Tahoe South Press Releases

MEDIA ALERT

LAKE TAHOE GUIDE TO AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA CYCLING COMPETITION

WHO:
Spectators, volunteers, residents, visitors, businesses, sponsors, media, and cycling enthusiasts

WHAT:
Amgen Tour of California returns to Lake Tahoe, May 19:

• Men’s Stage 5 races 132.4 miles from Lodi to South Lake Tahoe
• Women’s Stage 1 start/finish in South Shore 72.7 mile circumnavigation of the lake

WHERE:
Race headquarters: Heavenly Mountain Resort California Base Lodge
3860 Saddle Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

WHEN:
Thursday, May 19 from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Women’s Stage 1 race start approximately 10:50 a.m. with finish at 2 p.m. Awards follow.

Men’s Stage 5 concludes at approximately 3:45 p.m. Awards follow.

WHY:
Lake Tahoe is a leading cycling destination that attracts top athletes and Olympians from around the world including 350 cyclists competing in the Amgen Tour of California. These champions will climb, descend and break away along steep and winding stretches of the Sierra at speeds up to 50 mph.

ROAD CLOSURES:
Event organizers plan for minimal traffic delays, May 19 between 10:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. with rolling road closures. Residents, businesses, and visitors are encouraged to host viewing parties and cheer for racers as they pass. It’s advised to plan accordingly, especially from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. and allow an additional 20-30 minutes on each side of an intersection and one hour on each side of Spooner Summit. The Lake Tahoe Unified School District will have a half-day schedule the day of the race.

The anticipated start of the women’s race from Heavenly is 10:50 a.m. Riders are expected to reach Camp Richardson Resort around 11:10 a.m., Spooner Summit around 1:20 p.m., with the stage finish approximately at 2 p.m.

The men’s event will start in the morning in Lodi and will reach Meyers via Luther Pass at approximately 3:15 p.m. Stage 5 of the men’s race will likely conclude around 3:45 p.m. Riders will follow Pioneer Trail before finishing in the California Lodge parking area.

For route maps visit: www.tahoesouth.com/amgen.

PARKING:
Festival attendees are encouraged to carpool, bike and/or utilize the free shuttle, on a continuous loop available from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday, May 19. The pick-up location is 1051 Ski Run Blvd. (cross street is Paradise Avenue) and will drop off at Heavenly Mountain Resort’s California Base Lodge.

TOP VIEWING SPOTS:
The men will endure challenging hairpin turns and climbs passing several alpine lakes before reaching Hope Valley, which is between Kirkwood Mountain Resort and South Lake Tahoe. They will then turn at Pickett's Junction onto Highway 89, with a breathtaking ascent to the 7,740-foot summit of Luther Pass and then a steep grade descent into the Tahoe Basin. Recommended spots to cheer and celebrate the men’s race include; Hope Valley, Highway 89 (Luther Pass), Highway 89 off Cornelian Drive, intersection of Pioneer Trail and Mandan, and the intersection of Pioneer Trail and Ski Run Boulevard.

As the women speed around the lake clockwise the best places to watch are Bijou Community Park (10:50 a.m.), Camp Richardson, Emerald Bay, Kings Beach, Crystal Bay, Spooner Summit (intersection of Highway 50 and Highway 28), and Ski Run Boulevard.

Here’s a route preview video: https://youtu.be/am3iWtJiN8k.

Amgen Tour of California Women's Race Viewing Party at the Nevada Visitor Center is Thursday, May 19, from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Light refreshments and treats will be provided compliments of Tahoe Cakes by Grace. Andrew M. Homan, local author, will be signing and selling his book “Life in the Slipstream – the Legend of Bobby Walthour Sr.” Walthour was a two-time national and international cycling champion from the early 1900s. The athletes will pass by the Nevada Visitor Center at approximately 1:45 p.m.

ACTIVITIES:
Tahoe Transportation District is hosting a Lake Tahoe Bikeway Dedication ceremony, Wednesday, May 18 from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at Laura Drive and 4-H Road behind Lakeside Inn & Casino. The TTD and its partners developed the Nevada Stateline to Stateline Bikeway, South Shore Demonstration Project to address the demand for more pedestrian and recreation bicycle trails to provide connections to neighborhoods, employment centers, schools, and recreation facilities, while reducing environmental impacts associated with auto use. Info: https://www.facebook.com/

Strider Race is a fun event held at the Lifestyle Festival for tikes ages 2-5 years old. They will cross the same finish line as the athletes. Each child participating will receive a Strider Medal and an Amgen Tour of California goodie bag. Check-in is 12:30 p.m., race is at 1 p.m. Register online at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/strider

Volunteer spots are still available and no experience is required. Register online at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com. Registrants must be at least 18 years old, or accompanied by an adult. Questions contact Mike Frye with the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority at mike@ltva.org or 775-588-5900 x 309.

For real-time updates on events, promotions, packages, conditions and events in Tahoe South, The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority is on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TahoeSouth, Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TahoeSouth, YouTube: www.youtube.com/LTVA, Instagram: www.instagram.com/tahoesouth and use #tahoesouth to share posts. For Tahoe South information: 1-800-288-2463 or https://tahoesouth.com.

South Lake Tahoe Media Contact:

  North Lake Tahoe Media Contact:

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About the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority
Set at 6,300 feet, South Lake Tahoe is the only destination in the country that combines two strikingly different worlds: spectacular natural beauty and desirable resort amenities. The combination of outdoor summer activities includes hiking, biking, kayaking, golfing, swimming, fishing and boat cruises along with 24-hour nightclubs, fine dining, gaming and entertainment. For information about lodging, recreation and family packages at Lake Tahoe South Shore, call the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, 1-800-AT-TAHOE (1-800-288-2463) or go to www.TahoeSouth.com.

About North Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a crowned jewel among the sierras. Formed approximately 2 million years ago, it is the largest alpine lake in North America and the 2nd deepest in the United States. North Lake Tahoe spans across two states and boasts two-dozen beaches, twelve ski resorts, hundreds of miles of biking trails, half a dozen communities, and a growing number of nationally recognized human powered events, races and festivals. North LakeTahoe is a 45-minute drive from the Reno Tahoe International Airport, two hours from Sacramento International Airport and just over three hours from San Francisco International Airport. Visitor information centers are located at 100 North Lake Boulevard in Tahoe City and 969 Tahoe Boulevard in Incline Village. For the latest deals, check out the Cool Deals tab on www.gotahoenorth.com

About the Amgen Tour of California
The Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race created and presented by AEG that challenges the world's top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course that traverses hundreds of miles of California's iconic highways, byways and coastlines each spring. The teams chosen to participate have included Olympic medalists, Tour de France contenders, and World Champions. Amgen Tour of California is listed on the international professional cycling calendar (2 HC, meaning "beyond category"), awarding important, world-ranking points to the top finishers. More information is available at amgentourofcalifornia.com.