MODESTO -- Modesto welcomed and celebrated the Amgen Tour of California, North America's top bicycle race, with passion and energy for four years.
It became the city's top one-day sports attraction, and crowds of up to 25,000 lined the tree-lined streets to watch icons such as Lance Armstrong zoom by in the peloton. Downtown was turned into a vendors' heaven and media from around the world chronicled the race almost breathlessly.
And then, in a flash last month, it was done. Tour organizers released the 2012 itinerary, and Modesto learned it would not be a part of the Santa Rosa-to-Los Angeles program next May. Officials selected a San Jose-to-Livermore route for Stage 3, and Sonora was chosen as the starting point of Stage 4 for a trip to Clovis featuring a treacherous climb of Old Priest Grade Road below Groveland.
City spokesmen accepted the disappointment with grace and noted the Tour's preference for different routes and scenery. They also realized the local stage, which received rave reviews by all involved over the years, easily could return to the calendar.
Still, the news saddened fans and officials who had enjoyed Modesto's latest entry in the sports world. The Tour's exit from the city, though it is hoped to be temporary, was named The Bee's top local sports story for 2011.
1. It wasn't for lack of interest or excitement that the Tour pedaled away from Modesto. Fans cheered another chaotic finish last May, as Greg Henderson of Sky West edged Argentian Juan Jose Haedo and last year's stage winner Thor Hushovd for the win.
The Auburn-to-Modesto trip, toughened by a headwind, left riders weary and sore at the I Street finish line. Six months later, it was Modesto's turn to reach the end of the line. "Modesto is a fantastic partner and they have been for four years," said Kristin Bachochin, the tour's executive director. "We look forward to coming back to Modesto in the future."
2. Hilmar kicker Kurtis Bettencourt waited patiently while his coaching staff kept him loose by telling jokes to break the tension. Escalon coach Mark Loureiro called three straight timeouts to rattle the player who had missed two field goals in a 10-0 loss to the Cougars a month before. Bettencourt then delivered the boot of his young life — a 42-yard field goal with 19 seconds left in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 4 final. Down went mighty Escalon, the 2010 state small-schools champion and holder of a state-leading 25-game winning streak, 20-17 in what was the Stanislaus District's game of the year.
3. Chuck Hayes, the pride of Modesto Christian, thought he had extended his NBA career in the best possible way — a four-year $21.3 million contract with the close-to-home Sacramento Kings. Then he learned he had failed his physical due to a heart abnormality and the Kings voided his deal. Two days later after more extensive tests in Cleveland, the story took a favorable turn. Hayes' heart was enlarged only by a pouch on the right ventricle, said specialists, and was not problematical. They recommended he can continue his career, and the Kings added the happy ending by re-signing him for $1 million more than the original contract.
Basketball fans recognized Hayes' special heart years ago. They now had proof.
4. Reeves Nelson, another top-tier grad of Modesto Christian, led UCLA in scoring and rebounding last season as a sophomore. But by early December of his junior year, he was bounced from the team by coach Ben Howland for poor behavior after two suspensions. The tattood 6-foot-8 junior, an unmistakable presence, appeared to be headed for a professional team in Lithuania at year's end.
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