Jul 23, 2008 8:40 pm US/Pacific
San Jose To Host 4th Stage In '09 Tour Of Calif.
SAN JOSE (BCN) ―
San Jose will host the fourth stage of the nine-day Amgen Tour of California bicycle race through the state, city officials said at a news conference Wednesday.
The tour marks the largest bicycle race in the United States and Wednesday's news conference was held in conjunction with the announcement of all host cities that will participate in the 2009 competition.
In its fourth year, the tour will be expanded to cover 800 miles and pass through 16 cities between Feb. 14 and Feb. 22.
"This year is a year of exciting firsts for us," said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, presenter of the race, in a prepared statement. "For the first time, the Amgen Tour of California will take place over nine days, we will make our first visit to the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and visit San Diego County for what promises to be another exciting conclusion to the race."
The race will begin in Sacramento and end in Escondido, traveling through much of the Bay Area where it will make official stops in Santa Rosa, Sausalito, Santa Cruz and San Jose.
"San Jose is honored to host the Amgen Tour of California every year since its inception," Mayor Chuck Reed said in a prepared statement. "As a city that encourages cycling as an alternative form of transportation, the Tour raises awareness about the environmental and health benefits of cycling."
The 2009 event will mark the first time competitors traverse the Golden Gate Bridge as they pedal through stage three of the race.
The 2008 race drew 1.6 million spectators and each year the event has generated $100 million in economic growth for the state, San Jose officials reported.
The tour kicks off the road cycling season for many professional competitors, according to city officials.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)
