorry, started quoting Zoolander there.)

Now let's see Gesink:

Yeah, he looks happy. I mean, I've studied those photos multiple times and the conclusion is that if the Rock Racing podium girls can't get Levi to smile, then...ummm...what was I talking about again?

Talkin' AToC

Jesse@Active — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 07:40:58 GMT

I started the trip with a camcorder sans microphone, a point-and-shoot camera, a rented Chevy cobalt, 400 miles between San Diego and Palo Alto, and a "Go get 'em!" from Luke (the boss, aka Luc the Good Egg).

Along the way, I thought about the approach Active's Tour of California page should take in presenting the race. While creating the package, I wanted a section to showcase helpful articles related to the stage. You'll see climbing tips on mountain days, sprinting tips on days that end in circuits, and general cycling and racing articles throughout the eight-day event.

I also had a box created that features rides in California anyone can sign up for. This is a step beyond our traditional coverage of big events (such as the Tour de France). The goal is to make it easy for you to ride some of the same roads the pros will. Because after all, if we're not getting you fired up to ride your bike, we're not doing our job as journalists.

I'm not exactly sure when it was I realized I had attempted to create a page that could pertain to cyclists even if they didn't care about Vaughters and the gang, Leipheimer, Boonen, and the rebels of Rock Racing. If Cameron Crowe were directing this trip, the epiphany might have hit me while I was listening to the Allman Brothers as the sun set over the hills south of San Jose. But it may have been while singing along to the Aladdin soundtrack driving along the top-tube-straight stretch of Interstate 5, past endless farmland drinking Dr. Pepper and eathing Munchies Mix. Whatever...

The point is, there's more to cycling than biological passports, ASO's evite list and the constant need to update your Rolodex of who is on what team. cycling also involves, you know, pedaling and riding and stuff. And these pros do that pretty well, I hear.

So America, here's your chance to watch a top-notch tour on your home turf. I'm thrilled to be along for the ride.