If you are here to get the results of Stage Two of the Tour of California bike race that ended in downtown Sacramento just hours ago – well almost eight hours as I write this – you’re in the wrong place.
But I got pictures of hot-looking women – and a dog.
So, now that I still have half of the genders still with me…
O.K. quick race results: stage winner, Tom Boonen of Team Quick Step and the yellow jersey will be worn tomorrow by Tyler Farrar of Team Slipstream. Want more than that, might I suggest you try Versus.com or Amgen Tour of California.
Oh, it’s the dog your interested in…why that’s the Great Chiweenie!
As I mentioned the other day (Permanent Link to The Tour of California is coming, and watch out Gov.- it’s really FOUR laps!) I volunteered at last year’s event as a human barrier to people trying to cross the street – which was contrary to my training as a Cub Scout a hundred years ago, where weren’t we supposed to help people cross the street?!?
So this year I volunteered to become part of the security detail. I thought surely I would be issued weapons of mass protection – or at the least, a plastic whistle. Nope. Not even a special colored shirt that stated for all to see that I was SECURITY, which the folks got last year. Hell, we didn’t even get no stink’n badges!
But all the volunteers were offered clear plastic ponchos that provided less protection than a budget priced 33 gallon garbage bag and was thinner than one of those service station condoms – not that I have ever had the occasion to buy one.
(In regards to filling station encounters, exactly how many chance meetings – while pumping gas – have really lead to the need for a plastic prophylactic, and especially in dazzling colors – these are generally used in the dark, right? – and constructed in creative ”configurations?!?” Hey, I am not the one to put those damn dispensers at eye level when I am standing there just trying to do my business and get the hell out of there without actually touching ANY surface that came in contact with previous patrons of dubious sanitary practices.)
So we all got a little wet. Big deal – the 132 riders spent FIVE hours out there on the course.
My assignment put me behind the awards stage, so I ended up seeing more of our Governor – accompanied by lots of burly guys in dark, bulging suits, with ear thingies and talking a lot into their wrists.
Apparently their dark, bulging suits carried more authority than my .0005 mil clear Hefty rain protective suit. “Yes sir, I can stand over here by the porta-potty as the Governor passes by.”
As a matter of fact I did not even know the race was over until the actual bike racers – who also wore bulging (bike) suits – were ushered into a near-by waiting area.
And there was a lot of activity behind the scenes that brought to mind the old military adage that planning is essential but plans are worthless – as in whatever is planned is ultimately changed.
Barrier fences were being moved and media members were merging with the rest of us, We, of the volunteer security folks, just waited for it all to end.
As a final note, this year one bike racing team seems to be getting a good share of the attention and that is Rock Racing which is in the good hands (and if you look at the picture below, you will see what I mean) of the fashion designer, Michael Ball. The team includes Mario Cipollini (in the picture, above), who at 40 is almost considered a senior citizen of the racing scene. You and I should be able to go as half as fast as that man still rides – how does a third place finish in the stage sound?!?
And, he gets to hang with the Rock Racing girls…
yeah, these girls…
And yes, that is Michael Ball behind her,
apparently making a last minute wardrobe adjustment!
[...] for that one guy, you will just have to live with the barely revealing image of a bare image that I captured at last year’s [...]