After a rainy, bone-chilling stage of last February’s Tour of California, cycling icon Lance Armstrong posted a Twitter message about the atrocious weather that was plaguing the race.
“The Tour of California should be in late April,” Armstrong told his fans.
Others have agreed. Next year’s race is being moved to May with the hope that spring conditions will lead to better racing and attract even larger crowds.
But there is a calculated risk in the calendar change, which pushes the Tour of California into the heart of traditional racing season. The race now conflicts with Europe’s more prestigious Giro d’Italia — testing the belief of Tour of California organizers that their event already has become well-established after just four years.
Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, banned from racing in Italy, took overall victory in the Tour of Catalunya on Sunday.
The Caisse d’Epargne rider completed the week-long course with a 15-second advantage over runner-up Daniel Martin of Ireland. Third was Spain’s Haimar Zubeldia, 22 seconds back.
Valverde finished 19th in the final, 110-km stage won by New Zealand’s Greg Henderson after a bunch sprint to the finish on the Circuit de Catalunya motor racing track. Second was France’s Lloyd Mondory and third Italian Fabio Sabatini.
Valverde said the victory in Spain’s third biggest bike race was: “very important, particularly given the difficult times I’m going throughâ€.
Final climb of the Mont Ventoux in stage 14 of the Tour de France 2002. With a.o. Richard Virenque, Lance Armstrong, Alexandre Botcharov, Marco Serpellini, Ivan Basso, Francisco Mancebo, Joseba Bel…
