Thousands of Spectators and Fellow Bikers Line The Course in a Tailgate Party Scene at a Unique Sporting Event
Tailgating is m0st synonymous with football and Jimmy Buffett concerts.
And, apparently, it also applies to professional bicycling racing.
In fact, when it existed the Amgen Tour of California – the US’s equivalent of the Tour de France – was a big tailgating experience. At least the Clairmont-to-Mouny Baldi stage, anyway.
Hundreds of people lined the two-lane roadway on Saturday, May 21 up to the steep, 10,000-foot mountain a little more than 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. They came early with lawn chairs, beach chairs and coolers; many were in place by 9 in the morning although the competitors did not roll through until late afternoon.
And hundreds came with their own bicycles. Before the pros took to the course, they rode the grueling hills themselves, all the way to the finish, which was at the top parking lot. In fact, with many of them dressed in sponsor tour shirts and bike pants, it was initially difficult to tell them from the actual competitors.
At least it was, until they stopped in the Michelob Ultra tent for a couple of beers a quarter mile from the top. They were given free t-shirts by the Michelob Ultra girls, as well.
In fact, because of the girls, the tent was the highlight of the ride for the pros. Dressed in white shorts, distinctive shirts and standing out more than the two guys on motorcycles selling burritos for $5 the girls greeted them with cheers and ringing cowbells. The riders responded by acknowledging them with a few “oh, hi girls” comments, and the accompanying caravan came through with horns honking.
Well, this obviously was where PubClub.com was hanging out for the day!
This was actually PubClub.com’s first professional bike race. The Tour de France has long been a goal to attend – have a glass of wine in a French village as the racers roll through, then get on a bike and go to the next town to do the same – and this offered a similar experience. Many of the Tour de France riders were entered and the Mt. Baldy climb was the Amgen version of the Pyrenees. And only an hour from PubClub.com’s World Headquarters in Manhattan Beach!
And it was cool! Very casual, very carefree. It certainly looked like a major sporting event with the tents, the seemingly endless line of corporate vehicles, VIP sponsor areas and tons of CHP and police cars making some good overtime pay.
But the overall mood was as relaxed as a Sunday picnic. There were the people situated on the side of the road as if on holiday. There were the weekend bikers who rode on the actual course until nearly the very moments the professionals came riding up the hill. Unlike every other professional sporting event, this was free for spectators. There’s no ticket sales, no Ticketmaster, no scalpers with which to deal. The only thing is to get up the hill before the roads close two hours before the start of the race.
There was our group, hanging out in the Michelob Ultra beer tent (open to the public) enjoying cold low-carb Michelob Ultra beers, soaking in the sunshine and acting like we were on a camping trip.
Then, a CHP with flashing lights appeared, then a couple of official vehicles, a signal the riders were approaching. There were several of these cars, by the way. The CHP cruisers were each labeled C1, C2, and so forth. As it turned out, that marked their place in the caravan. The leading riders – Levi Leipheimer of Team Radio Shack won this Stage 7 of eight stages – came through at about C5.
Spectators greeted them by ringing cowbells (which gave the event kind of a feel of the Olympics), cheering, yelling encouragement and even a few running alongside them for a brief sprint.
It was a different sports event experience. And, quite frankly, one PubClub would like to experience again. Perhaps in France, but definitely again at Mt. Baldy.
– AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA MT. BALDY IMAGES –
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