As usual a new type of breakfast, this time at Starbucks and the it was a short 27 km ride due South to Vallejo where the Peloton was to travel by public ferry directly to Sam Francisco thus short circuiting a long ride alongside a busy highway. From there the team reassembled at the accommodation location in readiness for an assault on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Here the boys ride fast along Hwy 29
The Duke was setting a fast pace with Black Cav and M2 trailing In his sizeable wake.
Vallejo seems to be one of those less well to do towns. Here some Parole officers are doing a number on this car.
While the peloton struggled with the ferry the Electric Cowboy and the Duke wheeled Priscilla over the Bay Bridge for the third time, eventually finding some of those famous San Fran hills.
Then it was to the nearby bay to watch a race of the Lois Vuitton Cup ( Americas Cup challenger series). It seems to be exciting watching millionaires playthings zip around the bay close to shore. Well almost.
Here the NZ yacht gets ready for the race.
Emirates is leading Prada ( taken from the Golden Gate).
So it was onto the Golden Gate for the sprint to Sausalito with points up for grabs as the race for the yellow came down to the wire.
Here the Black Cav ( in grey coat due to the coldish wind) makes a run for M2 further ahead approaching the first Pylon.
Content with his position in The TDC the Black Cav takes a breather from the climb.
Then we all made it to Sausalito for lunch by the sea shore. Note how we stacked the bikes to form a secure anti theft barrier, actually seemed to work.
The return trip allowed the Duke and the Electric Cowboy to catch a ferry back to San Francisco rather than the short climb back over the Bridge.
By now the wind had got up a bit more, looking to the west from inside the Bay
Passing Alcatraz, the Duke and the Electric Cowboy were not allowed to get off for a quick lap of the island
Then it was time to tally the points. This tour's winner is none other than M2 who displayed a consistent desire to get there first, mainly due to his faster riding and 11-25 rear cassette. The Duke and the Electric Cowboy lost points for the ferry ride this afternoon while the return from Sausalito became a reverse points sprint which was the undoing of the Black Cav and Goose. Rocket was able to defend his title and was presented with Cadel the red Koala.
Honourable mentions must go to the Black Cav, the Electric Cowboy, Goose and the Grand Duke who were in the hunt for the title but let themselves down at crucial moments.
Here M2 gets his jersey at the Franciscan Crab Restaurant where we sampled the crab and clam chowder.
Cadel and friends
Crab chowder in sourdough bread bowl, noyce.
So now attention turns to 2015 and whether the peloton will again step out for another International odyssey. The Iron Curtain perhaps?
Cheers
EC
Postscript: did I mention that only one rider survived the TDC without having a puncture. This could only happen due to the personal skill of the rider, none other than the Electric Cowboy who managed to avoid every pinch flat bump, thorn and glass shard in all of California and Nevada, or was it just luck?
Adios
- Posted by The Electric Cowboy using BlogPress from his iPad
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