After a two-year absence, the Tour of California is finally coming back to Sacramento on May 11, and coming back with a bang. American’s highest-ranked stage cycling race is opening with its first stage in downtown Sacramento. Races will begin at the State Capital before charging along the Sacramento River, through Pleasant Grove, Lincoln and Auburn, back down along the American river, springing through Cool, and pushing back into Sacramento for the stage’s completion. In total, the riders will be completing 120 miles in just a few hours.
This year’s race will feature 16 of the world’s most elite cycling teams and 128 of the world’s best riders, including recent Tour de France winners Cadel Evans (2011), Chris Froome (2012), and Bradley Wiggins (2013). In fact, a good percentage of the riders in the AMGEN tour are veterans not just of the Tour de France but of the Paris-Roubaix, Giro d’Italia and the world’s other top races. With such talent, the pedigree of the Tour of California is inarguable. The coordinators of the race are predicting this year’s tour to be the most competitive yet.
In past years of the Tour of California, Lance Armstrong could be seen careening down 19th Street toward the finish line. While Armstrong has bowed out this time around, you can catch the next big cyclist zipping past you this May. For more information, as well as information on the May 12 Folsom Individual Time Trial, see here.
What: 2014 AMGEN Tour of California
When: Sunday, May 11, 10:50 a.m.
Where: California State Capital North Steps, 1100 L St., Sacramento
Cost: Free
