Arrival at start: 8:30 am; start time 1:30
Team Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living’s powered by fi’zi:k rolled into windy downtown Sacramento at 8:30 am on the dot. The standard quiet of the State’s Capitol whose heart beats only on a government schedule: Monday through Friday, was already pulsing at double beats per second.
The U.S. pro cycling scene has never seen the likes of such fanfare with an estimated 70,000 people in attendance - not during His first Tour de France win, nor his His second, third, fourth, five, sixth or seventh. And regardless of ones opinion about The Man that many came out to see – Lance Armstrong – the fruits of his labor are ripe for the picking for all involved.
The fi’zi:k RV was barely parked, saddles barely suctioned to the sides when passers-by stopped to ask: Is that the new Antares?
Can I take a picture of those?
A few laps around the expo just an hour after its official opening at 11 am and all Mini BlackBook2’s stationed in the Scott USA/Columbia and the Fly V Australia pb Successful Living booths had been snapped up.
Four hours until the first rider leaves the gate and there’s plenty to be done: Park it – assuring enough room curbside to set up the trainers; level her and expand the sides; set up the EZ-up’s up and hog tie ‘em to the city lights signs and RV rearview mirrors, displays set-up in two expo booths, catalogs stocked; cold weather beanies delivered to all pros; VIP media gift pa:ks delivered to Team OUCH and VIP dealer gift pa:ks delivered to Team Liquigas and Cannondale. All systems: Go!
Yes, 70,000 strong. What a spectacle! They called The Man the Comeback Kid! The thirty-seven year old Comeback Kid. Is this really happening? The Floyd fans. The Basso fans. The cycling fans for the simple love of cycling. And even the fi’zi:k fans. All in attendance. What a perfectly grand spectacle in the ‘ghetto’ of Sacramento.
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