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| Amgen tour returns to Patterson in February |
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| Written by Marc Aceves | Patterson Irrigator | |
| Friday, 25 July 2008 | |
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“The community really rallied behind the event last year, and this year, as a stage finish, Modesto looks forward to welcoming the cyclists and spectators ... .” — Jim Ridenour Modesto Mayor MODESTO — Modesto will mark the finish of the fourth stage of next year’s nine-day Amgen Tour of California bicycle race, city officials said at a news conference Wednesday. And, for the second straight year, the nation’s most prestigious bike race will also roll through downtown Patterson, ushering some of the world’s best cyclists to a pivotal finish. The 2009 tour is scheduled from Feb. 14 to 22, with stops in 16 different cities as cyclists travel more than 800 miles across the state. “Modesto is once again honored and privileged to host a stage of the Amgen Tour of California,” Modesto Mayor Jim Ridenour said. “The community really rallied behind the event last year, and this year, as a stage finish, Modesto looks forward to welcoming the cyclists and spectators and to show them yet another memorable time in the city.” In February, local spectators were given a unique look at some of cycling’s elite athletes as they made their way toward an agonizing 4,360-foot climb up Mt. Hamilton. Thousands of people in Patterson stood in front of Las Palmas Elementary School to watch the peloton, the main pack of racers, barrel by. Children rang cowbells and clapped thunder sticks, greeting cyclists with a warm reception. “It was the most exciting thing that I’ve ever witnessed in the downtown circle,” Patterson councilwoman Annette Smith said. “I felt very lucky to be there that day.” The tour is one of the most successful world-class cycling races in the United States, with its success mostly due to the attendance of fans and the economic benefits the event provides to its host cities. This year, the race drew 1.6 million spectators statewide, continuing to set records for a single sporting event in California, as well as any cycling event ever held in the U.S. More than 180 cyclists from 35 countries participated in the competition. “The Amgen Tour of California is primed to take over as the world’s premier cycling event,” spokesman Chris Murphy said. “What better place than in California to have the most scenic and visually stunning race of the tour season?” Cyclists will begin in Sacramento and end in San Diego County, passing through Davis, Santa Cruz, Merced, Clovis, Visalia, Paso Robles, Rancho Bernardo, Escondido, Santa Rosa, Sausalito, San Jose, Modesto, Solvang, Santa Clarita and Pasadena along the way. February’s race will mark the first time competitors will negotiate the Golden Gate Bridge as they pedal through Stage 3 of the race. The race, which is modeled after the Tour de France, features elite professional cycling teams from around the world competing for the most lucrative purse of any cycling race in North America. Santa Rosa resident Levi Leipheimer of Team Astana has had a strong season since his second consecutive Tour victory earlier this year and will next represent the United States in the Summer Olympics in Beijing. The Tour of California kicks off the professional road cycling season each year and continues to draw some of the most renowned and respected riders worldwide. “Last year, (Modesto) competed against 40 other cities to earn the rights to Stage 3,” Modesto Councilwoman Kristen Olsen said. “We literally stole the stage from our neighbors up in Stockton. The city of Modesto rolled out the red carpet to an international audience, and we were hailed as the most successful stage start in the three-year history of the tour.” To reach Marc Aceves at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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