Tour of California rolls through Modesto

Robert Gesink of Team Rabobank sprinted to victory today in San Jose in Stage 3 of the Amgen Tour of California bicycle race, which began this morning on the streets of Modesto.

Hundreds of people lined I Street downtown to watch a pack of the world’s top cyclists barrel through Modesto’s downtown on a 102-mile road course.

Modesto’s leg of the Amgen Tour of California drew a mix of diehard cycling fans as well as curious residents who wanted to grab a peak at elite athletes.

“We just wanted to see what it feels like,” said Bill Johnson, 62, a retired Modesto resident who watched the race from a 10th Street curb with his wife, Margaret.

Other fans knew who they wanted to see. They queued up at “autograph alley,” seeking signatures from the athletes.

“I’m here to see people you see on TV,” said racing fan Henry Briones, 52, of Tracy.

Most of Modesto’s downtown streets that were closed this morning are open, but a section of I street in front of the Gallo Center for the Arts is still shut for traffic. Race fans are watching the tour unfold on a giant television screen outside the arts center.

City leaders said the turnout exceeded their expectations. They wanted to make a good impression on Amgen in hopes the tour will come back to Modesto next year.

“This is something we needed for a long time,” Mayor Jim Ridenour said. “Now we just to need to carry it through to some more exciting things.” Today’s trek from Modesto to San Jose is expected to be the most grueling leg of the tour so far.

Seventeen cycling teams are en route to San Jose, speeding up 4,360-foot Mount Hamilton before descending into the Silicon Valley. Modesto is one of 14 cities hosting a start or a finish for the 665-mile Tour of California.

Modesto nabbed a spot in the race that belonged to Stockton last year. Nonprofits and businesses dedicated $63,000 to support Modesto’s bid. More than 300 people volunteered to help, acting parks director Julie Hannon said.

In its third year, the Tour of California has become a premier cycling event in the U.S. It draws an international audience of spectators and generated an estimated $100 million in revenue statewide last year.