AMGEN 2010: Gearing up for the big bike race

Gearing up for the big bike race
By Tony Bizjak

Published: Friday, May. 14, 2010 - 12:00 am | Page 6TICKET

Last year, if you wanted to watch the first day of the Amgen Tour of
California, you headed downtown, because that's where the race
started, stayed and stopped.

This year, you'll have plenty of options.

Sunday's race will loop, twist and plummet 104.2 miles from the
foothills to the valley floor, ending with several circuits in
downtown Sacramento.

So, do you head to Nevada City for the race start? Or watch racers
tackle curvy Salmon Falls Road above Folsom? Or grab a spot at Capitol
Park for the sprint finish on L Street?

Hop on as we pedal you through The Bee's fan guide to day one of the
Tour of California, with a few insights as well about Monday's stage,
which starts in Davis.

Overview:

The fifth annual Tour of California is eight days long, starting
Sunday in Nevada City and ending in Thousand Oaks. There are daily
"stage" winnners, and an overall winner. The race was moved this year
from February to May after racers discovered it does rain in
California, especially in February.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

Sunday's stage is mostly downhill, so it shouldn't be that hard for
racers. But it winds all over a hilly landscape and has some fast
downhills, providing a dramatic and picturesque show for spectators.

It starts with a loop around Nevada City and ends with three loops in
downtown Sacramento. In between, racers hit Grass Valley, Meadow Vista
and Auburn.

The peloton then swoops across Foresthill Bridge, dives into the
American River Canyon and climbs up to Cool. Then it's down snaking
Salmon Falls Road, along Grant Line Road and back into town on Highway
16 and Folsom Boulevard.

Care to chase the race?

Do you dare try the fan trifecta? We calculate you can watch the
Nevada City start, catch the racers again in Auburn, then scurry to
downtown Sacramento for the finale. That's if, of course, others with
the same plan don't clog the roads.

Or not

You can stay home on the couch. The Versus television network will
pick up the race, live, at 2 p.m. and carry through to the finish.

Getting your timing right

To see when racers are expected to arrive at a given spot on the
course, go to www.amgen tourofcalifornia.com, then go to the "route"
pull-down menu and click on "stages," then click on "stage one," and
finally "stage log."

Who you're looking at

Among the 128 racers is cycling legend Lance Armstrong, seven-time
Tour de France winner. He's riding for the Radio- Shack team. Their
colors are red and gray. His teammate Levi Leipheimer has won this
race three times.

Others to check out: powerhouse 2008 Olympic champion Fabian
Cancellara of Switzerland, big Tom Boonen of Belgium, spindly mountain
goat Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, brash sprinter Mark Cavendish from
the Isle of Man and American veterans George Hincapie and David
Zabriskie.

Viewing tip No. 1

The best place to watch might simply be a nearby spot that's easy for
you to get to and pleasant to hang around. Get there an hour early and
bring food and friends because the race itself will fly by you in a
wink.

Getting close to the riders

In Nevada City, you can watch the racers warm up outside their team
buses before the race. You can even chat with some of them. The
victory stand ceremony on L Street after the race is fun. The governor
has been known to show up.

Dramatic viewing points

The Foresthill Bridge area should be a good spot to watch the racers
swoop down the hill, that is, unless you have a fear of heights.
That's one tall bridge.

Races will be going slightly slower on the climb from the American
River Canyon to Cool. This is where the crazies in costumes will try
to run alongside the riders.

Biggest crowds

There should be thousands watching in downtown Sacramento, where you
can see the racers go by several times on the final circuit. If you
stand near a corner, you can watch as they lean tightly packed and in
unison through the turns.

Etiquette basics

Obey the course marshals. Stay off the street. Watch out for CHP
motorcycles, the team cars, media cars and service cars. Every once in
awhile in big races, spectators get hurt.

Getting to your spot

If you are driving to a spot on the route, expect the road to close a
half hour before the racers pass your stop. Park completely off the
road. Police will ticket illegally parked cars.

