when
we arrived at sierra road we were told no motor vehicles were allowed
on the road so my buddy (and best man) paul and i made the trek uphill
on foot.<br>
<br>
we walked for about 1.5 hrs and went about 2/3 rds of the way up the 2000 ft climb until we found THE SPOT.<br>
<br>
it was almost 1 when we were just told the riders would be starting the
climb about 2:20. meanwhile, we watched hundreds of cyclists and hikers
pass us going both up and down the climb looking for their own spot<br>
<br>
<img src="stage2/orig_007.jpg" border="0">\<br>
<br>
sure enough, first we saw one helicopter then several. motorcycles,
police cars, ambulances and AMGEN VIP cars roared by us with lights
flashing and horns honking.<br>
<br>
<img src="stage2/orig_012.jpg" border="0"><br>
<br>
and then the riders came.  levi leipheimer was off the front.<br>
<br>
<img src="stage2/orig_011.jpg" border="0"><br>
<br>
then came the hincapie/julich group.<br>
<br>
<img src="stage2/orig_004.jpg" border="0"><br>
<br>
<img src="stage2/orig_008.jpg" border="0"><br>
<br>
<img src="stage2/orig_009.jpg" border="0"><br>
<br>
<img src="stage2/orig_002.jpg" border="0"><br>
<br>
<img src="stage2/orig_006.jpg" border="0"><br>
<br>
<img src="stage2/orig_005.jpg" border="0"><br>
<br>
<img src="stage2/orig_003.jpg" border="0"><br>
<br>
<img src="stage2/orig.jpg" border="0"><br>
<br>
i hope you enjoyed the pictures. i'm too tired to provide much
commentary but that's probably a good thing. gotta hit the hay for the
ITT tomorrow <img src="stage2/happy.gif" height="14" width="14">.