Kaminokaze

Lets Cut to the Chase, No Diablo

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AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCES 2018 HOST CITIES AND RACE SCHEDULE FOR MEN'S AND WOMEN’S RACES IN MAY

2018 RACE SCHEDULE

DATE MEN
Sun., May 13 Stage 1 Long Beach
Mon., May 14 Stage 2 Ventura to Santa Barbara County (Gibraltar Road)
Tues., May 15 Stage 3 King City to Monterey County (Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca)
Wed., May 16 Stage 4 San Jose (Time Trial)
Thurs., May 17 Stage 5 Stockton to Elk Grove
Fri., May 18 Stage 6 Folsom to South Lake Tahoe
Sat., May 19 Stage 7 Sacramento

Date Women
Thurs., May 17 Stage 1 Elk Grove
Fri., May 18 Stage 2 South Lake Tahoe
Sat., May 19 Stage 3 Sacramento

cthenn

No Bay area hills huh? Good thing I've lost interest in this race, and professional stage racing in general.

Leinster

Any chance the South Lake stage will be the Etape this year, or will they just do Santa Barbara again?

Not that I wouldn't like them to have more action closer to our neck of the woods, but stages 4 to 7 are all within a couple hours' drive of San Francisco. It's not as if they're ignoring the Bay Area, just skirting around it rather than jamming right through it.

cccorlew

I wonder how they'll get from Folsom to South Lake Tahoe. Should be interesting as there are so few possibilities.

Spiduhman

Aah, no day off in May next year to pedal from home to viewing point of choice, wait, whizz - here they come... there they go! ...and eff off the rest of the day riding 'roun' - oh weeelll.

Jens win at Avila finish - that year I chose the South Higuera 101 underpass (a few miles from the finish), as there's a lil' chicane there and didn't want to be in the crowd at the end.

The race "official" got me a broom to sweep the gravel away with - methink I saved Jens' life, for the lead group riders clanked some as they passed, and Jens swore a blue streak whilst a few other jokers laughed as they cut to the inside, where the Highway Patroleons had parked their cruisers. Same "official" was able to persuade the HPs (thank me) to move their shaat, TG f'that, a few minutes prior.

Maybe TOC will be back to the CenCal in future ...maybe not?
King City, wow

Leinster

You'd like them to include a climb or 2 from the death ride, but it's hard to get to Markleeville without pushing the distance well over 100 miles, which they tend to not do.

Edit; Actually, looking back the last South Lake stage finish was 130 Miles from Lodi 2 years ago, and Toms Skuijins won a 3-up sprint. Could conceivably see them include Ebetts near the finish.

Scarbo

I was wondering the same thing.

Backroads from Folsom, through Placerville (Carson Rd/Pony Express), Pollock Pines (Sly Park Rd.), Mormon Emigrant Trail, HWY 88 (Carson Pass), HWY 89 (Luther Pass), and on to South Lake Tahoe? Should be interesting to see what they finally arrive at.

diphthong

just rode through that little chicane 2 weeks ago (on a visit to) slo to/from avila beach. there was plenty of loose rock/gravel in the road from the adjacent hiking trailhead parking.
i can only imagine the potential wipeout(s) with the peleton or escape group riding through at speed. kudos to you for your safety work.


king city indeed. blame the fires, then the rains, then the mud, then the slides in big sur.

4151zero

I'm planning to drag my 2 year old and wife up to this spot early monday, since her folks live nearby... we shall call it a visit with benefits

Any suggestions where to or not to park? I've ridden this road once before, and there are plenty of spots to pull off, especially after the rattlesnake park

Mon., May 14 Stage 2 Ventura to Santa Barbara County (Gibraltar Road)

2cam16

Nice to see MRLS is back for next year.

Scarbo

Yep. I miss the fact that Motogp no longer goes there.

Scarbo

The actual routes for stages of the Tour of California were announced today.

cthenn

Sheesh, doughnut hole around the Bay Area, save for a TT in San Jose. Boring route.

Scarbo

I don't know--I kind of like the route since they're going into the Sierra foothills to Lake Tahoe for a change.

Leinster

From the Stage 3 finish to the end of the race, only the stage 6 finish is more than a 2 hour drive from San Francisco. It's a boring route because it doesn't include cthenn's doorstep? How do you think anyone in San Diego, the Central Valley, or the whole half-a-state that lies to the north of the I-80 corridor feel?

I can't wait for stage 6, tbh.



And stage 3 looks like fun too.



There's 3 sprinter stages, 3 lumpy stages, and a TT. My only worry is that the TT might be a bit too long, and whoever wins it will just have to hang on to the wheels up to Tahoe for the GC.

Scarbo

I'm with you! It is going to be a spectacular stage for sure.

I really wish the ToC did TV coverage better, though. When the riders ascend the Kingsbury Grade from Nevada back into California I can just see the helicopter (should be plural--like they have in the TdF for better coverage) coming up over the crest of the Sierras upon a resplendent Lake Tahoe! The views will be amazing--even the views back over on the Nevada side will be because the Carson Valley is all green desert and will be lovely in May.

Leinster

After me going and talking up the race's parcours, I have to say I'm somewhat disappointed in the Etape California details that came out during the week. Starting in Folsom, like stage 6 above, but bearing absolutely no resemblance to the stage as ridden by the pros.

I had an ambition of doing the Etape this year if it was a NorCal stage, but if they're not doing the actual stage route, and really just going for a 90 mile out-and-back randonnee around Folsom, well I might as well stay closer to home and just go and ride Levi's Gran Fondo.

spingineer

It would be great if they can do Mt. Umunhum

UmneyDurak

Went to TT stage, and got to pre-ride the course before the pros on closed roads. That was super fun, and hurt a lot.

spingineer

I didn't do the whole route .. just from the Bailey descent to the finish ... and that part was hard. Even harder was going home, in the reverse direction. That headwind was brutal. Who needs the Specialized wind tunnel when you can get it naturally?

cthenn

Did you beat TJs time?!

prototoast

I was thinking of driving out to watch the finish in Sacramento Saturday. Any suggestions on places to park within walking distance of the finishing circuit?

UmneyDurak

With the power of

lol

Saw him finish, beast mode!!!!

bikingshearer 

Bring your bike, park in Davis (or Martinez) at or near the Amtrak station, take the Capitol Corridor to and from Sacto. Easy ride from Sacto Amtrak to the course. Easy, peasy, lemon squeasy.

2cam16

Damn,Bernal!