Without a doubt, Modesto has never hosted so many elite pro cyclists as are showing up to roll out Wednesday morning for Stage 3 of the Amgen Tour of California.
The Central Valley town used to be my home for about 10 years beginning in the mid-1980s. During that time Nelson Vails was the only prominent cyclist to ride within sight of the arch emblazoned with the slogan “Water Wealth Contentment Health.”
Vails wasn't, or isn't, a household name for many. I had seen Vails win a silver medal in the individual sprint at the velodrome at the '84 Summer Games in Los Angeles. He also had small role in that atrocity, Quicksilver.
Cycling backwater
Vails (this column at Black Athlete tells more about him) came to town as a featured cyclist in a criterium around downtown. I don't remember the name of the event or who sponsored. I was among a handful of spectators who didn't have a friend or relative in the race.
Anyway, this was not Vails' day. He might have contested a couple of preems, but he started cramping up before the finish and dropped out.
I figured that was it for cycling in Modesto. Forever.
Tour
Jump ahead some 20 years, and I was honestly floored to learn that the town I once called home was going to host the start of Stage 3 of the Amgen Tour of California, a 102-mile race over the mountains to San Jose.
I know the local Rotary Club continued with its annual century ride that tackles Del Puerto Canyon Road (it's on the plate for the peloton en route to Mount Hamilton today), but no one I ever talked with from Modesto ever described it as becoming a cycling mecca.
When interviewed by the Modesto Bee, George Hincapie was asked if he knew Modesto.
“I'm not too familiar with Modesto. I think I've passed through it.”
Why Modesto
So how was Modesto chosen to host the beginning of a stage? The town is known as the setting for George Lucas's “American Graffiti,” not “Breaking Away.”
The Bee reports the city and the visitor's bureau outbid several other cities, pricetag of about $50,000 for road permits and hospitality.
The city's rec director told the Bee:
“It gives us a unique ability to showcase Modesto. We encourage bike trails and outdoor fitness and activity, and such an event will speak to the best of Modesto. It's pretty cool from a lot of perspectives.”
So I'll check Tour Tracker about 9:30 on the computer this morning to watch the peloton do a couple of laps around downtown before it heads out under the arch for more serious business on the climb up Mount Hamilton.
At least my old home will be a mecca for pro cycling for a few minutes on a Wednesday morning.
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