The World's Top Professional Women Cyclists Will Compete in an Unprecedented Three-day Stage Race and Invitational Time Trial – Empowered with SRAM – Flush with Scenery and Challenges Beginning in South Lake Tahoe!
Fourteen of the top women's cycling teams from around the world are confirmed to lead off the 10th edition of the Amgen Tour of California with three days and 158 miles of stage racing May 8-10 and an invitational Time Trial on May 15. The four days of women's competition will be staged in conjunction with the men's eight-day race.
The Union Cycliste International (UCI)-sanctioned women's stage race will travel through South Lake Tahoe on a scenic but challenging course filled with climbs May 8-9 before concluding with an exciting and fast-paced circuit race in Sacramento May 10, the same day and location where the men's race begins hours later.
Stage 1, Presented by SRAM
Friday, May 8 – Lake Tahoe Road Race
Start/Finish Location: Heavenly Mountain Resort
Start Time: 10:00 a.m.
Stage Length: 74 miles
The first ever Amgen Tour of California women's UCI stage race will kick off in spectacular fashion. The 74-mile stage starts and ends at the Heavenly Mountain Resort high above South Lake Tahoe. This is a reenactment of the most gorgeous race that never was – in 2011 the men were supposed to race the scenic loop around Lake Tahoe until a freak May snow storm caused a cancellation. Just as well that this beautiful course was saved for its debut as part of the tenth anniversary edition Amgen Tour of California, and the first three-day women's stage race of its kind. The counter-clockwise loop around the perimeter of Lake Tahoe provides a bit of everything a race should have: twisting descents, fast straights, two challenging Queen of the Mountains (QOMs) and stunning views. The day will end with the brutal climb up the 15 percent grades of Keller Street back to Heavenly. This opening stage will produce a worthy winner from the international field.
Stage 2, Presented by Amgen
Saturday, May 9 – South Lake Tahoe Circuit Race
Start/Finish Location: Heavenly Mountain Resort
Start Time: 10:30 a.m.
Stage Length: 50 miles
Sure to be a crowd favorite, this circuit features great spectating opportunities with chances to see the women race by up to three times per lap. Heavenly Mountain Resort again hosts the start and finish for Stage 2, but with a different approach. This 25-mile circuit will be tackled twice, but instead of scenic lake views, the women will head into the tall trees of the Lake Tahoe forests. After a quick descent from Heavenly, they will ride off to the beautiful canyons of stage Route 89, but the return trip may not provide for sightseeing. The second half of the course features the switchback QOM of Apache Avenue followed quickly by the climb back up to Heavenly on Ski Run Boulevard to the finish line, and the end of two very challenging days in Lake Tahoe.
Media Contact:
Michael Roth, AEG
213-742-7155
mroth@aeg-la.com