I made a few friends at the Wachovia Cycling Series simply because I knew a lot more than your average pro cycling community member about mobile Internet devices. Here are a couple of examples of things people asked me about:

• Sammarye Lewis co-author of the new book Tour de France for Dummies asked me how to make her H-P iPAQ h6315 work smoothly with a Garmin GPS 10 Deluxe or another handheld GPS, so that she can get directions to places along the Tour de France stage routes.
• Beth Seliga, a freelance photographer who covers pro cycling, asked me which email client to use on her new palmOne Treo 650.

I like these opportunities to help out because I feel like it's a way to "earn my keep" out on the circuit. After all, some guys can sprint after six hours in the saddle, and others really know the difference between POP3 and IMAP....

I think it's only a matter of time before the well funded organizations all have the kind of electronic arsenal that the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team has at its disposal. Whether they ever use the technology as aggressively as Discovery does is a whole different issue. Here's an example of the extent to which Discovery is living in pro cycling's future:

I saw Chris Brewer in the media tent near the finish line at the Wachovia USPRO Championship on Sunday. I said, "Chris, I see that you've already reported that George Hincapie has won the Prologue of the Dauphine Libere. {That Prologue was taking place at the same time that the USPRO Championship was beginning.} How did you get that article up on ThePaceline.com?"

I fully expected him to say that one of his co-workers was back at the hotel in Philadelphia, or someone was on-site at the Dauphine and did the update from a media center with broadband.

Instead he unclipped his BlackBerry from his belt, held it up, and said, "I did it from here."

I've only posted one story from my Treo 650 at a pro cycling event: it was the article where I reported that Lance Armstrong had announced his retirement in Augusta, Georgia the day before the Tour de Georgia started. I did it because my laptop wasn't working on the hotel's WiFi network.

I think the fact that Chris Brewer feels confident enough to update the home page of a big site like thePaceLine.com from his Mobile Internet device is an indication that Discovery now has experience competing in more than one race simultaneously and they can keep their fans informed about it while still keeping their staff size reasonable.

In my opinion, they are at least a year ahead of the Domestic Pro Peloton in this regard. I have no idea whether the major European teams have this capability, but given the limited European distribution of BlackBerrys and devices like the Treo, I'd have to guess that Discovery is way ahead of them as well.

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Posted by Dave Aiello at 8:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

HealthNET presented by Maxxis rider Chris Wherry won the Wachovia USPRO Championship on the streets of Philadelphia today. He held off second and third place finishers Danny Pate of Jelly Belly-Pool Gel and Chris Horner of Saunier Duval-Prodir on whom he had gotten a short lead the last time they went up Lemon Hill. Defending U.S. Road Champion Fred Rodriguez lead the field home 44 seconds later, good for fourth place.

This is the second time in the 21-year history of the USPRO Championship in Philadelphia that Americans finished 1-2-3 in the race. This is the first time that a single team, HealthNet Presented by Maxxis has swept all three events in the Wachovia Cycling Series.

Look for more about the experience of being at the race in Philadelphia later.

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Failure is Not an Option: I talked to
Al MacDonald about how he ensures
that he always gets a clear finish photo like
this one.

See more Wachovia Cycling Series
photos in the Operation Gadget
Photo Gallery. [ Photo: Al MacDonald ]

I talked to Al MacDonald during the Wachovia Cycling Series- Trenton Race about how he determines the winner of a pro cycling event. Al's company, AGR Technology of Denver, Colorado, is the race timing system contractor for the Wachovia Cycling Series. They setup and operate the gear that produces the finish line photos that you see at televised pro cycling races such as those featured on the Outdoor Life Network.

Al told me that he sets up two independent imaging systems including an EtherLynx 2000 Digital Photo Finish and Timing System, a laptop computer, and a power supply. The systems must be completely independent so that there is no single point of failure in case a generator at the finish line runs out of gas, a cable is severed, or one of the cameras is somehow obstructed.

The EtherLynx 2000 has an automatic capture module that produces hundreds of individual scan lines per second. It assembles the scan lines in a way that shows the relative position of the finishers. FinishLynx viewing software he uses allows him to pan the assembled image and place vertical lines across the image in order to determine which rider's bicycle crosses the line first.

The automatic capture modules on the cameras do a good job when lighting is consistent across the finish line, but have some trouble when shadows extend across the finish or bright spots develop. As a result, adjustments must be made to the camera to maximize the visibility of identifying characteristics in the image.

