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Organization: City of Santa Clarita
Date: December 4, 2008
Amgen Tour of California Announces Details of 2009 Route
Santa Clarita, CA — Specific route details for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race were revealed today by AEG, presenter of the fourth-annual event, which will once again have a world-class field of competitors including two-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer and seven-time Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong. Already considered cycling's most important and successful stage race in the United States, the 2009 Amgen Tour of California will be expanded to cover more than 750 miles over nine days. In its fourth running, the race will travel almost the entire length of California on a demanding course from the state's capitol, Sacramento, to Escondido, in San Diego County.
Scheduled over nine consecutive days from February 14-22, 2009, the race will visit 16 host cities for official stage starts and finishes, with communities along the route getting the chance to see firsthand a lineup of some of the most elite, recognizable teams and athletes in the world. Santa Clarita joins a list of host cities for the Prologue and eight stages which includes: Sacramento, Davis (new city for 2009), Santa Rosa (site of the Women's Criterium), Sausalito, Santa Cruz (new city for 2009), San Jose, Modesto, Merced (new city for 2009), Clovis (new city for 2009), Visalia (new city for 2009), Paso Robles (new city for 2009), Solvang, Santa Clarita, Pasadena, Rancho Bernardo (new city for 2009) and Escondido (new city for 2009).
Santa Clarita returns as a host city for the Amgen Tour of California for the third consecutive year, after having hosted both a start and a finish in 2008. Being a start city for the race offers a unique and up- close look at the world's top cyclists according to Santa Clarita Mayor Bob Kellar. "The start of the stage is unlike any other world class sport in that the spectators have a chance to get close to the athletes in autograph row and hear them interviewed on stage before the race begins. It's a unique and special experience and one fan won't soon forget." While the Amgen Tour of California always brings a thrill, Mayor Kellar acknowledged an extra bit of excitement surrounding this year's race. "The City is absolutely thrilled and proud to be associated with the Amgen Tour of California regardless, but having a seven-time champion of the Tour de France come out of retirement and participate in this year's event has really generated some excitement."
The route from Santa Clarita to Pasadena will involve serious climbing for the cyclists. The first 25 miles of stage 7 will be a gradual climb from Santa Clarita through Acton. Once the starting pistol fires off at noon, riders will turn right off of Town Center Drive onto McBean where they will travel to Newhall Ranch Road and onto Bouquet Canyon. The cyclists will continue up Bouquet Canyon to Vasquez Canyon Road heading east and then onto Sierra Highway and Sand Canyon as they prepare to leave Santa Clarita. When they make it to Soledad Canyon Road they will be on their way to the first "sprint" of the stage. When the riders reach Acton they will head southeast to Aliso Canyon and onto Angeles Forest Highway where they will encounter a "King of the Mountain" or KOM hill climb.
The route continues uphill, showcasing the beauty of the San Gabriel Mountains, to the second highest elevation ever reached by the Amgen Tour of California on the towering Millcreek Summit (4,906 ft.). Descending with a 15-mile run to Angeles Crest Highway, the route begins a fast plunge to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. After more than 65 miles from Santa Clarita to Pasadena, with the mountains and the Rose Bowl serving as the backdrop, the peloton will complete the stage with five, five-mile laps on a very demanding circuit through the area surrounding the Rose Bowl. This course will provide a challenging, action-packed day leading up to the finale on Sunday.
Earlier this year Lance Armstrong announced his return to professional cycling and the Amgen Tour of California will mark his American debut post retirement. Armstrong's involvement is expected to significantly increase interest in an event that is already wildly popular.
The Santa Clarita to Pasadena Stage 7 of the race is the second to last stage and the only leg of the race in the Los Angeles area. The City of Santa Clarita is planning several events leading up to the race, including a January 24 community bike ride and rally called "Hit the Trail," which is a guided community bike ride ending at a rally at Bridgeport Park. Residents are encouraged to check out the City's website: santa-clarita.com/tourofca for continual updates.
About the Amgen Tour of California The largest cycling event in America, the Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, presented by AEG, that challenges the world's top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course. Building on last year's third-annual stage race, which attracted 1.6 million spectators, the 2009 Amgen Tour of California will be expanded to cover more than 750 miles over nine days from February 14-22, 2009.
About Amgen Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. With a broad and deep pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. To learn more about Amgen's pioneering science and vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com. To learn more about Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer initiative, visit www.breakawayfromcancer.com.
About AEG AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Company, owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, The Home Depot Center, Sprint Center, The O2, NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE and NOKIA Theatre Times Square; sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), two Major League Soccer franchises, a Major League Lacrosse team, two hockey franchises operated in Europe, management of privately held shares of the Los Angeles Lakers, the ING Bay to Breakers foot race and the Amgen Tour of California cycling road race; AEG LIVE, the organization's live-entertainment division, is a collection of companies dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring and a variety of programming and multi-media production. For more information, visit AEG today at www.aegworldwide.com.
