Southern California - Tour of California "circuit race"???

They have announced the details for the Tour of California in 2008, but I don't see how a 93 mile stage through the Angeles Forest from Santa Clarita to Pasadena counts as a circuit race. I'm sure it will include a lap around the Rose Bowl, but it seems like a mountain stage to me. Anybody know something I don't?

I don't know anything you don't but I am super excited to see the route take Aliso Canyon Raod.

Ten laps around the Rose Bowl just like the Tue/Thurs night pelaton? :D

They have announced the details for the Tour of California in 2008, but I don't see how a 93 mile stage through the Angeles Forest from Santa Clarita to Pasadena counts as a circuit race. I'm sure it will include a lap around the Rose Bowl, but it seems like a mountain stage to me. Anybody know something I don't?

Stage 7: Santa Clarita to Pasadena (Sunday, February 24, 2008)
(Start time: TBD) By configuring the final stage of the 2008 Amgen Tour of California as a difficult point-to-point road race, there is a chance to see an overall lead change, as well as a change in the KOM jersey leader on the last day. The first 25 miles of Stage 7, sponsored by Amgen, include a gradual climb from Santa Clarita to the intersection of Angeles Forest Road. The route continues uphill to the highest elevation ever reached by the Amgen Tour of California on the towering Millcreek Summit (4,906 feet). Descending with an eight-mile run to Angeles Crest Highway, the route begins a fast plunge to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. After more than 60 miles from Santa Clarita to Pasadena, with the mountains and the Rose Bowl serving as the backdrop, the peloton will complete the stage and the race, with six five-mile laps on a very demanding circuit around the Rose Bowl. Organizers expect a hard sprint to the finish; as with all the Grand Tours of Europe, winning the final stage of the 2008 Amgen Tour of California is a prize coveted by the riders.

I don't know anything you don't but I am super excited to see the route take Aliso Canyon Raod.

Me too, It's gonna be exciting to watch the pros ride our daily training grounds.

The narrow descent down Angeles Crest should be fun as well. All the motorcycle riders are gonna be pissed off that the Crest is closed though.

The narrow descent down Angeles Crest should be fun as well. All the motorcycle riders are gonna be pissed off that the Crest is closed though.

It will almost certainly be a rolling closure, and those guys will make the descent from clear creek really fast, so it won't be a very long closure from there to La Cañada.

The "rolling closures" last year lasted for three hours.

Thanks Brandy.

Sounds like an exciting stage. If the Rose Bowl circuit is 5 miles, that must mean they're climbing in and out of the area each lap! This makes a tough choice for me: Watch the brutal climb, watch the windy descent, or watch the action 6 times at the Bowl.

Thanks Brandy.

Sounds like an exciting stage. If the Rose Bowl circuit is 5 miles, that must mean they're climbing in and out of the area each lap! This makes a tough choice for me: Watch the brutal climb, watch the windy descent, or watch the action 6 times at the Bowl.

What brutal climb?

What brutal climb?Aliso Cyn to Mill Creek, brutal for me.

Yeah I know these guys will probably blast up that thing, but it's a feat for me.

Aliso Cyn to Mill Creek, brutal for me.

The last half-mile on Aliso is probably the hardest. Now I just have to decide where I should watch from.

The last half-mile on Aliso is probably the hardest. Now I just have to decide where I should watch from.

I'll prob park at Bicycle Johns and ride to the top of Aliso.

The "rolling closures" last year lasted for three hours.

I watched from Balcom two years ago and I think it was "leaky" up until 30 minutes before and 15 minutes after. There were so many people that it was hard to get through though. It can probably vary a lot depending on how many people decide to watch from up there.

AJ & I will be riding out to Balcom this year--assuming a club group goes (like usual). Then, I've gone & volunteered for Sunday's stage, although I volunteered last year too, but heard from no one. If that happens again, I'll probably ride out with a group up to Aliso/Angeles Forest high point (never been there).