MacDonald works with a computer operator named Dot Abbott. They're both UCI-certified officials with experience gained at many races. During the race, Al reads the images and Dot compiles race standings. They collaborate to produce standings at the end of each lap of a race like the Wachovia Cycling Series- Trenton Race, and also at the end of the race.

The software they use to score the race was originally developed by MacDonald in 1989. Prior to developing this software, Al held several jobs in the sports technology industry, including a project management position for Tag Heuer for four years.

The race scoring software is 32-bit PC software, but still runs off the command line in text mode because it is designed for maximium responsiveness to the user.

At the event in Trenton, there were an unusual number of last-minute changes to the rider start list. Whenever a rider was added, Dot had to look in a database to find the rider's UCI number. If they didn't have the rider in their database, UCI officials had to locate the rider's team's Director Sportif, and get the rider's nationality and birth date. This data can be used to assemble a UCI number for the rider.

This race was unusual because the riders crossed the start/finish line 28 times-- once in each direction for each of 14 laps. The odd thing about when riders cross the line in the opposite direction, the finish line cameras assemble a mirror image in which all characteristics that can identify riders are reversed. This is because scan lines are assembled in an order that presumes the finishing direction.

Continue reading "How Officials Determine the Winner at the Wachovia Cycling Series Races" »

Posted by Dave Aiello at 8:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Fred Rodriguez's Bike photographed
after the Wachovia Cycling Series- Lancaster
Race.
See more in the 2005 Wachovia Cycling Series
Photo Gallery.
[ Photo: Dave Aiello ]

While everyone else at the Wachovia Cycling Series- Lancaster race was asking questions about race tactics, I was taking photos of Davitamon-Lotto rider Fred Rodriguez's bike. It's not every day that I get to look at:

• a Ridley Damocles "Fast Freddie" Frame and Fork,
• a Cateye Micro Wireless computer,
• Campagnolo Bora carbon wheels,
• a Campagnolo Record gruppo, and
• Crank Brothers Quattro Pedals

...for as long as I want.

It would be a big loss for the cycling world if Fred didn't defend his U.S. Pro Championship this weekend in Philadelphia: this bike really sweet bike would become an endangered species.

This is one bike I would consider riding as an alternative to a Trek Madone if price (and talent) was no object. How could you say no to the Stars-and-Stripes? This is a bike that Mario Cipollini could love.

There are 19 big photos of his bike. I identified everything I could. The rest is up to you.

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VeloNews and VeloSwap.com are sponsoring a party benefiting the Davis Phinney Foundation at Tir na Nog, Irish Bar and Grill from 8:00pm until closing on Sunday, June 5, 2005, after the Wachovia USPRO Championship. Tir na Nog is located at 1600 Arch Street in Philadelphia, near the corner of 16th Street, Arch Street, and the Benjamin Frankin Parkway.

The party will feature live music, drink specials (like 20-ounce Stella Artois and Hoegaarden for $4.00) and a live auction of unique cycling items including team jerseys from the Wachovia Cycling Series and elsewhere as well as some Graham Watson prints and other suprises.

I had the good fortune to sit down with Davis Phinney himself at a media event for the Wachovia USPRO Championship earlier today, and ask him about his organization and how it's doing. He said that he founded his organization with the hope that he can bring additional resources to the search for a cure for Parkinson's Disease. He was diagnosed with an early-onset form of this disease in 2000.

When he saw I had my LiveStrong wristband on, he pointed his out to me. I asked him how involved he was in supporting the Lance Armstrong Foundation and he said that he had ridden the Ride for the Roses several times, and had raised quite a bit of money for the LAF himself.

I asked him if he felt that there was any commonality between his organization and the Lance Armstrong Founation. He said there were two big similarities. Both organizations draw major support from the cycling community. Both also look to help people who are living with their diseases to carry on with their lives as normally as possible.

I think that in many respects this is more difficult for the average person affected by Parkinson's Disease than by cancer at this time, because there is no cure and less is known about how to treat Parkinson's than most cancers.

We all have to decide how to allocate the resources that we pledge to charity, but if you get the opportunity to meet Davis I'm sure you will be inspired by the experience. I know that I will find a way to support the Davis Phinney Foundation in the near future, and I hope you will too.

