Day 149, Toyota United, Chris Wherry, Redlands Classic 2008

Day 148, Toyota United, Chris Wherry, Redlands Classic 2008, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

Chris Wherry has been racing over here for a while now. I really appreciate how much he has run every race and gon out to win. Racing the domestic circuit is not the glory filled experience that everyone hopes for as they watch the Tour de France. Thanks Chris for putting it all out there at all of the races that I have seen over here.

Also, more of the Toyota United team, and Ivan Dominguez. For whats its worth, I still can't believe that Ivan has not had an offer from a major European squad. Also, Tom Danielson. Hopefully his health issues are resolved and we can see him really go. He could be one of the best, a grand tour winner. Go Tom!

A last note about taking pics at pro bicycle events. They are wicked fast! I am not good at the action shots. Not only do you rarely have great access since you are fighting the crowds, but the speed means that it is hard to get those shots. Panning is a skill I don't have at that speed. But, the pre race warm ups are mostly open to the crowds, and the startline takes about 30 minuets from start to finish with the riders stuck there. They are sooooo much eaiser to shoot there. At the Tour of California, it was harder at that start line, but at the Redlands Classic, I was able to push through enough to get some good opportunities at some shots.

Thanks for looking.
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Day 148, Redlands Classic 2008 , Sunday Start, Santiago Botero in Yellow

Day 146, Redlands Classic 2008 , Sunday Start, Santiago Botero in Yellow, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

I will say this, Rock Racing on the domestic circuit makes things interesting. If it is not Mario butting heads with Michael Ball (who did not see that coming from the begining) then it may be the controversy over Tyler Hamilton. You have to feel for the guy, he did his time, and now is effectivley suspended without any real recourse, indefinatly. But they show up to a race and lets be real, Chris Horner is not around anymore since he went back tot the European Circuit, there is not much to put the hurt on them. Toyota United has some great talent. Slipstream has great talent as well, but for the most part the domestic scene is their doupble A minor league team with some rehab work from the big boys. Like this week for example, Tom Danielson was riding in Redlands and not suffering in the Tour of Flanders.

Stack Rock against any other domestic team and it is really becomes obviouse that this is a team that has some real solid base riders. Not to mention, it seems that they really know how to do the flash. I got a lot of good pics of Rock Racing riders and their Vehicular entorage. So for today, the Rock Racing Boys, and then tomorrow I will post other riders in the race. Yesterday I posted the pics I pulled off the Lamborgini and the Bentley.

Fast Freddie Rodriguez. One of the fastest sprinters on the planet! Always a nice guy.

Tyler Hamilton, It is great to see him on a bike again. Forget this other stuff and lets race, he did his time for the suspension, either charge him or get over it. Go Tyler!

Santiago Botero, this guy is scarey strong, and riding here? I hope that Rock gets more love next year. It has been nice to see them here, but they should be at the tour of Flanders with this base of riders.

David Clinger. Don't let the tats scare you, word is he is one of the nicest. Everytime I have seen him in the warm ups, he seems to be one of the quiet and shy ones. I like that he just rides and nothing eles. Go David!

Kayle Leogrande

Victor Hugo Pena (Sorry, I don't know where the tilde is) he wore the yellow jersey while riding for Lance. Tough rider.

Oscar Sevilla. This guy can climb like crazy! He won the white jersy in the Tour de France in 2001. All I have heard is what a nice guy he is.

Thanks for looking,
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Day 147, Rock Racing Lamborgini

Day 146, Rock Racing Lamborgini, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

Rock Racing gets it. They get the flash component of a racing team like this. It is all about the flash when you have a team that can win. If they are a bunch of hacks, well then flash can hurt your image. Michael Bell got great riders, no matter how you feel about them, and then walked in with a swagger that he can back up.

So this was actually a lot tougher of a shot then you would think. The glare was tough, but with a polarizer and some tweaking of the contrast and a little vignetting I was able to make it look like I wanted. A Lamborgini and a Bentley with the Rock & Republic skull. One of my best friends wants a Rock Racing kit really bad. He would have bought the whole kit if it had been available. I have got to get faster so that I can beat him. Then it will just be flash and I won't be the clydesdale rider who can't climb. Well that was a nice dream, but I kick his but on the decents!

The Bentley.

Thanks for looking.
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