Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Ventura County Stage Race

Lots of hits lately from folks Googling the Ventura County Stage Race. This is going to be a rocking great race. The movers and shakers are attending to a few final details, but you can get previews of the courses here:

Prologue

Crit

Road Race

Those babies look fun, eh?!

[Add/Edit] - In the month or so since I first posted this, the promoter has changed the prologue course. Check the race website for the latest details.

Word on the street is that some VERY GOOD amateur teams were rejected by Redlands this year, in favor of pro teams (mostly) from far-away lands. In other words, Ventura will be the marquee stage race for SoCal riders in 2009. Do it!!!

19 comments:

Manley Man said...

Looks pretty interesting...might have to consider this in the future.

Anonymous said...

Do you know where the race flyer is on the Ventura stage race or a website for registration?

Sam Simmons said...

oh wow It isn't too bad now that I know the exact routes. My sources were off a tad bit. Still not looking forward to Ferro as I dont want to finish up that beast. The added Poli section will definitely seperate the field in the crit and I will go on a solo break to win that criterium race. Along with the following day at the road race where i will take the win and the overall. Definite to do list race

Marco Fanelli said...

Hahaha Sam!! Sounds like you and Chesta-san are long lost brothers. But sorry son... my money is on the punk. (That would be Chester.)

I think the flyer is being finalized and should be out there soon.

Sam Simmons said...

I guess you just haven't seen me race enough and how I beat Chester in all the breaks we had together last year. This year im taking it to a new much harder level as a proceed to lap the field. Me and chester will fight to il death

meh-wee-uhn said...

What is kind of, well actually in my opinion, überlame is that it conflicts with Kern County Women's Stage race. Now, those of you who weren't blessed with matching sex chromosomes may not care, but for those of us who do match it's really a bummer, for more than one reason.

I know planning & scheduling a race so that it doesn't conflict is uncommonly difficult, however, I'm still bent about it for more than one reason.

But, you know, have fun with that not matching thing!

Anonymous said...

Mark,

I'll take your bet on Chester. I've got my money on Sam. Also, being on one of the teams that I thought was a shoo-in for Redlands, I have to plug SDSR as the marquee stage race in SoCal. Yeah, I'm biased, but it will have most of the Redlands field, is put on by my club and features roads that I train on several times a week.

Josh

Marco Fanelli said...

Josh-
Of course ...how did I forget!?! San Dimas is huge. I think I accidentally blotted it out of my mind, since I can't make it this year. Jury duty (maybe) on Friday, then wife has Girls Weekend so I have single-Dad duty. Good luck to you at SDSR.

Marian-
Yeah, it sucks when you need to choose between two good races on the same weekend. Especially tough for us here in SB because we can easily go north or south. Mostly though, it seems like NorCal and SoCal don't do a lot of (any?) coordinating between race schedules, which is understandable since not many SoCal'ers go north, and vice versa. (Other than maybe us in SB and SLO?) I suppose you might argue that Kern is different because it is Women-only, and there should be more effort to support that particular event. Really though, I think Kern has its dedicated followers and participants, most of whom would choose it over almost any alternative. But before you think me unsympathetic, I should say that I think it's great that Leibold promotes that race and I think he should even get some subsidy from the USCF or the district to make it break-even at least.

Anonymous said...

I want to do this race for sure. I have already blocked off time for it. How is the road race? It doesn't look like it has too many hills. Good for sprinters, bad for me...LOL.

I have been looking all over online to see when and where to sign up for this thing. Keep us posted.

BTW, great blog!!! My wife has been bugging me to start a cycling blog although she seems to be doing a fine job without me. Check hers out if you would like. Hellodaly.com

Again, thanks for the info.

Marco Fanelli said...

John-
From what I hear, the road race will be challenging, same with the prologue and the crit. No sit and sprint for this race!

JH said...

Mark, any idea if this is a STAGE race based on time, points or an omnium....

Anonymous said...

Thanks Mark,

I am a climber and I like hills, short, long, it doesn't matter.

JH, I hope it is a timed stage race. Omniums suck. I hate that I can place top 5 or top ten both days and one guy who is a sprinter doesn't place top 40 one day but wins the second day can beat me. Just doesn't seem fair. Due to the fact it has a TT, I don't think it will be a points race. They are usually based on time whenever a TT is involved.

Marco Fanelli said...

Yep, pretty sure it will be a timed stage race. If all goes well, I'll ride the courses within a week or two and I'll report back.

Sam Simmons said...

Well all I know is that, the time trial hurts, the crit hurts and the road race isn't in ventura but in ojai. The TT hits ferro after a hill that does some damage. If you are not geared right at the base of ferro you are going to be in the pain cave. The crit is so hilly for half the race I have a feeling that it won't be a sprint or breakaway, but just one rider who doesn't get dropped or pull out. The RR isn't as bad as far as the other two but still not flat. And when I say bad I mean painful not actually bad.

My only concern is the turn onto main because hitting that going 40 will send people into the stores. Not bystanders but actual racers flying into them.

Matthew Carinio said...

I grew up in Ventura racing as a Junior and used to train up "The Cross" all the time. This is going to be so cool!

Anonymous said...

All,

We're coming down from Seattle for a team camp in SBA and planning on racing this. . .looking at the maps, is the RR just 5.65 miles? So it's a circuit of pain?

Marco Fanelli said...

As I'm sure you've all seen, the race announcement and flyer is up on SoCalCycling and scnca. I was told the prologue course was wimpified a bit. Instead of the gnarly 14% climb at the end, it is now using a 10% road. Still sounds awesome to me. Everyone should go to this race!

Sam Simmons said...

Can you ask colby to stop changing roads. or whoever is cause now the steep part isn't in there. I am bummed! now I cant decide on tt or normal bike.

BarlowDesigns said...

hey all...i am the web designer for the site...working closely with the event team. For registration, go to www.socalreg.com or just visit www.bikestyleusa.com for more information. We'd love for all of you to show up this weekend...its going to be a blast!
To answer one of the comments about the TT...well, weve had some speedbumps (no pun intended)along the way and had to make some changes...our apologies.

Hopefully we will see all of you on Saturday. Check out www.bikestyleusa.com for more info...