March 02, 2007
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The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you havea comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen incycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write toWebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name andhome town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Writersare encouraged to limit their submissions to one letter per month.The letters published here contain the opinions of the submittingauthors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, policies or positionsof VeloNews.com, VeloNews magazine or our parent company, InsideCommunications, Inc.

It’s not about the fan
Dear Editors,
Response to Benjamin Weekes’ letter, (see “No R-E-S-P-E-C-T or justS-T-U-P-I-D?” in Wednesday’sMailbag).If you recall Lance Armstrong’s interview after that 2003 stage to Luz Ardiden, he said he wasn’t upset at the spectator/fan.He knew that the person didn’t mean for it to happen and that it was partof the race…the fans glued to the sides of the road.To go as far as to call them “idiots,” I’d have to disagree. Now that guy who got run over by the motorcycle atthe Tour in 2005 and struck by the camera man that was riding on the back… well, we could consider him one, maybe.
Matt Horton
Highland, UtahMountain-top dreams
Dear VeloNews,
As someone who enjoys California’s weather and (almost) year-roundcycling, I have to add that the Tour of California organizers have beena bit lucky. It’s not always warm and sunny here. One of these years, theriders are going to spend a week riding through a solid wall of rain, orworse. If they were going up Sierra Road in San Jose this morning (February28), they would be riding through snow at the top!Having said that, given the February time slot, the only practical placeto be riding through mountains is where they are doing it now: near thecoast. But we do need a mountain top finish! My fantasy stage isa finish atop of Mount Umunhum, south of San Jose. This has elevationof more than 3400 feet. The first 1000 feet is an average 13 percent grade,and the second 1000 “mellows out” to a mere 10 percent, but both have rampsof over 20! This would be a truly epic climb. And there’s an old Air Forcestation up top (thus the road) which would give the organizers a placeto set up the finish. What more could they want?
Mark Flynn
San Jose, CaliforniaSouthern mountains
Dear Velo,
It’s been a pleasure to follow the Tour of California and to be ableto watch a stage finish both years here in San Jose just a few blocks frommy office.In my opinion racing in Yosemite or the Lake Tahoe area this time ofyear is impractical. In February there may be snow on the roads inYosemite Valley at any time. The predicted high temperature theretoday is 28 degrees F. with snow showers. The high country surroundingYosemite Valley is deep under snow and the roads are closed all winter.The roads around Lake Tahoe are plowed, but it’s not much warmer.In summer a stage up the Glacier Point road, on the south side of YosemiteValley, would be awesome, but they can’t schedule this race in the summer.Others have suggested a stage from San Jose up to Mt. Hamilton, east ofhere. Another great stage, but there’s snow up there right now, andwhile that’s not common, it’s not unusual. It snows up there a coupleof times every winter, and when it rains it can be very cold. Unlessthe organizers were willing to scratch the stage if necessary, it couldn’tbe counted on.I agree that a mountaintop finish or two would be an excellent additionto the Tour, but I think it will have to be in Southern Cal.
Bob Dennis
San Jose, CaliforniaMore than geography
Editor,
There are many reasons races go where they go: challenging, sceniccourses are two. But an important reason some readers may not realize isthat many of the cities used for the start and finish of stages for major tours, like the Amgen Tour of California, are “chosen” becausethey can provide the resources needed. This may include sponsorship cash,ads on the TV show, comp hotels and meals for teams and officials, and free or reduced cost municipal services like police, permits, etc. In return, the city receives the publicity.So, while there are hundreds of ideas for more challenging and scenicroutes around California including deserts, mountains, and coasts furthernorth and south, they probably don’t have the resources available. In the case of San Diego, the area may just not fit logistically into a week-long tour.
Doug Thurston
Sacramento, CaliforniaIt’s about sponsors, too
Dear Velo,
We would all love to see a mountain top finish in the Tour of California,but there are a few problems.The dates make the Sierras out and even many of the Southern Californiamountains may have ice or snow. Keller Peak, as one writer suggested, wouldhave required studded snow tires. The other is the route, this is not theTour de France, where almost any city is willing to pay the costs of ahost city. There are only a few cities willing to support the costs ofhosting a stage start or finish. Major sponsors like CSC, Health Net, AEG,and Amgen located around Los Angeles, Adobe near San Francisco, Jelly Bellynear Santa Rosa, it is easy to figure out the route.If you want to see the Tour of California come to your town start talking,to local elected officials and local companies. The Teams may ride thebikes, but business steers the Tour.See you at the Redlands Classic.
Anthony G. Gough
Redlands, CaliforniaMissing Jan
Dear VeloNews,
Watching the Hamburg press conference was enlightening as Jan Ullrichpresented a rarely seen very human side. He convinced me that he, as wellas others, are truly victims of a few overzealous officials and reporters.Due process is largely AWOL and to hold anyone’s “love and passion”, asJan expressed, hostage to innuendo is in the same spirit as the Salem witchtrials. Jan made some poor choices in his career and personal life, butchemical performance enhancement has not been one with any substantiation.And yes, he submitted DNA samples to the Bonn authorities last year. Infact, Jan had offers from seven teams to ride this year and his Swiss licenseis still valid.Doubtless that cheating has and does occur, but where is the presumptionof innocence? I will proudly continue to wear my Ullrich autographed jersey,as well as support Lance and Floyd in their fight against defamation untilthey are proven otherwise unworthy.
Brian Behler
Bodenmais, Germany

Friday’s Mailbag: Fans, Mountains and Jan

by VeloNews.com

Categories : Mailbag

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