Lance Armstrong, and many other top American cyclists, competed in the Tour of California in 2009. Then they went to Europe to prepare for and race in the Tour de France. And Lance and many other of the Americans did quite well in France.
Armstrong recently announced, along with Americans George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer and Dave Zabriskie, that they would again participate in the Tour of California in 2010. Armstrong will be competing with his new Radio Shack team.
But this time it could be a mistake to compete in the Tour of California. The California race has been trying to become more appealing to world-class riders, and they've been told the way to do it is to include a true mountain leg of the race. The only problem with that is the race has been traditionally run in February, and February weather in the mountains is not conducive to bike racing.
So the Tour of California changed the race to a May date and included a mountain stage -- from Pasadena to Big Bear (over 10,000 feet of climbing). That should make the race more attractive to world-class cyclists. But there is another problem that will probably keep all the world-class riders but the Americans out of the race.
May is the traditional date for the Giro d'Italia -- one of the three most famous bicycle races (along with the Tour de France and Spanish Vuelta) held in the entire world each year. It is also the race that most world-class cyclists use to prepare for the Tour de France.
It is very probable that most foreign riders will choose the Giro d'Italia over the much less prestigious Tour of California, leaving only the Americans to race in California. So while the Americans prepare for the Tour de France by racing each other, the other top riders will be preparing by racing against top riders from all over the world.
Frankly, I think this is a mistake. Except for four or five riders, the California race simply does not have the top competition that will be featured in Italy. That could well mean the Americans will not be properly prepared to race in the grueling Tour de France, and that would truly be a shame considering how well they have done recently in France.
I really hope I'm wrong. But isn't competing against the best the way to beat the best?
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