Valley Voice Newspaper

Visalia - The record-setting Amgen Tour of California professional cycling road race will include Downtown Visalia as the site of the Stage Start for Day 6 on Feb. 19, 2009, race presenter AEG announced yesterday. Cyclists will end the day in Paso Robles.

“Visalia has made a major commitment to sporting and outdoor recreation with the city's investment in regional facilities, our professional baseball stadium and enhancements to our convention center to make it one of the best sporting event venues in the region,” said Visalia Mayor Jesus Gamboa.

For over two decades, Visalia has hosted the Sequoia Cycling Classic, a National Race Calendar listed event. Southern Sierra Cyclists, coordinators of the race, will be a key partner in hosting the AMGEN Tour of California in Visalia.

“Their past experience in producing local events, state championships, National Race Calendar events and National Championship events ensures that the Visalia Stage Start will be produced to the highest professional standards,” said Gamboa.

The 2009 race will be expanded to include stops in 16 host cities over the course of nine days from February 14-22. Already considered cycling's most important and successful road race in the United States, the event's fourth running will be expanded to cover more than 800 miles over the nine days. Traveling almost the entire length of California, the race will begin in the state's capital, Sacramento, and end in Escondido on February 22. Also for the first time, the riders will cross the Golden Gate Bridge at the beginning of Stage 3.

“Each year, we have been able to make the Amgen Tour of California better,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, presenter of the race. “After getting input from riders and fans last year, we decided to expand the race to better showcase the state of California and this year, we are so fortunate to be able to include Visalia and bring this great sport to even more people throughout California.”

With Visalia now confirmed as a 2009 Host City, there are some decisions to be made.

“They haven't shared with us how they will go to Paso Robles,” said Glenn D. Morris, executive director of the Visalia Convention & Visitors Bureau, which is helping coordinate the city's involvement.

Also to be decided is where the stretch of the race will begin in the city that day.

Morris believes that it will probably start in front of the Visalia Convention Center. A “parade route,” from the convention center to the Visalia Fox Theatre to the library to the Oval and back is being considered, according to Morris, with riders making the loop twice.

In its first three years, the Amgen Tour of California has become the most successful race in the United States with regards to attendance, economic benefits to the state, global recognition and the caliber of the cyclists participating. In 2008, the race drew 1.6 million spectators, continuing to set records for a single sporting event in the state of California, as well as any cycling event ever held on U.S. soil. Each year, the race has generated $100 million in economic growth for the state.

The Amgen Tour of California kicks off the professional road cycling season each year and continues to draw some of the world's most renowned and respected riders. Last month, AEG, presenter of the race, formed a multi-dimensional marketing partnership with the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), owner of the Tour de France, to grow and develop each other's events.

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