Thursday, Dec. 04, 2008

Quite a finish: Amgen Tour cyclists will spin through Modesto twice

Modesto residents will get a double-dose of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California when cyclists entering the city take two circuits in and around Modesto Junior College and Graceada Park before finishing the third stage in downtown.

Specific route details were released this morning at a press conference in Davis.

"We are pleased it will highlight the college and some of the parks and will take advantage of I Street," said Julie Hannon, acting director of Modesto's Parks, Recreation and Neighorhoods Department. "It's going to give fans a good chance to see. (The riders) are so fast coming in, this will provide for a lot more spectator opportunity."

The race, featuring an 800-mile course that runs Feb. 14-22, along with seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, is the largest and most prestigious road race in the United States.

Stage 3 will run from San Jose to Modesto on Feb. 17. A day later, first-time participant Merced will take the baton and be the site of the start for the fourth stage, which concludes in Clovis after a climb to nearly 4,000 feet when the riders head east toward the Sierra.

Last February, Modesto was the start of the race’s third stage. This year, it will be at the end of the 104.2-mile route from San Jose that includes a climb over Sierra Road (1,930 feet) within five miles of the start and another climb over Patterson Pass (a little over 1,500 feet)

Riders will get a good taste of what Modesto has to offer as they speed around town during their two circuit laps. After the noon start in San Jose, competitors are expected to finish in Modesto anywhere from 3:53 p.m. to 4:55 p.m., race organizers predict.

They'll come in to town after turning north on to Gates Road from Highway 132. They'll turn right on Shoemake Avenue and right on Dakota Avenue before turning left on to Kansas Avenue.

Riders will go east on Kansas and over the Needham Overpass, with a left onto College Avenue. Riders will zoom past Modesto Junior College and hang a right onto Coldwell Avenue, then a right onto Sycamore Avenue and past Graceada.

To get to the finish line at the intersection of 12th and I Streets, riders will quickly turn off Sycamore onto Needham over to 16th Street before heading west onto I street to do it all again after racing up 11th Street to get back onto College.

Hannon said members of the local organizing committee had been working closely with race officials in charge of picking a route, hoping to highlight some of the city's landmarks like Graceada on Sycamore, McHenry Mansion on 16th and I streets and the McHenry Museum on 14th and I streets.

The finish on I Street is advantageous for many reasons, Hannon said:

1. The width of the four-lane street will help accomodate cyclist's support teams, an expected media throng thanks to Armstrong and fan-friendly festival venues, not to menion hundreds of spectators.

2. The pass by McHenry Mansion and McHenry Museum offer possible signature spots for camera crews.

3. The courthouse lawn and the Gallo Center for the Arts also will help to accomodate the festive events.

4. The four-block straightaway from 16th to 12th will heighten the chance for a thrilling finish.

Hannon said the entry on Kansas, and having riders go over the Needham Overpass, was a way to avoid any logistical problems with the trains on Ninth Street.

"It gives us a lot of nice spaces along the route to view the bike race," said Hannon, adding that local organizers were thrilled when informed Monday that race officials had given the picturesque route the thumbs up.