Armstrong wins time trial

The pro bicycle tour came to Minnesota today. The Nature Valley Grand Prix. Gino and I went over to see what was happening. There was a six mile time trial to start the Minnesota event. The race started below the high bridge on Water Street very near the Mississippi River and finished at the top of Ohio Street. It was very flat until Ohio Street, but the uphill is quite abrupt. The winner of the women's race was Kristin Armstrong, the winner of the 2008 Olympic gold medal for the time trial event. She also repeated as champion of the Minnesota time trial today. She is not related to Lance.

This is the start for one of the men racers. The winner of the men's race did the six miles in about 12 minutes and 54 seconds.


This is one of the racers coming up Ohio Street. Ohio is a mean street. Besides being quite steep, it is also curved significantly. There was a light mist during the whole race, but it didn't seem to bother the riders much at all.



Floyd Landis was the big name in the race. He's trying to come back after a hip replacement and two years of banishment from big time racing because he was caught doping the year that he finished first at the Tour de France. He was forced to relinquish the title after the doping incident and a series of legal actions. This is Floyd after he finished the time trial. He didn't win the time trial, but seemed happy to be racing again.



I played tennis later in the day at Marie Park after a bit of sweeping to rid the courts of moisture. We managed three sets, all reasonably competitive. Again, no one got hurt. As Curt said after most points that didn't necessarily finish as he desired, "I love this game."