By Andrew Matranga, bicycling.com Map Editor
Ramping up for the Amgen Tour of California.
As we here at All Over the Map prep for the start of America’s biggest stage race this weekend, we wanted to highlight some key stages and crucial sections of the race.
Stage 1: Lake Tahoe – The opening stage of the tour is an 118.7-mile loop around the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe–starting at 6,800 feet and featuring three KOMs en route.
The race will roll-out through the Host City of South Lake Tahoe and head in a clockwise direction up the western shore of Lake Tahoe, where the riders will encounter the first of three KOMs (King of the Mountain) on this stage at Emerald Bay (elev. 6,850’), and a trip into Nevada–the first time the Tour of California has left the sate. The 27 miles of racing in Nevada will provide compelling scenery, including Spooner Pass (elev. 7,000’), the second of the day’s KOMs. Continuing south, the race will pass through South Lake Tahoe and head back north for another half lap around the lake. At King’s Beach on the north shore of the lake, the racers start the final 7.5 run to the finish over the 1,000’ climb to Brockway Summit–the highest point of the stage at 7,200’. After a quick descent and a left turn onto Northstar Dr., the racers climb a final 300 feet over the 1.5-mile route to the finish at the Northstar at Tahoe Resort.
Stage 4: Livermore to San Jose-Three tough climbs, including one HC climb, dominate this short, 82-mile stage. The two-mile climb up Mount Hamilton will provide fireworks, and the descent off the mountain will be white-knuckled–even for spectators. The mountaintop finish will be a must-watch.
Stage 4 is short, at just 81 miles, but what it lacks in distance it makes up with three grueling climbs. Two of the climbs are legendary in California lore. The riders come face to face with the daunting challenge of Mt Hamilton…the Tour’s first HC climb. The two mile climb to the Mt. Hamilton Observatory (4,130) offers a spectacular view of San Jose and Silicon Valley. Next is the treacherous descent down the front side of Mt Hamilton. After a few miles of flat riding, comes a right turn onto Sierra Rd. What follows is a 3.5 miles ascent with a 10% average grade and 1,700’ feet of climbing where racers will be greeted by thousands of screaming fans as they welcome home the finisher of the first true mountain top finish of the Amgen Tour of California.
Stage 7: Mount Baldy – At 76 miles and a mountaintop finish (a first for the Tour of California), the Queen Stage will decide the winner of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California on the final 15 switchbacks to the finish on top Mt Baldy.
If the Stage 6 individual time trial created some separation between the contenders and the chasers, Stage 7 will be the ultimate test of the rider’s resolve to capture the yellow jersey. Did they leave it all on the road in Solvang or did they hold back enough to survive one of the most difficult stages in the history of the Tour of California? It’s been called the Queen’s Stage and the first true mountain top finish in the Amgen Tour of California’s history.
Want more Tour of California? All Over the Map has you covered.
You can find all of the stages here.
Read a great article from the current issue about the course for stage 7, when the peloton will climb Mount Baldy for an epic mountaintop finish.
And here’s the start list with all of the riders.