2016 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA TAHOE ROUTES ANNOUNCED FOR WOMEN AND MEN

2016 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA TAHOE ROUTES

ANNOUNCED FOR WOMEN AND MEN

Jan. 28, 2016 (LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev.) – Highlights of the Amgen Tour of California race at Lake Tahoe – both men’s and women’s – will include iconic vistas along the 72-mile circumference of the lake as well as spectacular backcountry terrain through Hope Valley.

Amgen officials announced today the routes that will challenge more than 350 of the world’s top cyclists. Athletes will put their strength and muscle power to the test as they climb, descend and break away along steep and winding stretches of the Sierra at the 2016 Amgen Tour of California stages Thursday, May 19 at Lake Tahoe. The men’s elite race Stage 5 will begin in Lodi, Calif., and finish at Heavenly Mountain Resort’s California Base Lodge in South Lake Tahoe totaling 132.4 miles. The women’s Stage 1 will also start/finish at Heavenly totaling 72.7 miles.

“It’s the best of the best – the high Sierra climbs and routes for the elite cyclists will be challenging, extreme, and we anticipate another tight and thrilling competition,” said Carol Chaplin, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. “Tahoe South and our partners welcome back the cyclists, sponsors, fans and media to our area for another spring day of racing and cheering.”

“North Lake Tahoe is recognized as a premier human-powered sports destination and is proud to partner with Tahoe South for the Amgen Tour of California,” said JT Thompson, tourism director, North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. “The race is a great opportunity to show off the cycling product around Lake Tahoe as well as its amazing hospitality.”

South Lake Tahoe and partners hosted a successful two days of the Amgen Tour of California women’s first and second last year. This year will be the first of the four-day women’s event. Featuring a long day of climbing, the stage will reach the highest elevation ever mounted by the race at 8,600 feet.

With approximately 160 female athletes the competition begins between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. The course consists of a 72-mile clockwise lap around the perimeter of Lake Tahoe and provides technical challenges such as twisting descents, fast straights and stunning views.

The climb along the West Shore overlooks iconic Emerald Bay and Cascade Lake and continues along the scenic shoreline into Tahoe City. The peloton proceeds through Kings Beach, passing into the state of Nevada at historic Crystal Bay and Incline Village. Athletes will experience the breathtaking views above Sand Harbor State Park while racing continues east with a 1,000-foot ascent to U.S. Highway 50 near Spooner Lake. Racers then descend into Zephyr Cove before embarking on a climb back into South Lake Tahoe, Calif., as they near the finish line.

In a slight variation from last year’s women’s race, cyclists will leave Highway 50 and enter onto Pioneer Trail then to Ski Run Boulevard, local streets Needle Peak, Wildwood and finish at the California Base Lodge at Heavenly. The athletes should finish between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. There will be 20 minute rolling stops in the procession, which takes about 3 hours to circumnavigate the entire Lake.

Meanwhile, the men’s races features approximately 200 athletes. The course start is in Lodi, Calif., and will travel over Highway 88 passing Kirkwood Mountain Resort. The men will endure challenge hairpin turns, climbs passing several alpine lakes before reaching Hope Valley, which is between Kirkwood Mountain Resort and South Lake Tahoe. They will then turn at Pickett’s Junction onto Highway 89, with a breathtaking ascent to the 7,740-foot summit of Luther Pass and then steep grade descend into the Tahoe Basin arriving at around 3 p.m.

Athletes will travel into South Lake Tahoe via the south west along Pioneer Trail off of Cornelian, Cheyenne, Apache, Mandan, then to Ski Run Boulevard, and through Needle Peak, Wildwood and finishing at around 3:45 p.m. at Heavenly Mountain Resort’s California Lodge.

With the men’s course there will be 20-minute rolling stops as the arrive in the Lake Tahoe Basin and until they cross the finish line. Event organizers anticipate a one hour and 45-minute gap between the men’s and women’s races.

Local law enforcement, race and tourism officials created routes with the least impact to residents and visitors. Travelers should expect 20 minute delays along the courses while they are passing through. Specific road information will be provided at a later date.

The competition moves to Folsom, Calif., Friday, May 20 with both the men and women’s time trails. The women are part of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Women’s World Tour (WWT), which is world’s leading series for professional women cyclists. The men’s eight stage course will lead World Champions, Olympic Medalists, top Tour de France competitors and other elite professional cyclists south to north for only the second time since it began in 2006. The race spans nearly 800 miles between 12 host cities through California’s breathtaking roads and scenery, May 15-22.

To experience the race as a VIP from an all-inclusive hospitality tent or through exclusive once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, visit the Amgen Tour of California website or email [email protected].

Interested in sponsorship or expo opportunities? Please visit amgentourofcalifornia.com/sponsorship for further details.

Here’s a route preview video: https://youtu.be/am3iWtJiN8k; and a map available for download: https://www.dropbox.com/.

For real time updates on events, promotions, packages, conditions and events in Tahoe South, The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority is on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TahoeSouth, Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TahoeSouth, YouTube:www.youtube.com/LTVA, Instagram: www.instagram.com/tahoesouth and use #tahoesouth to share posts. For Tahoe South information: 1-800-288-2463 or http://tahoesouth.com.