TOC Stage 1 Route Details Published!
Oh..... My..... GOD! I knew we were starting in Tahoe, but I had no idea we'd have the chance to ride around the lake!!! I've ALWAYS wanted to ride that route and now I get the chance! 
I'm getting sooooo excited! Check it out, links to PDF's with the course map and profile are at the bottom. Riding at 6000' elevation on day 1 while dealing with Jet Lag won't be easy for this low lander, but I don't care! This is gonna be serious epic riding!
0
Comments
Very cool! Looks like they are releasing the details of each stage bit by bit. My notes:
Stage 3 looks mostly flat & fast for the pros, like one of those stages where we better get a super early start or drop in way late in the route if we wanna stay ahead of them.
It's so exciting to watch this unfold!
The ToCA route looks pretty similar, with some extra mileage, of the early June Lake Tahoe "America's most beautiful bike ride" century that I did in 2008, as my RR#1 for IMCDA. But, I don't remember the exact route. Here's the route info for that ride.
www.bikethewest.com/AMBBR/AMBR_cartography_09.jpg
Emerald bay is BRUTAL. Note, you might have some issues there, as it's very narrow and twisty, and they do NOT shut down the road for any event other than the official event. Also, there's no barriers between you (thousands of feet up) and the long nasty drop down into the lake, but the view is spectacular! So, I don't know if they will keep it shut down earlier in the day. There's a LOT of traffic on those roads, pretty much year round. With that said, you might have to start AFTER Emerald Bay.
Spooner Pass isn't too bad at all, honestly, especially after doing all the other previous hills. It's just long and steady upward. Again, with amazing views. Take your camera!
After Kings beach (where our century ride was "halfway"), the Brockway Summit was short(er) and pretty dang steep. There's a cool little bar/pub right at the bottom of the hill, which is where we stopped when we did it.
At the very end, we had a screaming descent for MILES and MILES before entering back into Tahoe.
Overall, freaking amazing - but hard - route. I am so jealous!
I just about lost my lunch
. WTH was I thinking? This is either gonna make me stronger or put me in my grave. Hopefully, we don't see "RIP Pete Giesin 4/11/1968 - 5/15/2011. Rode Eleanor into the Grave!".
Had to get my $.02 in there so you wouldn't undersell it!
I was excited to see we'd ride around the lake, I have always wanted to see it. Now I am not so sure.
Tow rope on the back of the van??
Don't worry, we won't do 100+ the first day
. This will be Day 1 of 7 and we caution people to not be a Day 1 Hero and a Day 5 Zero.
Love it!! bring on 118 I say!
edit- ha! or not. Seriously looking forward to the new areas + routes. still pumped we get to go back to the army base!
Well bummer. i was looking forward to starting 50 mile rides in the snow next month. But I have faith in the OS to get me ready... or not
No worries Michele. I'll be the Lantern Rouge of EN TOC and I learned a LOT last year. Stick with me, Leigh, and Kitboo and you'll be fine- we know all the secret tricks
Stage 4 Course just announced!!!
"After shaking things up with two more KOMs, the riders come face to face with the daunting challenge of Mt Hamilton…the Tour’s first HC climb. The two mile climb to the Mt. Hamilton Observatory (4,130) offers a spectacular view of San Jose and Silicon Valley. Next is the treacherous descent down the front side of Mt Hamilton. After a few miles of flat riding, comes a right turn onto Sierra Rd. What follows is a 3.5 miles ascent with a 10% average grade and 1,700’ feet of climbing."
Treacherous???
Really? Uh, I think I'll be hopping in the van for the decent ! 
We did Sierra Rd last year- I remember that was awesome! I hope we have time to get it done again before the pro's roll us up.
It's not that bad:
And Mines Road is awesome. That's the looonnggg 20-22mi climb we did last year with Carrie and Co. Remember, you finished the climb at a 4way and turned left/east through that canyon to I-5. This time we turn right to climb Mt. Hamilton. Very cool stage!!
Stage 7 details are posted and all I can say is:
I'll let you all read the details for yourself. Joe is going to need a wheelchair to get me onto that plane for the redeye home! I'm seriously second guessing my decision to take the triple granny gears off Hobbs.
Huh...I wasn't expecting them to do it that way
.
We will probably ride from my house (I'm 5mi west from where Foothill blvd intersects the San Gabriel River, in Duarte) to the intersection of Glendora Mtn Road and Sierra Madre. GMR is our local TT hill so...I think a ToC TT of GMR is only appropriate
.
We'll then ride across Glendora Ridge Road east to Mt. Baldy. Stage the vans somewhere along the route as we continue on to Mt. Baldy. See the finish then ride back to the vans.
Alot of this will depend on what road closurses they have in Mt Baldy Village. The road up to the finish is very narrow...and crazy steep. 5mi, starts at 8%, goes up to 10% and finishes with an evil kick of 14-16%. Gonna be nuts up there, I hope we can ride up it to the finish.
This route above is...doing math...12+9+12+5 = 34 miles, then about 6-7mi mostly down back to the vans.
Anyway...we won't do the whole route but we'll do the best parts and hopefully see the finish.
Hamilton is awesome. Three years ago it was 65 degrees at the bottom, freezing rain and fog on top. Such a great climb. There will be crowds there. Damn...got my ToC envy on now.....
What, no luv for Stage 5? Let's give it up for Stage 5!!
Features two of my favorite rides in Cali: PCH down the coast, and then Naciemento Furgeson Rd. FYI, we will turn left off the coast at NMF Rd, climb 2500ft in 7mi, then desend through the Ft Hunter Liggett army base, that big purple area, and stop where it intersects Jolon Rd. Absolutely georgous, old California type stuff. You'll dig it.