Our boys from Rally did what they could. An incredibly tough stage two had taken its toll on the team, leaving riders injured, tired, upset. So, what do you do on a day when your squad is down and you know that the World Tour teams are going to control the break and make absolutely certain that the finish comes down to a field sprint? You put a man in the break. Why? Because that’s how you play the game – with dignity and respect. Because even though the break has zero chance for survival, it’s better to give it a go than to sit in the pack. And in this case, there’s only one man for the job…
Danny Pate

Out of respect for Danny’s effort, his career, and his decision to come back and compete in the USA, we offer this haiku.
Everyone thinks it’s so great
God bless Danny Pate











We would be remiss if we failed to mention the outstanding stage three effort put forth by the upstanding citizens of San Luis Obispo, California.
What’s a town to do when the fastest cyclists in the world blast through its streets for all of about 30 seconds? You embrace the inconvenience and throw a big old party. San Luis Obispo is blessed with beautiful weather and spectacular terrain, making it an active, cycling-sympathetic community. The town closed off several blocks of its impressive downtown shopping district and brought in bands, a live race feed, beer, and food, giving fans a great experience as the riders ripped past the intermediate sprint on their way up to Morro Bay. Oh, and Rally rider Jesse Anthony was there, imparting his knowledge of race tactics to the crowd and helping with commentary. SLO was a great scene and perhaps a nice model for other communities to follow as they look to extend the excitement the race brings as is whooshes past.


