<< steephill.tv home page | Email This ( Mail This)

Amateur coverage of one of the biggest professional bike races in North America

San Francisco Grand Prix - September 4, 2005

25 photos and movies () by Steven Hill, Rebecca Heald and Leonel Quinteros
(The free QuickTime player may be needed to view the movies)

This was my second time at the SF Grand Prix. It was a lot of fun being part of the party at the top Taylor Hill last year, but this year we spent our time at the finish line. Our friend, Nancy, gave us some "Champions Club" passes so we snacked and took photos and movies as riders rounded The Embarcadero. Thanks Nanze! Unlike at other local races, it was tough to get a good vantage point at the finish line so the quality of our work was literally shaky... more than usual! Maybe next year we'll apply for photographer credentials. Leonel did a nice job balancing on one of the large concrete balls that line The Embarcadero to shoot the finishing movie over the heads of the crowd lining the street. Since we never made it to Taylor Hill this year, you should check out Stu Baker's Taylor Hill photos of riders crawling up that very steep (14-percent grade) street to get a more complete picture of how difficult this race is. -- Steve, September 5 2005

We're envious. We'd like to have a camera like that.	Discovery's Michael Creed in the lead accumulating KOM points	But, Michael was later caught by this new lead group
Represented by HealthNet, Kodak Gallery and Discovery	Glen Mitchell and John Leiswyn on Jason McCartney's wheel	Gerolsteiner's Fabian Wegmann and Fast Freddie driving the next group
Chasing the chase group	Jason McCartney, Glen Mitchell, John Leiswyn still leading with several laps to go	Gerolsteiner's Andrea Moletta driving hard to pull his teammate Fabian Wegmann up to the lead group
Further back, Kodak Gallery peeling off and looking to Jelly Belly for help chasing	Jittery Joe's had the coolest support vehicle	Meanwhile, Chris Horner was enjoying himself in the VIP lounge
Everyone in the peloton was also out of contention at this point	One lap to go, will it be Jason McCartney or John Leiswyn...	Gerolsteiner just 45 seconds back with Glen Mitchell now in tow
The TV camera and crowd waiting one last time	"Oh no... [it's] Fabian Wegmann"	The unofficial race clock above the Embarcadero ferry building 15 minutes after Fabian Wegmann won
George Hincapie was more successful post race	Amiable Ivan Basso seems at peace regardless of whether he wins or DNF	Crowd favorite, Michael Creed concentrating while guiding his bike through the crowds
Fast Freddie looking to return a neutral support bike after his own bike was run over by a police motorcycle during a mechanical stop	Big George was great with the crowd outside the Discovery tent...	... having fun with his fans

Related stories:
cyclingnews.com report, photos and full results
The Mercury News: U.S. stars outshined by underdogs
The San Meteo Daily Journel: Wegmann wins SF cycling event
Now here's what someone can do with a very nice camera and photographer credentials: Joe Gross' race coverage