Modesto will be host of a coveted finishing stage for one of nine legs of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, a reward for effective lobbying and stellar hospitality as a starting stage five months ago, organizers announced Wednesday.
Also, Merced is one of eight new cities in the expanded tour and will be host of the start to its fifth stage after a night in Modesto.
"All the hard work and enthusiasm have paid off," Modesto Mayor Jim Ridenour said as a crowd of cycling fans, many of whom joined more than 300 volunteers in February, cheered.
Next year's 103-mile Stage 4, from San Jose to Modesto via a vicious climb up Mount Hamilton, will be a reverse of Feb. 20's Stage 3, when 167 cyclists sprinted from downtown Modesto amid much pageantry.
Other changes coming next year to the United States' most successful professional cycling race:
The tour will stretch nine days -- up from eight -- from Feb. 14 to 22, and cover more than 800 miles, up from 667.For the first time, riders will cross the Golden Gate Bridge.The new ninth stage, representing the overall finish, will run in San Diego County. Other new host cities in the valley are Davis, Clovis and Visalia. Like Modesto, Clovis will be the end of a stage, while the others are starting points.
The Central Valley will assume a larger role in the '09 tour. This year's race featured only two valley stops -- Modesto and Sacramento -- while next year's shows six. The Merced-Clovis stage will run entirely in the valley.
Modesto City Councilwoman Kristin Olsen said a stage finish boosts a city's economic fortune more than a stage start because racers, spectators and others spend more money on restaurants, lodging and shopping after a day's ride.
"There is a certain amount of prestige at the end, a lot more theater," said Modesto's Chris Murphy, a former bicycling industry executive.
February's race drew 1.6 million spectators, pumping $100 million into sales throughout the state, organizers say.
Several speakers spoke glowingly about Modesto's performance in February, hailed by tour organizers as "the best stage start in the three-year history of the Amgen Tour of California," Olsen said. "It created an exciting buzz throughout Modesto."
Steady rain gave way to a clear sky just before race time that day, adding a mystical aura as cyclists raced under Modesto's arch toward the steep Diablo Range. Crowds gawked from Modesto to Patterson, TV news crews chased the frantic pedaling, The Bee and modbee.com published multiple accounts and politicians still trumpet the event in speeches.
"That was one of the most unbelievable days, period, we've ever had in downtown Modesto," Murphy said. "We really shined that day."
Murphy said lobbying immediately began in earnest for Modesto to get a finishing stage. In addition to bringing sales tax revenue, finish cities enjoy free "lifestyle festivals" with cycling displays, demonstrations and other family-oriented activities, according to race presenter AEG Sports.
Hard-fought political battles leading to downtown Modesto's rebirth over the past couple of decades have transformed the city center into a perfect venue for a large-scale festival required for stage finishes, Murphy said.
Also key was February's gung-ho army of volunteers, more than 300 strong -- the most for a start city, some speakers said. Jennifer Mullen, executive director of the Modesto Convention & Visitors Bureau, said she's seeking even more for next year's event.
Kim Chandler of Modesto said he'll be there.
"This is the premier cycling event in the United States," Chandler said, soaking in Wednesday's festive atmosphere. "To have it come to a town like Modesto is great publicity, great for the city."
About 20 people wearing brightly colored Stanislaus County Bicycling Club jerseys rode to Wednesday's briefing and cheered enthusiastically. At one point, organizers beamed in TV personalities covering the ongoing Tour de France, the world's foremost cycling event; they announced the '09 Amgen lineup of host cities.
Amgen's presenter, AEG, teamed last month with the Tour de France's owner, the Amaury Sport Organisation, to promote each other's event.
Amgen, a biotechnology firm with its headquarters in Thousand Oaks, has been the California tour's title sponsor all of its four years. Kaiser Permanente, scheduled to formally open its Modesto hospital in October, is the local sponsor.
The tour has attracted world-class racers, including George Hincapie, Oscar Freire, Tom Boonen, Paolo Bettini and Fabian Cancellara. Levi Leipheimer of Santa Rosa, the tour's victor in 2007 and 2008, is scheduled to represent the United States in next month's Summer Olympics in Beijing.
"Winning the Amgen Tour of California has been a goal of mine from the beginning, no matter which races I compete in," Leipheimer said in a release. "This has always been a top priority for me."
Julie Hannon, Modesto's deputy parks director, said organizers have gathered nearly one-third of a $150,000 goal for donations to benefit the '09 tour.
Volunteers can e-mail czahn@modestogov.com or call 577-5346.
Bee staff writer Garth Stapley can be reached at gstapley@modbee.com or 578-2390.
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