Century Per Week: Spectator Report: 2013 Amgen Tour of California: Stage 5

I spent Stage 5 hanging out at the team bus area and watching the race start.

The start line before all the action

Team buses this way

Cannondale Bus

BMC Bus

Garmin Bus

United Healthcare Bus

RadioShack Bus

Bissell Bus

BMC Car

GreenEDGE Car

Omega Pharma-Quickstep Car

Vacansoleil Car

Saxo Tinkoff Bikes

Don't you wish you had this many wheels to just lean on a bush?

Omega Pharma-Quickstep Bikes

It's bike porn overload at the team bus area. It's not rational, but certain riders' bikes seem special, when in fact it's the riders on top of them who make the bikes special. For example, Peter Sagan's bike was separated from the other Cannondales and put on display for the fans.

Peter Sagan's bike on display

Peter Sagan's bike

Race leader Tejay van Garderen's bike didn't get that kind of special treatment.

Tejay van Garderen's bike

If you're like me, you're a huge fan of GreenEDGE's Backstage Pass videos. I saw some familiar faces from those, including Craig the mechanic and Joachim the soigneur. I also saw Dan Jones doing some of his magic. Dan seemed like a really nice guy, by the way.

Craig and Joachim transporting bikes

Dan making YouTube gold

Bob Roll is always a favorite with the fans. He's gracious with his time every year and takes lots of pictures with the fans.

Bob Roll

I don't know why, but the riders look funny carrying around their bags.

Sylvain Chavanel

Dave Z

I spent a lot of time at the Cannondale bus for Peter Sagan. Sagan seems like a nice guy and he's one of the few cyclists who looks bigger in person than I expected.