Vuelta, Giro, Tour: David Zabriskie Interview
"Yes, but we need another "Chris strong" rider."
Danilo Di Luca: Interview with the ProTour Man
Saul Raisin and the Famous Devil
San Francisco Grand Prix, USA
4 September, 174K
One-Day Climbers Fest
Startlist
Photos
Report and Results
![2001 Winner, Hincapie, in 2004 Race](javascript:ImagePopup("../../photo/2004/SFGP/PelotonGeorgeHincapie.jpg", 600, 423, "2001 Winner, Hincapie, in 2004 Race"); "2001 Winner, Hincapie, in 2004 Race, photo: BiciRace.com")
2001 Winner, Hincapie, in 2004 Race, photo: BiciRace.com
Hard to believe the that San Francisco Grand Prix is in its fifth year, it seems as though this San Francisco classic has been around for years. Mix in a true city atmosphere, crazed tifosi, lots of climbing and an all-star startlist, then you have the San Francisco Grand Prix, errrr the Barclays Global Investors Grand Prix.
The race organizers pull no punches on the course. The riders cover 174K and a massive amount of climbing. Fillmore and Taylor are the two major fixtures of this race, but the riders should not forget the small climbs, like going up Broadway. It really starts to get painful with the first nine major circuits (14.6K) covering both the Fillmore and Taylor. Then on the final five 8K circuits the riders cover only Taylor. This point in the race all the loose ends will be snipped and only the strong will remain. Early breaks are usually reeled in at this point in the course, and the winning move tends to be launched on of the final ascents of Taylor.
![Basso read for SFGP](javascript:ImagePopup("../../photo/2005/Giro/17/teamIvanBassoWins.jpg", 500, 326, "Basso read for SFGP"); "Basso read for SFGP, photo: Team CSC")
Basso read for SFGP, photo: Team CSC
This year's race, like in the past, mixes strong American teams with a handful of euro teams. This year the big euro teams are Discovery Channel, Team CSC, Prodir-Saunier Duval, Lampre-Caffita and Gerolsteiner. Expect Prodir DS, Matteo Algeri, to be sending his yellow squad up the road, causing all sorts of serious threats. Racing for Prodir-Saunier Duval is 2003 winner, Chris Horner. If he has the legs, Ivan Basso, will stamp his Italian authority all over the course, making for the first euro winner. Expect to see an excited George Hincapie and Charles Dionne in the final mix. Hincapie is coming straight off a flight from his race win in the GP Ouest France.
![Horner Thinks About 2nd Win](javascript:ImagePopup("../../photo/2005/Deutschland/1/greinHorner.jpg", 366, 550, "Horner Thinks About 2nd Win"); "Horner Thinks About 2nd Win, photo: Christine Grein, Capture-The-Peloton.com")
Horner Thinks About 2nd Win, photo: Capture-The -Peloton.com
Course Details:
3 circiuts of 3.1K: 6.3K (1.3mi, 3.9mi)
9 circiuts of 14.6K: 127.5K (8.8mi, 79.2mi)
5 circuites of 8K: 40.2K (5mi, 25mi)
Total: 174K (108.8 miles)
Past Winners:
2004 Charles Dionne (CAN)
2003 Chris Horner (USA)
2002 Charles Dionne (CAN)
2001 George Hincapie (USA)
Kisses for Prologue Win (Brett Lancaster Interview)
Marco Pinotti with the Inside Scoop
2005 World Road Race Championships Near
Gasparotto in Tricolore at the Eneco Tour