(Greater Palm Springs) – Strap on your helmets, Amgen Tour of California is coming to Greater Palm Springs!
For the eighth consecutive year, the Amgen Tour of California, a cycling road race that draws athletes from around the world, will be making its way along the west coast of Cali. On Sunday, May 12, hundreds of biking enthusiasts will push off from the city of Escondido, ride through 13 California cities over an eight day period, and end with a bang in Santa Rosa. The bikers will travel over 750 miles over the course of the tour, ranging from 84 – 126 miles per day.
At the finish lines of each segment, the host city has their installment of The Lifestyle Festival. The festival is a congregation of sponsors, small shopping areas, education on healthy living and much more. It’s the ideal place for cyclist and cyclist fans to unite to wait for Tour participants to cross that day’s finish line. The festival lasts all day and adds to the experience of the tour. Greater Palm Springs residents and cycling fans can check out the festival at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway on May 13th.
Amgen Tour of California is one of the nation’s largest sporting events and features elite professional teams and athletes from around the globe. This year, 16 of the top world cycling teams will be participating. According to a press release, Peter Stetina of Team Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda said, “as an American pro cyclist and recent California transplant, I am extremely excited to see where the 2013 Amgen Tour of California route will run. Being on an American team, Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda, with American sponsors, the Amgen Tour of California is one of the most important races of the year for us.” This excitement each year attracts over 2 million fans and spectators, all hoping to get a taste of the world of cycling. Fans looking for the full experience can even travel along the full tour with the cyclist as a VIP.
Before arriving in Palm Springs on May 13th, cyclists will come down Hwy 74 through the cities of Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, and Cathedral City. As the arrival date nears, the excitement is continuing to build in the Greater Palm Springs area.
“The City of Palm Springs is honored to host the best cyclists in the world for the 2013 Amgen Tour of California,” said Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet. “The cyclists will have a great race experience with beautiful desert scenery and unmatched hospitality when they arrive at the finish line in Palm Springs.” Known as the “Oasis of Southern California,” the Great Palm Springs Area will offer an amazing view and landscapes for the cyclists to take in as they travel down Hwy 74. In addition to perusing the Lifestyle Festival hosted by the city, spectators and cyclists alike will be able to enjoy the local array of activities such as art galleries, hikes, shopping areas, spas and much more all throughout the Greater Palm Springs area.
For the first time in the race’s history, the route will go from South to North, instead of North to South as it has in previous years. The two new cities added to the stages were Greater Palm Springs and Murrieta. These cities add to the already scenic view of the tour. “We take great pride in creating challenging, beautiful Amgen Tour of California routes that attract top international riders and showcase the state’s amazing terrain and scenery,” said Kristin Bachochin, executive director of the race and senior vice president of AEG Sports. “We also consider the many fan and rider route suggestions before we settle on a final course. This year will be not only the most competitive but the most spectacular with diverse California scenery, from coastal routes to mountain vistas.”
Each segment will present the rider with new and different challenges including seemingly endless hills, long distances and sprints. Murietta brings to the table a 1,880-foot elevation gain the last four miles of the race and the 3,864 peak of Mount Diablo in Escondido. Either of these two challenges are sure to separate the novice from the expert and add some tension to the race!
The Amgen Tour of California is a celebration of healthy living and cycling. Keep tabs on your favorite cyclist all throughout the race with online video and social media updates! It’ll feel like you’re right there with them, without having to leave the pool.
Amgen has been the premier sponsor since the first tour back in 2006, and will continue its status this year. Amgen works to improve people’s lives through biotechnology and a commitment to advancing science. The solutions Amgen has accomplished already have made dramatic changes to the world of medicine and have helped people fight disease all across the globe. The promotion of physical and mental healthy that cycling provides, is a great avenue for them to advocate their message of healthy living and improving lives.
Greater Palm Springs is looking forward to being a part of this great California tradition and welcoming cyclists and cyclist fans alike! We’ll see YOU at the finish line!
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