Davis Phinney is here watching the Wachovia Cycling Series. I saw him at the Wachovia Cycing Series- Trenton Race (there's a good photo of Davis at the race on CyclingNews.com). He was very willing to talk to fans who approached him. I'm sure he will do the same at the Wachovia USPRO Championship. Look for him on Sunday, try to shake his hand and wish him well.

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HealthNet Presented by Maxxis rider Gord Fraser sprinted to victory in the Wachovia Cycling Series- Trenton Race. Fraser, the Canadian National Road Champion, edged Fred Rodriguez, the defending U.S. Professional Road Champion, who had also finshed second in Lancaster on Tuesday night. Team CSC rider Lars Michaelson finished third in the race.

The winning time in the 91-mile race around downtown Trenton was 2 hours 57 minutes 59 seconds.

Team CSC rider Bobby Julich took home sprint honors in this race, winning six intermediate sprints for a total of 33 points. On the podium, Julich said that this race was the first one in which he had won a sprint-related prize.

As VeloNews pointed out in its race summary, HealthNet won its second consecutive sprint in the Wachovia Cycling Series and third consecutive sprint race, if you count the CSC Invitational in Arlington, VA on May 29.

The riders in the press conferences have talked of the HealthNet Presented by Maxxis team as if it was the American equivalent of Fassa Bartolo-- untouchable when they're in sync. The difference in my mind is that Fassa has one clear leader, Alessandro Petacchi, while HealthNet has four sprinters that can win one a U.S.-style road race: Ivan Dominguez, Tyler Farrar, Gord Fraser, and Greg Henderson.

I say "U.S.-style road race" because these 91-mile races are short for riders who spend most of their time in Europe. Gord Fraser pointed out that Sunday's 156-mile Wachovia USPRO Championship is more like the one day races that typically take place in Europe than the races contested here. He meant to make us think that the advantage swings to teams like Davitamon-Lotto and away from HealthNet. We'll see.

U.S. cycling legend Davis Phinney attended the race and was greeted warmly by both spectators and competitors. Phinney is in town to see the Wachovia Cycling Series races and to participate in a fund-raiser for his Davis Phinney Foundation (fighting Parkinson's Disease) that will take place after the USPRO Cycling Championship in Philadelphia on Sunday. I will provide more details on this event when I receive them.

Update: I wondered why I was the only one who referred to a race like Wachovia Cycling Series- Trenton as a criterium. The reason is that a criterium is usually a circuit race that has only four turns. All of the races in the Wachovia Cycling Series have more than four turns. Sorry for any confusion.

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Posted by Dave Aiello at 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Walters, Rodriguez, and Julich
lined up at the start line in Lancaster, PA.
See the 2005 Wachovia Cycling Series
Photo Gallery for more photos of the
races. [ Photo: Dave Aiello ]

I just posted my photos of the Wachovia Cycling Series- Lancaster Race. There are 35 photos up in the gallery, including:

• Bikes for riders Gord Fraser, Marco Zanotti, and Jurgen Van Den Broeck.
• Caravan vehicles for the race commissares, Team CSC, Mavic Neutral Support, Team Discovery Channel, and Lampre-Caffita.
• Riders like Mark Walters, Fred Rodriguez, and Bobby Julich.

You probably remember that Greg Henderson of HealthNet Presented by Maxxis edged Fred Rodriguez for the win. It was an interesting race and a good crowd turned out to watch it.

I'm hoping to get more good photos in Trenton this afternoon. The course is tight and twisting in places, but has a couple of straightaways where the peloton can build up a lot of speed. The part of the course on West State Street should be very good for photos.

There are questions about whether high speed Internet access will be available at the race today for credentialed journalists. If we don't have Internet access, I probably won't post many articles until I get back from the race. That means late this evening or tomorrow morning.

The Wachovia Cycling Series- Trenton Race begins at 4:30pm. It's a 91-mile, 14 lap race with a start/finish line in front of the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton. Hope to see you there.

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Greg Henderson of HealthNet Presented by Maxxis edged defending U.S. Pro Cycling Champion Fred Rodriguez of Davitamon Lotto in the Wachovia Cycling Series- Lancaster Race. Henderson's teammate Ivan Rodriguez finished third. The winning time was 3 hours 21 minutes 28 seconds for an average speed of 27.10 miles per hour.

