I found my first evidence of the race as soon as I reached Hamilton, where these traffic info signs had been posted all around the course.
This was the first course in the history of the World Championships to exist entirely within the host's city limits. Residents along the course couldn't use their cars, and found these barriers in their driveways each morning.
When they do start driving again, though, I hope they appreciate the street art from some of the world's most dedicated fans!
A fleet of motorcyles stood by each day to escort the riders around the course.
The start house on the morning of the Under 23 Men's Time Trial.
And he's off!
Climbing the Niagara Escarpment on Beckett Avenue.
Another rider emerges through the trees.
Zoom!
At the awards ceremony after each race, Canadian Mounties raised the flags of the winners' countries.
The winners receive their bouquets.
Hey, that's 1965 Tour de France winner Felice Gimondi standing right in front of me!
The course was open for practice on Thursday, before the Elite Men's Time Trial, and that was a great time to spot some stars. Here's Manolo Saiz and Neil Stephens chatting with a couple riders.
Bjarne Riis was easy to spot in a crowd.
Johann Museeuw seemed to be watching me from underneath those shaded lenses, but his pal Wilfried Peters was tough and aloof.
A gaggle of Spanish riders rolled up next to the Belgians.
Oscar Sevilla had the most familiar face...
...but Oscar Frieire was the team leader for the Road Race.
Sevilla rolled over to greet his fans.
Chilling at the USA tent.
Levi Leipheimer was a top American hope.
The energy level went up several notches when the Italian team arrived on their bikes.
A couple riders were obliging with autographs...
...and photos...
...but Mario Scirea (in the zebra stripes) was too busy socializing and Franscesco Casegrande (in blue and pink) was quiet and reserved.
Now there's a head-turner! Erik Zabel had just won Paris-Tours the previous weekend.
Everyone says he's a nice guy.
But how did those Americans get so chummy with the German star?
Erik Zabel was ranked #2 in the world at the time of the race, but here's #1: Paolo Bettini was the Italian National Champion, World Cup leader, and top favorite to win the Road Race.
His nickname is "the Cricket," and indeed, he's a pretty small guy.
Here's one more photo for good measure.
Eventually star gazing gave way to racing. Viatcheslav Ekimov prepares for his Time Trial.
He gives the bike one last check...
...then pedals over to the start house.
Levi Leipheimer climbs Beckett Avenue.
On the final podium, it was David Millar, Michael Rogers, and Michael Rich.
The medalists ... and the photographers.
Here's a "backstage" view of the start-finish area.
That's where I ran into the Devil himself, and grabbed this special photo!
On Saturday, riders lined up for the Elite Women's Road Race.
Throughout the week, the Canadian riders got some of the biggest cheers.
The Devil was here!
Watching the race go by went something like this. First, the police escort.
Then a giant Tissot watch.
Shimano neutral support cars.
Motorbike cameras.
The leading riders.
More riders (the pack is spread out on this downhill curve).
The race commissaire and another support car.
More riders.
Team cars.
An ambulance.
More riders.
Photographer and journalist escorts.
One more rider.
And, finally, the broom wagon.
Looking down the long climb of the Claremont Access.
A small breakaway leads up the climb.
Halfway down, a Jumbotron and speakers kept the crowd informed.
Climbing down from "the mountain" after the race.
Sunday was the big day -- the Elite Men's Road Race -- so I went downtown early to snoop around. Here are some television trucks.
More broadcasting vehicles.
Team tents were decorated with pictures drawn by local elementary students.
Chez USA.
Inside the USA tent, someone left a little note for race favorite George Hincapie.
The Italian team's bikes...
...and prep area...
...and musettes.
Look at that: Oscar Sevilla's bike!
Sweet.
Mechanics for the French team pump up dozens of tires.
The sun rises over the team area.
The podium before the crowds arrive.
The start-finish line.
The final straightaway.
Someone added some great chalk art to the final straightaway. This one says "Tyler" with a symbol for no broken bones.
"Lance, 10-Q for all 5."
"Cipollini, quo vadis?"
This one's hard to see, but it's a little baby dreaming of the rainbow jersey.
Team USA arrived in a few vans.
Hard-core Lance Armstrong fans will recognize this guy.
Freddy Rodriguez got plenty of cheers; many of the Americans at the race had watched his National Championship wins in Philadelphia.
Bobby Julich.
Jim Ochowiz.
Floyd Landis, fit and confident after an awesome Vuelta a Espana performance.
Floyd again.
This is about all we saw of George Hincapie, when he rolled out to greet a few friends.
The American team had plenty of fans.
David Millar was in high spirits after his Time Trial win.
Everyone noticed that he had died his hair black since then.
The Devil found a spot near the starting line.
Here they come!
There they go!
Twenty-five teams got their own cars and the rest had to share.
One rider was notably absent from the peloton.
Walking up Beckett Avenue.
These fans found a vantage point from Bruce Trail.
The view of the city wasn't bad from up here, either.
This photographer killed some time practicing on a couple fans.
When the sky filled with helicopters, we knew the riders were coming.
The big Tissot always preceded the pack.
Here they come!
But this was a slow lap, and several riders stopped for a "nature break."
Then several drivers followed suit!
Over at the Claremont, riders flew to the bottom...
...then ground their way back up again a few minutes later.
Riders shot through the final bend before the finish line.
I didn't take many photos from the stands because this is about all I could see.
Fortunately, another Jumbotron showed what was happening out on the course.
Not even these crazy Canadian fans could distract us during the final, tense laps.
Igor Astarloa won the Road Race in a well-timed solo breakaway. From the stands, I could just see him standing at attention for his national anthem...
...and receiving his bouquet with the other medalists.
He was easier to see on the Jumbotron.
After the race, the barriers were opened and it was easy to mingle with the riders.
Here's Lance's soigneur again.
Och' was ready to go...
...but the fans could have hung around all day.
A few bikes and a lot of wheels.
The finish straightaway became a pedestrian thoroughfare. Within a few hours, it would be a normal street again.