Getting downtown

Downtown garages will be available. Check www.sacpark.org. Consider
taking light rail or your bike, or a combination of the two.

For bus or light rail info, check www.sacrt.com. You can bring your
bike on the train, and drop it off with the bike valets at the Capitol
west steps.

The valet corral could fill up, so bring a good bike lock.

Riding the course yourself

You can ride on most of the course Sunday before and after the rolling
closures.

But expect the roads to be crowded with cars and strolling fans, so
it's more of a casual riding day, not a day for speeding.

SOME HINTS FOR VIEWING DAY TWO IN DAVIS

The Tour of California moves to downtown Davis on Monday for the
second stage through the hills to Santa Rosa.

The race starts at 11 a.m. Riders will make two slow "neutralized"
loops through downtown, then head west on Russell Boulevard. Once they
cross over Highway 113, the flag drops and the official racing starts
at Arthur Street.

Come early and watch riders warm up, check out the booths, and visit
the new U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame and museum, which will be open
from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's at 303 Third St., near B Street.

Parking may be tight because it's a work and school day. City
officials say one good idea for drivers is to take Interstate 80 to
Exit 71, the UC Davis/Old Davis Road exit, and pay the $6 to park near
the Mondavi Center.

There will be some free street parking downtown, notably on the east
side of town.

Consider taking the train in from Sacramento.

For information on the race and other downtown Davis events:
www.tourofcalifornia-davis.com.

2010 AMGEN TOUR, IN STAGES

The Amgen Tour of California will crisscross down the state over a
period of eight days.

STAGE 1

• Sunday, Nevada City to Sacramento

Heads south through Grass Valley and Old Town in Auburn, crosses the
Foresthill Bridge and passes through the town of Cool before heading
for Sacramento to circle the state Capitol.

STAGE 2

• Monday, Davis to Santa Rosa

Passes Lake Berryessa, climbs several steep inclines and rolls through
Napa Valley along the famous Silverado Trail.

STAGE 3

• Tuesday, San Francisco to Santa Cruz

Starts at Ocean Beach and heads down Highway 1, following West Cliff
Drive along Monterey Bay and ending at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

STAGE 4

• Wednesday, San Jose to Modesto

Climbs Sierra Road, rolls through downtown Livermore and Patterson
before circling downtown Modesto.

STAGE 5

• Thursday, Visalia to Bakersfield

Heads south through Exeter and Lindsay to Porterville, then through
the town of Woody to Bakersfield.

STAGE 6

• Next Friday, Palmdale to Big Bear Lake

Climbs through the San Gabriel Mountains, reaching a high point of
nearly 8,000 feet and passing through Crestline and Lake Arrowhead
before entering the Big Bear area.

STAGE 7

• May 22, Los Angeles

The route of a 21-mile individual time trial winds past the University
of Southern California, the Los Angeles Coliseum, Walt Disney Concert
Hall, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and Los Angeles City Hall.

STAGE 8

• May 23, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Agoura Hills

The final circuit rolls through these cities, including a stretch
along the Mulholland Highway.

A FEW CYCLING TERMS

ATTACK: A sudden acceleration to move ahead of another rider or group
of riders

BONUS SPRINTS: In each stage, race organizers designate several
locations along the route where bonus points are given to the first
three riders who cross the line. These sprints create a race within a
race during each stage.

KING OF THE MOUNTAIN: Racers get additional points for being in the
first three places at the top of larger climbs. Sunday's race will see
a racer win the first KOM jersey at the top of the climb into Cool.

DOMESTIQUE: A rider whose main job is to help the team leader win the
day's stage or the entire race. A domestique may pull the leader up to
a breakaway or pace him up a steep climb. If a team leader gets a
flat, a domestique may give the leader a wheel, saving the leader
precious seconds waiting for the team mechanic to arrive.

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