Rodriguez battled through a number of problems to finish second in the race. He only had one teammate, Wim De Vocht, because most of his team and much of their equipment was delayed due to stepped-up security at airports this weekend. In addition, he broke a pedal midway through the race and had a derailer ripped off the spare bike he was lent before he could complete the lap that he had to ride with it. In spite of this, he was able to catch the peloton, bridge up to the leaders, and finish a bike throw behind Greg Henderson.

Readers who followed the Dodge Tour de Georgia will remember that Greg Henderson won the sprint classification in that six day race back in April.

Pro cycling will continue in the Philadelphia area on Thursday afternoon at 4:30pm with the Wachovia Cycling Series- Trenton.

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Posted by Dave Aiello at 8:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I got to Lancaster early this afternoon for the Wachovia Cycling Series - Lancaster Race. This is a 91 mile, 147 km race around this small city in Central Pennsylvania. The riders do 13 laps of 7 miles each, so the spectators get to see a lot of action compared to the stages of the recently completed Dodge Tour de Georgia.

This race is a lot smaller in scale than the other pro cycling races that I've been to in the United States. There is a media room here in the Hotel Brunswick where the post-race press conference will take place, but there is no Internet access there. The hotel apparently isn't WiFi enabled. There are two Ethernet connections available to the media in meeting rooms on the second floor of the hotel. I am sharing mine with a photographer from the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

It wouldn't take much to put WiFi in this place temporarily. That's pretty much all the media relations people from the Dodge Tour de Georgia did during their race:

• They found a building with broadband connectivity and a room where 30 or 40 people could sit in the town where each stage finished.
• They connected an inexpensive, pre-configured WiFi access point to an Ethernet connector.
• The media used their WiFi-enabled laptops to get on the Internet and post their stories.

My sense is that the Hotel Brunswick is the race headquarters in Lancaster because it's the only hotel downtown with meeting facilities. It isn't a convention-oriented hotel. We'll make do with what we have here and be thankful. It would be a lot harder to do post stories from my Treo 650.

This has been a great race for the spectators. Control of the race course near the start was minimal prior to the race. Fans could walk up and down the staging area and see the riders up close. You could talk to the riders who speak English, if you wanted. Most of the riders were quite approachable.

If you're in driving distance of Trenton and have time to come to the Wachovia Cycling Series- Trenton Race on Thursday afternoon, I'm sure the pre-race situation will be similar. When I was there in 2003, I rode my bike up and down through the staging area. At the time, I didn't really know how many riders from the European pro peloton were racing, otherwise I would have stopped and tried to talk to a couple of them.

I ran into Sammarye Lewis (aka Velogal) here at the starting line of the race. That's no surprise, she's here working for Threshold Sports, the race organizer. She's working an as official photographer, and she's got a lot better camera gear than I do, so I'll be sure to point to her photos when I find out where they will be posted.

Did I mention that the weather's beautiful today? It's 78 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny. This is the closest thing to ideal cycling weather we've had in weeks in this part of the country.

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I'm pleased to announce that Operation Gadget will cover the 2005 Wachovia Cycling Series in person. I was granted a media credential for the event and I expect to be in Lancaster today for the first race in the four race series.

The events in the Wachovia Cycling Series are:

• Wachovia Cycling Series - Lancaster in Lancaster, PA on Tuesday, May 31 beginning at 4:30pm,
• Wachovia Cycling Series - Trenton in Trenton, NJ on Thursday, June 2 beginning at 4:30pm,
• Wachovia USPro Championship in Philadelphia on Sunday, June 5 beginning at 9:00am, and
• Wachovia Liberty Classic in Philadelphia on Sunday, June 5 beginning at 9:10am.

The Wachovia USPRO Championship is the biggest and best known of these races. It's a 156-mile race to determine the 2005 U.S. Professional Road Champion who traditionally wears the stars-and-stripes jersey in UCI events for the next year. Over 500,000 spectators turn out for this race and the Wachovia Liberty Classic, which is known as the world's richest single-day women's cycling event.

I found out on Saturday that I was granted a press credential for these races, so I haven't had the opportunity to announce Operation Gadget's coverage until now. I hope to provide good overall coverage with an emphasis on the technology behind the races-- similar to what you read in my coverage of the 2005 Dodge Tour de Georgia.

The only race in this series that I've attended in the past was the Wachovia Cycling Series - Trenton that I attended as a spectator in 2003. I rode my bike down to Trenton to watch the race, a distance of about 13.5 miles from the current Home Office in East Windsor, NJ.

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