Hermes

Here it is. https://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages

bikingshearer 

Stge 3 looks like the reverse of the 2007 Stockton to San Jose stage. That means Sierra Road first, Patterson Pass last. Plan accordingly.

Going from Visalia or wherever to Paso Robles sounds like a ring of hell from Dante's Inferno. The flat terrain. The wind. The absence of scenery. What do they think this is, Belgium?

DiabloScott

That San Jose to Modesto stage doesn't make any sense from a tactical viewpoint (early hills followed by 50 miles of flat), but it'll still be fun to watch from Sierra or Patterson.

BenRidin

Stage 2 looks fun. We should do a pre ride.

W/ the exception of Sierra, Stage 3 looks boring.

BR

spingineer

+1 ... all the huge efforts in the beginning of the stage will go by the wayside, and turn into a sprinters stage at the end of the day.

caloso

I'm ambivalent about Sacto having a prologue. It'll be cool to check out all the TT machines, but I really wanted them to show off some of the local routes.

rydaddy

I'm in!

I'm thinking of pre riding a part of stage 2 from Davis too. I might sit on top of a climb to catch a glimpse of them in slow-mo.

Pizza Man

By pre-ride do you mean leave an hour or so before the race and ride along the course, or just do the route sometime n advance?
I was wondering where the best place to watch Sage 2 would be. It'll be real difficult to view the race in more than 1 spot unless you drive. I'd really like to see them come across the GG Bridge, go over Devil's Slide, go through Half Moon Bay, up Tunitas and the finish too, but since I'll be biking it I think I'll ride the course from SF to Tunitas and wait for them there on one of the lower steeper pitches.

For Stage 3 I think I'll take BART to Dublin and ride out to Patterson Pass and watch from the top.

If I'm around, I'd like to watch the prologue in Sac, but I'll probably be racing down at Cantua Creek/Pine Flat.

uspspro

Stage 2 - I want to watch on the steep part of Tunitas or on Bonny Doon.

Stage 3 - Sierra Rd for sure! and check out the stands at the starting area in SJ.

BenRidin

I would suggest doing the ride well in advanced of the actual date. Who knows, we might get passed by some training group.

BR

bikingshearer 

Stage 3 - the view from the top of Patterson Pass will be pretty good. You can't see as far down the wqest side from the top as you can see down the east side, but it's still a pretty good view of some pain and suffering.

DiabloScott

Yeah, plus there will be windmills in the background and that'll look good on camera so the likelihood of getting on TV is greater!

Specialized Angel is likely to be on Sierra though.

spingineer

I won't be able to join you guys for Stage 2 ... I'll be doing Course Marshall duties in Sausalito.

BenRidin

Mmmm... The Angel!

qpliu

The 2nd KOM on stage 2 is on Ice Cream Grade, but I'd probably watch on Bonny Doon Rd near Smith Grade.

Or, if there's rain or something, I could watch the finish out the window from work, assuming that I'll still be working then where I'm working now.

DiabloScott

With all the news about the local stages I never bothered to check the southern ones. Turns out they nixxed the mountain top finish on Palomar too - now it goes up and over and finishes in Escondido.

I understand it's all about the money and the money is in the cities but this race will never be big time until we get a real mountain stage.

uspspro

last years Hamilton/Sierra stage was good.

sure the finish was in downtown SJ, but sierra was close enough to the end that there was no catching the break.

2008: https://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com...e3-profile.pdf

taxi777

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Gee3

So am I seeing this right? On stage 2 they'll be riding along Ocean Beach and up Hwy35/Skyline and descend Hwy1 to Pacifica on their way to Half Moon Bay and beyond?

Man, that's my 'hood! Sweet! I'm taking the day off. Atlhough I want to see them pass over the GG Bridge! That'll be a cool picture!! I better remind my wife to take a differnt route to bring our daughter to school that morning! haha!

My buddy, Luis, from TX, will probably be coming out that weekend as well. So maybe we can hook up with some of you guys to ride that weekend!

The other brutha Gary

spingineer

I still think they should have ended that stage at the top of Sierra.

Pizza Man

Our office is closed for President's day that day, so no need to take extra time off work.
Your daughter's school is probably closed that day too.

bikingshearer 

There has to be some limits on how hard the climbing is, as most Euro-pro teams don't want to be epic climbing stages in February. Too early in the season, and all that.

Having said that, wouldn't a mountain-top finish on Diablo be soooooooo cool? (And there should even be plenty of room for team busses, etc. in the parking lot just below the summit.)

Ty.S

Wouldn't be much room for anybody else though .

A Diablo finish would certainly be a nice way to end though, especially with that little kick at the top. It would be really cool to see what kind of times these pro-tour guys put in. The Diablo Challenge wouldn't be the same after something like that.

huytheskigod

No cantelow? No Mix?

scorpio516

The middle of stage 4 looks semi promising (but only tops out @ 4000' around Oakhurst). The last 40 miles down hill into Clovis is kinda silly for the only stage with a little bit of mountains. Still its only about 6000' of climbing.