Stage 1 of the second annual Tour of Alberta headed south of Calgary for six laps around Lethbridge.
Here's the most important thing you need to know about today in Lethbridge: it rained. Now, I've stood in some good downpours at the races before, but the merciful weather gods have typically allowed a scalding sun to come out after an hour or two, thereby warming me (and the peloton) up again. But not today. No, the weather gods today said, “Oh, remember how we gave you mild temperatures and even sunshine during the Spring Classics? Today is payback.” And so it rained.
There was a festival, complete with live music, a bouncy castle, and plenty of vendors, in full swing in the park adjacent to the start/finish line but the rain kept nearly everyone away.
It hardly took a moment to check out the start/finish line and figure out where I should be for rider autographs. Of course, I was still a couple of hours early, but I was lucky to have some great company. A generation ago, meeting your pen pal was a big deal, but today I did the modern equivailent and got to meet up with Andrea, who I know through twitter. She's just as much of a fan of the peloton as I am, so her company made the rain infinitely more tolerable.
Travis Sheldon of 5 Hour Energy Presented by Kenda signed on first and he was nice enough to sign my massive Alberta flag in the pouring rain for me. The rest of his team soon followed and Jim Stemper tried to sign for me, but the flag and marker were both so saturated after just a couple of minutes that the ink refused to cooperate. I tucked the flag and marker away, figuring in such conditions my time was best spent ringing my cowbell and simply cheering for the riders as they signed on.
The emcee stopped several riders to have a quick word. When asked about his thoughts on the harsh rain, Tom Danielson said he was excited to race in this monsoon and that he was well prepared for it after sitting around eating donuts after racing in Colorado last week and that he had even picked up some whale blubber since arriving in Canada and had covered himself in it. Ha!
The rain was so severe that I didn't even want to risk getting my camera out, so the only photo I took was of the riders waiting at the start line as a two man band played the longest version of “O Canada” I have ever heard in my life. The poor peloton sat there shivering, trying to be respectful. I'm sure they were wondering why North Americans insist on performing their national anthem ahead of a cycling race. It's a valid question, truth be told. One rider, in a desperate attempt to maintain a little body heat, slowly rode in circles around the two race cars directly behind the waiting peloton.
Andrea and I ducked into a nearby cafe to grab a bite and a warm drink. We were just determining our spectating strategy given the rain when the Scottish barista suddenly shouted, “THEY'RE COMING!” and bolted out the door. I started to fling my big and soggy backpack over my shoulder, but I then I remembered I was in Alberta and left it sitting next to the door as the customers all poured out onto the street. The rain was still coming down hard so I hadn't even bothered with my camera. A break of over a dozen rounded the corner less than a minute ahead of the peloton. When the broom wagon drove past, we hurried back into the warmth of the cafe and ordered a fresh round of hot drinks.
This pattern carried on for the rest of the afternoon: Andrea and I chatting until the Scotswoman would yell, “THEY'RE COMING,” running outside, cheering for the riders, and returning to the cafe. It was perfect.
With about four laps to go, Matt Hayman, Robin Carpenter, and Nathan Van Hooydonck escaped and built their advantage to over 4 minutes over the following laps.
Giant led the chase for most of the race.
Another lap and no change in the break or chase.
With about one lap to go, 18 year old Van Hooydonck was dropped.
Garmin started to help Giant reel in the break.
The next time the peloton crossed the finish line would actually be the finish so we sucked it up and headed back out into the rain to see what kind of a spot we could get. It turned out we had a beautiful view right on the line and across from the podium. Perfect!
We had followed the first 100+ kilometers from twitter updates but we got to experience the emcee as we waited at the finish–and I do mean experience. I've seen boxes of crayons that weren't half as colorful as his descriptions of the race! Watching the final thirty minutes on a laptop, he was full of enthusiasm and the most over-the-top similes and expressions imaginable. As Matt Hayman tried in vain to stay ahead of the approaching peloton, the emcee declared that the Aussie was working like a rented donkey due back in town at 7:00. When another rider attacked, he announced that the city of Lethbridge had officially changed its name to Downtown Pain City. Discussing the immense speeds of the peloton, he said that the riders go so fast, it literally looks like they're going to ride off the face of the earth. This is just what I can remember off the top of my head! He was a riot and his booming voice was so strong that he broke a microphone.
iPhones at the ready as the peloton approached.
Coming into the final straightaway, the bunch must have been close to 30 riders strong. I could see a familiar blue helmet moving up alongside another rider. I knew it was Navardauskas, but who else was accelerating with him? And was it enough to take the stage?
The announcer hooted and hollered and when the dust had settled, Ruben Zepuntke from Bissell Development Team had bested the Lithuanian.
The peloton wasn't too far behind.
Stuart Wight and American champion Eric Marcotte.
Martijn Keizer and Tom Leezer.
Gavin Mannion and Caleb Fairly.
A soigneur led Matt Hayman towards the podium.
I tried to get a photo of Navardauskas's name on the ticker tape, but his last name is too long to fit!
Good thing his first name is shorter.
After crossing the finish line, the riders all stopped at their respective soigneurs to grab a snack or a dry layer before going to their warm buses. Below: Nic Hamilton.
The stage wasn't much of a 41st birthday celebration for former American champion Fred Rodriguez. Below: he and teammate Jacob Rathe ride to their bus.
Even before the awards ceremony had began, the crew was already taking down the advertising on the barriers.
Tom Dumoulin finished with the lead group to retain his mustard leader's jersey and earn another cowboy hat.
Stage winner Ruben Zepuntke also grabbed the sprinter's jersey.
Robin Carpenter was the King of the Mountains.
Dumoulin as the best young rider.
For his enormous work in the break today, Matt Hayman was named the most aggressive rider.
Third on the stage and sitting seventh overall, Ryan Anderson received the best Canadian rider's jersey.
His biggest fans, perhaps better known as his parents, happened to be right next to Andrea. It was great to see Ryan wave to them and how proud they were to see their son on the podium at the Tour of Alberta.
Stage results: 1st Ruben Zepuntke, 2nd Ramunas Navardauskas, and 3rd Ryan Anderson.
The jerseys with Sheriff Dumoulin center.
Even through the rain had stopped, it was still damp and cold out. I for one had a strong shiver going on and I have more than 6% body fat, so it's no wonder Dumoulin was struggling to keep warm during an on-stage interview!
Today's lone autograph came from: 84 Taylor Sheldon.
