RIP Makonnen Now this is an RIP we’re real sad to be writing. 2-year old Makonnen, a giraffe at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo died early this morning in a barn fire. Thank goodness two other giraffes were able to escape the blaze that was set off by an electrical short. Fire crews arrived at the park at 2:15 a.m. and were able to extinguish the fire by 2:35 a.m. But poor Makonnen......

It was poetry in motion out there in Stage 3 of the Amgen Tour of California, like a ragged stream of consciousness.

Hills, . . . hills-hills mark the stage most crucial to date, elevation profile like an EKG.

Under the merciless stare of giant windmills stoic 17 riders breaking away BEWARE! the false summit of Patterson Pass, Van de Walle caught out as Peterson's debt to William Frischkorn grows. Over the top jersey stuffing newspapers, protection against the windy descent.