Daily route maps are available for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California so you can scope out the best vantage point when the cyclists roll past on Feb. 14 – 22.
This will be the 4th edition of the California bicycle race which has flourished in spite of funding woes of similar U.S. races. It marks the domestic return of Lance Armstrong to professional cycling and the opportunity for a three-peat championship for his Astana teammate Levi Leipheimer.
There are a few changes in the overall race that were made since the host cities were first announced in July, although the host cities and number of cycling days remains the same.
The opening Sacramento bike race is no longer considered Stage 1, but is a 2.4-mile prologue. That change reduced the overall mileage to about 780, down slightly from an initial estimate of 800 miles.
Also, the women's race won't be a multi-stage contest. They'll compete in a one-day criterium in San Rosa.
Mountain stages
Stage 3 promises to be difficult as the cyclist summit the Coastal Range. Starting in San Jose on Tuesday, the peloton immediately climbs Sierra Road then tackles the Calaveras Road switchbacks before crossing Patterson Pass and streaming downhill and hitting the flats to Modesto.
Although the next day begins and ends in the flat Central Valley towns of Merced and Clovis, the peloton takes a serious detour into the Sierras as it visits the Mother Lode country with four big climbs.
Stage 7 returns to the San Gabriel Mountains as the peloton faces the 4,906-foot Millcreek Summit.
The final Stage 8 won't necessarily be a triumphant, champagne-sipping ride into Escondido. Route organizers added Mount Palomar, a 4,200-foot climb of 11 miles, which could draw challengers to the golden jersey.
Route maps and info
Here's a rundown of the stages with links to stage information. Stage maps are in .pdf format:
Prologue: Saturday, Feb. 14 – Sacramento, 1:30 p.m. start, 2.4 miles;
Stage 1: Sunday, Feb. 15 – Davis to Santa Rosa, noon, 107 miles;
Stage 2: Monday, Feb. 16 – Sausalito to Santa Cruz, 8:30 a.m., 115.9 miles;
Stage 3: Tuesday, Feb. 17 – San Jose to Modesto, noon, 104.2 miles;
Stage 4: Wednesday, Feb. 18 – Merced to Clovis, 11 a.m., 115.4 miles;
Stage 5: Thursday, Feb. 19 – Visalia to Paso Robles, 10 a.m., 134.3 miles;
Stage 6: Friday, Feb. 20 – Solvang (individual time trial), noon, 15 miles;
Stage 7: Saturday, Feb. 21– Santa Clarita to Pasadena, noon, 88.9 miles;
Stage 8: Sunday, Feb. 22 – Rancho Bernardo to Escondido, noon, 96.8 miles.
The new host cities in 2009 are Davis, Santa Cruz, Merced, Clovis, Visalia, Paso Robles, Rancho Bernardo and Escondido.
Recent Comments