San Luis Obispo will, for the third time, host Stage 4 of the Amgen Tour of California professional bicycle race, on February 21st, 2008. Sixteen pro teams, more than a hundred cyclists, will speed down Chorro Street and make the tight turn onto Monterey for a dash to the finish line as they complete a 130-mile stage that begins that morning in Seaside.
That will be the fifth consecutive day of racing for the third annual Tour of California, an eight-day event ranging across the state from Santa Rosa to Long Beach.
Local cycling enthusiasts will have plenty of opportunities to participate in the event, either as a cyclist or as a volunteer.
Bike riders can get close to the racers and ride the course with John Flaherty of Central Coast Outdoors. John offers two different day-trips based out of San Luis Obispo to watch the race and to ride portions of the routes.
On Thursday, participants will ride from Carmel to a viewpoint near Bixby Bridge and watch the racers as they climb a long hill that is one of the King of the Mountains qualifiers. After the racers pass by, John’s group will ride some of the best sections of Highway One back to San Luis Obispo and enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch along the way.
John says that on Friday, "We'll depart San Luis Obispo in the morning so we'll have time to rub elbows with the racers as they get ready to ride. Once the leaders finish in the early afternoon, we'll have an opportunity to ride the 14.5 mile course ourselves (maybe twice or with some longer options added in for fun) before heading back to San Luis Obispo."
You can sign up for one or both tours or get more details by calling 888-873-5610.
Volunteers who want to serve as course marshals, survey takers, conduct registration or provide security will have an opportunity to both actively participate in the event and to support the race. You can sign up at Amgen’s website at http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Tour/volunteer.html or call City Parks, 781-7300, or contact Richard Ogden at rogden@slocity.org.
Mayor Dave Romero welcomes the race–"The City of San Luis Obispo is a bicycle-oriented community; therefore, the Amgen Tour of California is a perfect fit for us.
The City is delighted to host the Amgen Tour of California once again."
Two local riders will race–Lucas Euser, who graduated from Cal Poly in December, will be back for his second year in the Tour riding for Team Slipstream Powered By Chipotle (formerly known as TIAA-CREF). Ken Hanson, another Cal Poly graduate and former head of the Wheelmen, will race for BMC.
The city will again set up a big screen TV at the corner of Chorro and Monterey, the infamous last turn before the sprint finish to Osos Street. Organizers expect the race to end about 3:00 pm on Thursday.
San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club and the Bike Coalition are taking an active role in supporting the event, working with the Chamber of Commerce and the county’s other primary cycling organizations–Cal Poly Wheelmen, SLO Nexus and Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers. Bike Valet will be set up on Morro Street to provide free, secure parking for anyone who rides a bicycle downtown on race day.
Everyone is invited to come downtown for a community festival on the 22nd and enjoy exhibits featuring health & fitness products, cycling gear, bike safety demonstrations, entertainment, food and activities for the whole family–then stay afterward for Farmers Market.
That will be the fifth consecutive day of racing for the third annual Tour of California, an eight-day event ranging across the state from Santa Rosa to Long Beach.
Local cycling enthusiasts will have plenty of opportunities to participate in the event, either as a cyclist or as a volunteer.
Bike riders can get close to the racers and ride the course with John Flaherty of Central Coast Outdoors. John offers two different day-trips based out of San Luis Obispo to watch the race and to ride portions of the routes.
On Thursday, participants will ride from Carmel to a viewpoint near Bixby Bridge and watch the racers as they climb a long hill that is one of the King of the Mountains qualifiers. After the racers pass by, John’s group will ride some of the best sections of Highway One back to San Luis Obispo and enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch along the way.
John says that on Friday, "We'll depart San Luis Obispo in the morning so we'll have time to rub elbows with the racers as they get ready to ride. Once the leaders finish in the early afternoon, we'll have an opportunity to ride the 14.5 mile course ourselves (maybe twice or with some longer options added in for fun) before heading back to San Luis Obispo."
You can sign up for one or both tours or get more details by calling 888-873-5610.
Volunteers who want to serve as course marshals, survey takers, conduct registration or provide security will have an opportunity to both actively participate in the event and to support the race. You can sign up at Amgen’s website at http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Tour/volunteer.html or call City Parks, 781-7300, or contact Richard Ogden at rogden@slocity.org.
Mayor Dave Romero welcomes the race–"The City of San Luis Obispo is a bicycle-oriented community; therefore, the Amgen Tour of California is a perfect fit for us.
The City is delighted to host the Amgen Tour of California once again."Two local riders will race–Lucas Euser, who graduated from Cal Poly in December, will be back for his second year in the Tour riding for Team Slipstream Powered By Chipotle (formerly known as TIAA-CREF). Ken Hanson, another Cal Poly graduate and former head of the Wheelmen, will race for BMC.
The city will again set up a big screen TV at the corner of Chorro and Monterey, the infamous last turn before the sprint finish to Osos Street. Organizers expect the race to end about 3:00 pm on Thursday.
San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club and the Bike Coalition are taking an active role in supporting the event, working with the Chamber of Commerce and the county’s other primary cycling organizations–Cal Poly Wheelmen, SLO Nexus and Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers. Bike Valet will be set up on Morro Street to provide free, secure parking for anyone who rides a bicycle downtown on race day.
Everyone is invited to come downtown for a community festival on the 22nd and enjoy exhibits featuring health & fitness products, cycling gear, bike safety demonstrations, entertainment, food and activities for the whole family–then stay afterward for Farmers Market.
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