Jordan Bush, a local cycling photographer and racer on the Shirk’s Racing Presented by Trek Bikes team, is in California this week photographing the tour.
He sent a rambling dispatch Thursday with his observations from Stage 5 of the race. Here are excerpts:
”It is so hectic. I don’t understand how the racers make it all week. It is difficult to follow what is going on trying to follow or keep ahead of things. I just passed Rock Racing on the highway …. It is so incredible here.
“The class of riders is insane. Top dogs. In 3o minutes I can photograph (Lance) Armstrong, (George) Hincapie, Floyd (Landis), (Tyler) Hamilton, Levi (Leipheimer), (Francisco) Mancebo, (Oscar) Sevilla and Freddy (Rodriguez).
“I grew up watching these guys and to see them all head-to-head is sweet. A real dream come true. Lance is a super domestique. He is always up front working. So strange to see. His time trial will be insane I think. He is so relaxed and laid back. Floyd is difficult to follow. He is not having the tour I was hoping he would. Bob Roll interviewed him yesterday morning. Floyd Landis’ bodyguard is huge. Floyd looks thinner than the last time I saw him and I think his head is in the right place. He is just having bad luck and some cobwebs to take care of. Tyler had a nice lead yesterday and I was excited to see him out front in the mountains. (Tom) Boonen is a beast by the way. Today (Stage 5) is flatter and the time trial is tomorrow. That will be sweet.”
Bush promises more dispatches from the left coast as he finds the time in the next few days.
The Tour of California ends Sunday with the Stage 8 race from Rancho Bernardo
to Escondido. The stage includes the climb of Mount Palomar, which is a regular training ride for Lancaster County native Floyd Landis.
Landis is sitting in 38th place today, 7:43 behind race leader Levi Leipheimer, before the start of the Stage 6 time trial.
