Tour of California set to make local debut
The Tour of California, the nation’s largestcycling event, will roll through Riverside County for the first time in itseight-year history today.
After stage one, Dutch rider LieuweWestra holds a four second led overFrancisco Mancebo Perez of Spain and a twelve second lead over Peter Sagan of Slovakia.
U.S. riders Carter Jones and James Stemper trail the leader by 12 and 14 secondsrespectively.
The second stage of the eight-stage race will begin in Murrieta and headto Hemet and East Hemet. The cyclists will then climb the San JacintoMountains to Idyllwild, followed by a descent on state Route 74 into theCoachella Valley.
The 124.1-mile stage will pass through Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage,Cathedral City and Palm Springs, concluding on the slopes to Tram Way, a 3.6-mile climb near the northern entrance to Coachella Valley that averages morethan 9 percent gradient.
The uphill finish will catch cyclists off guard, said Timmy Duggan, thereigning U.S. champion.
“I did it in training and it was very hard,” Duggan said. “Racing upit will be a beast. I think a few people may crack. I can definitely see timebreaks and if you’re off that day, maybe significant time. It’s a big stage.”
A Lifestyle Festival, which includes vendors and information on health,will be open at the finish line from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
California Highway Patrol Officer Joe Zagorski said motorists shouldavoid the following streets and highways during the race, or expect delays ofone hour or more:
— State Route 74;
— El Paseo;
— Highway 111;
— Country Club, Morningside, Frank Sinatra, Da Vall, Dinah Shore andPalm Canyon drives;
— Gene Autry Trail;
— Toledo Avenue; and
— Tram Way.
Zagorski said the roads being used by the cyclists will be closed onlywhile they ride through.
SunLine Transit Agency users should also expect afternoon delays onroutes 32, 53, 111, 14, 24 and 30 in Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, CathedralCity and Palm Springs, according to the agency. More information is availableat www.sunline.org or by calling (800) 347-8628.
The eight-day, nearly 750-mile race officially known as the Amgen Tourof California began Sunday with a 102.6-mile stage that began and ended inEscondido. Lieuwe Westra of the Netherlands won in four hours, 31 minutes, 23seconds, four seconds ahead of Francisco Mancebo Perez of Spain. Peter Sagan ofSlovakia was third in 4:31:35.
The field includes 2010 Tour de France champion Andy Schleck, 10 otherriders who have won stages in the Tour de France, seven world champions and 11current national champions.
This is the first time in its eight-year history the race is being runfrom south to north. It will conclude in Santa Rosa Sunday.
“Taking the Amgen Tour of California from south to north is somethingwe always knew we wanted to do,” said Kristin Bachochin, the race’s executivedirector.
“We think this will bring a whole new element to the competition forthe elite cyclists who participate, not to mention some striking Californiascenery four our worldwide audience.
“California provides a variety of beautiful yet challenging terrain,helping us achieve our goal of creating a challenging route year after yearwhile showcasing the very best this state has to offer.”
