Hi --

I know this might be a somewhat random post, but I was wondering if anyone might have any suggestions/requests for me when I follow some of the Tour de Suisse stages starting on Wednesday. Wednesday's queen stage finishes about 100k to the west of me here in Innsbruck, so that one was always a no brainer.

As a writer/editor for PEZ I've been inundated with the whole PEZ roadside thing. I am feeling like it is getting a bit played out though, and would love to figure out a way to do something a little different. I should probably at least somewhat follow the race, but I still want to do something pretty neat.

I have been leaning toward riding certain sections of the race, and then shooting the race as it comes through. It can be more of a bike travel thing with the race as the impetus to be in this place. I am always very bike riding/exploring oriented though.

So my question to you: what would you like to see? Start area material? Finish area? Big climb? A ride incorporating the route and the race? Interviews?

Also, if anyone has any suggestions about Switzerland, please let me know! I would appreciate it greatly.

I know there has been a lot of downplaying of Vesuvio...I think it's misplaced. It's a tough climb, it should last over 30 minutes of solid climbing, and those gradients you've looked at are a bit misleading. My little computer read 10+ a lot more than the average gradient gives credit for...especially over the first half of the climb. 

I wrote a preview of the climb over on PEZ after we rode it back in April...

Check it out, HERE!

Just got back from previewing Stage 12 of the Giro: the 61k TT from Sestri Levante to Riomaggiore.

I've never seen anything like it. It's beautiful, it's ungodly hard, and it's technical. You'll need to channel your inner Valentino Rossi to get down the descents quickly and with your body intact. Not a piece of the course is fast though - not even the descents. The very few flat parts are exposed and windy. I can't imagine what the time gaps will look like. There will be a winner, then 2nd place 2 days back, and 3rd place just under a month behind. Either that, or they'll just keel over from exhaustion. So much hardness.

Lots more to come, but I figure you guys might enjoy the pictures.

Hey - I'm interviewing Priority Health's (I mean, Bissell's) NRC 2nd Overall and Tour of California top 10 TTer, Ben Jacques-Maynes in the next 30 minutes...so if anyone has any questions they'd like to fire at him - hit me up!

I don't know how these diaries work, but I figured I'd try it out...

It's that slow-ish time of year, and I'm interested in brainstorming about certain ways that PEZ can improve.

Are there certain pieces of content that you'd like to see more of, different ideas, interview requests, thoughts, suggestions?

I love PodiumCafe to death and I highly respect your opinions, so that's why I'm asking here...so any help is greatly appreciated.