After Saturday’s post was lost in the web somewhere and never made it up I spaced a bit - sorry about the lapse over the last 2 stages.
The ToC wrapped up on a high note for Team Slipstream with Pate on the podium as the most aggressive rider for the week.  We were once again well represented in the breaks both of the last two days and without a doubt the animators of the race.  Looking back it was an exceptional start to the season for the team and we have to keep the focus full on and ride the momentum up from here.

Not to sound like a broken record, but I was constantly amazed by the crowds we had this week.  Saturday and Sunday topped all days prior and if crowds are any indication of the state of american cycling we’re heading in a great direction.  There was a common perception that once Lance was gone these races would die but that myth was firmly dispelled here in CA.  Hopefully things keep heading in the right direction from here.

Off to Spain tomorrow for a loooong haul of spring racing and things have, as one would guess, been crazy at home getting things ready to leave.  5 days in Girona getting settled and then up to Le Saymn in Belgium!  Travel here I come.

A LONG but in the end pretty easy day down the coast of CA.  Also one of the most stunningly beautiful days I’ve ever seen from the saddle.  I couldn’t imagine an easier day as a photographer - heck, with my cameraphone I could have snapped some frame-worthy shots today.

The forecast was for rain all day and a steady west-south-west wind.  Somehow we lucked out and after a rainy start and a bit of cold rain a half an hour in the sun broke and only a light wind developed.  I once again hit out at K 0 but there was some action today in the early break hunt and it took about a half and hour of slamming it for something to form up that everybody was happy with.  We had Lucas up there and were happy with the move other than the fact that it contained another of the guys going for the KOM competition.  Lucas tried to pip some points away but Laurent nabbed enough to go clear in the standings and will give us quite a race on Saturday.

Once the move went clear the pack once again settled in behind the Disco train and rode out a long day at a nice tempo.  The sprinters teams slammed it towards the end and made things stiff for the last 15k but otherwise it was a relatively uneventful day, at least as far as the racing went.  We did however get to enjoy some spectacular views down the coast.  From the man-sized California Condors circling above us just south of Big Sur to the huge Sea Lions north of Morrow Bay we saw it all. With little to no shoulder it’d be a death march riding highway 1 any other day but today we really couldn’t have asked for much more.  Despite the rain the crowds were out in full force once again and I can’t wait to see how many people show this weekend.

Time for bed here in San Luis Obispo - Thanks to everybody for all of the support!

JJ Haedo from CSC took the stage in front of the governator here in Sac and we’re all in safe and sound after another day with some burly crashes.  Taylor is still in the u25 jersey, Tom added a few points to his KOM lead and Jason is sitting hapilly in 2nd overall; we couldn’t ask for much more…  Everybody is riding well and the year is certainly starting on a high note for all.

We started today in downtown Santa Rosa with a few neutral laps around jam packed city streets before heading out onto the open roads and up into the hills.  A group of 3 non-threats took off just after K 0 and the field settled in behind the discovery train.  Heading up Trinity Grade towards the first KOM I set up mid-way down their train with Tom on my wheel and with a K to go took off with Tom and his one rival on his wheel.  Tom handilly took the sprint at the top and we all settled back in for the steep descent down the Oakville Grade into Napa.  A few miles up the valley we took a right and headed back up into the hills towards lake berryessa.  I grabbed the last point on the 2nd KOM, securing Tom’s lead for another day, and we all rolled down to the flats for a nervous last 2 hours of racing with crosswinds trying to strengthen but never materializing.  Pate put in a good last dig effort with 30k to go and was caught by the hard-charging lead out trains with 10k left.  A few flick-your-buddy city circuits in front of the State Capitol Building and the race was over.

Tomorrow’s stage has a good hard schtick not far from the finish in San Jose and today will likely have been the last shot for the sprinters, at least for the next few days. Looks like there might be some rain on the way as well.  ugh.

Oh yeah - if you’re ever in the Sacramento area DO NOT stay at the Radisson.  Normally a name you’d associate with a decent room, this place is a dive.  Avoid.

Hijacked from Velonews.com. Check out the argyled rider jumping the bike on the ground. That close…