nikoncmk

Should be an AWESOME stage... (assuming the heavy hitters come)

Stage 6: Pasadena to Big Bear.
The queen stage will include 13,000-14,000 feet of climbing up to one of the ski resorts in Big Bear. Race organizers are waiting on clearance from the state because parts of the route include areas affected by the Station Fire. If the Forest Service gives clearance, the race would do 2.5 hours through the burn zone. From the start in Pasadena, riders will climb up to Crystal Lake, summiting there at 8,000 feet, then descending into Wrightwood and climbing back up to Big Bear Lake.

furiousferret

Awesome! right in my back yard!

urbanknight

Perfect!

ooga-booga

congrats to the greater los angeles area on receiving 3 stages
worth of racing. wish they could have had one in the orange county
or san diego county areas to spread the wealth. perhaps in 2011?
i'll still make the journey to see the queen stage though; that
promises to be fantastic!

vertical bob

Don't know how they could send them up 39. There are parts that aren't even paved and not wide enough for the cars + spectators. This map shows the route going up AC from Pasadena. If they were going up 39 the route would go up from the Glendora area. Either way it should be a great stage. https://www.steephill.tv/tour-of-california/

ooga-booga

sounds like a perfect spot for a breakaway!

urbanknight

Interesting. I was just assuming they would go Angeles Crest all the way to Wrightwood. Which parts aren't paved on the 39? I remember the road being crappy, but it was paved to the point at which we stopped for that huge wall of snow.

Also, too bad they moved it to May. February would have been perfect for leaving some of the grand stands up on Colorado from the Rose Parade.

Cassave

VB - Look again. It shows the race going east on Foothill then up 39.
It's gonna take a lot of roadwork to make that happen.
Possible that the highway guys are gonna open 39 to ACH since they'll
be doing so much work to re-build from the fire anyway?

JustMe

Besides being riddled with potholes and covered with debris between the Crystal Lake turnoff and junction with Hwy 2, there are places along that section that are maybe 10 or 12 ft. wide at most. Unless they're going to resurface that part of 39 above the Crystal Lake turnoff, I would think there would be serious question about using 39.

vertical bob

Well, the map on the link I posted definitly shows the blue line going up AC not 39. Have you been up 39 lately? there are 2 places where there are large dirt berms protecting that road from falling into the ravine. Both of those places there is nothing but dirt and gravel for maybe 100 yds. The last estimate I heard on Wrightwood Forum to rebuild the upper part of 39 was $78,000,000. I would guess that to be at least a 3 year project. On the Wrightwood forum there was some discussion on this subject. As to why they would even think of doing something like that in such a remote area. It seems that the Forest Service, in their infinite wisdom, has told the state to either rebuild and open the upper part of the road or return it to it's natural setting. Sounds like the same "powers that be" that descided that the Station Fire didn't require any outside help, that it was going to be easy for them to control.

ooga-booga

historically, that upper part of the watershed has been a money pit.
if the san gabriels get any significant rain this year, the debris flows
are on-look out below. in theory, it would be a fantastic ride/stage
running through there. with the state of the economy
and the angeles national forest though, i would be disappointed if
the road were fixed anytime soon...there are so many other pressing
and more deserving needs. i expect that part of the stage to be rerouted.
won't we all be on the big bear side of cajon pass, cheering the riders
on anyway?

steephill

The map/route I posted for stage 6 is highly unofficial. One of the race descriptions mentioned the stage would climb to Crystal Lake which implied rt39. I've been taking feedback and I also noticed the discussion here. Sounds like rt39 would be a great ride but impracticable for the logistics of a big professional bike race. Therefore, I've reverted to rt2 all the way to Wrightwood as I had originally posted.

cheers,
Steve

vertical bob

Yeah 39 would be great. It's the best climb in So Cal. Ask Lance. In 2004 he did a training ride up 39 and across AC back to Pasadena. Some great pic were posted on Charmichael's web site. That was the year that the authorities were chasing everyone out of 39 but Lance made it through. I don't know who was with him to take the pic and what kind of vehicle they were in but the Sheriffs got wind of him being up there and sent the heliocopter. Well they found him all right, there is a great pic of Lance sitting in the copter with the guys holding his bike on the upper stretch of 39.I seemed that they all wanted his autograph. It's interesting also that in the pic Lance was climbing in just a jersey and shorts in bright sunshine but by the time he got to Clearcreek he was bundled up in a jacket, stocking cap, and leg warmers. The freezing fog had blown in as it does often in May, so weather wise there is no guarentee they won't freeze next May as well.

TJKnight

Mabye the route will take the paved portion of HWY 39 up to Crystal Lake, then turn around and go back down, over to Pasadena, and up A/C to Wrightwood?

urbanknight

I don't think pro races like u-turns. They don't use a centerline rule... they use the whole road whenever possible. It's safer and more interesting that way.

Poor College Kids Road Race was an out-and-back, and I decided that there isn't much more stupid than having a race where almost the entire route is barely wide enough to ride 4 abreast (and that's if you don't mind holding hands with the guy next to you) in a peleton of 100 people.

gr@sshopper

I thought that it would have been fine last time I was up there. I really don't recall any dirt sections. There are a couple of points that the team cars couldn't pass the peloton, but it seems like that would be the only issue.

dolophonic

With the bottom part of the crest toasted going up the 39 is the best option, plus it's way harder that way. KOM @ Dawsons saddle..!

obie

Amidst all the hoopla I didn't notice that this stage 6 is on a Friday. Ugh.

The turnout for that weekend stage on Palomar last year was great.

They can't be serious about using 39. No way they want Event Services washing out and going over the side in their spanky new Volvos.

John R

Maybe the State will break out some of the stimulious money and fix Hwy 39. How cool it would be to see the tour teams climbing Hwy 39 to Hwy 2 then to Wrightwood and on to Big Bear.

vertical bob

Estimate to fix 39, $78,000,000 and 3 years

John R

Hey 78,000,000 is a drop in the bucket compared to the trillions wasted by the goverment. The whole stimulous package was a bunch of BS anyways.

vertical bob

To paraphrase Everret Dirkson $78 million here, 78million there, before long you are talking about some real money

Rumpled

It's announced as of today (sprints and KOM to come)
https://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com...es/stage6.html
Pasadena straight up 2 all the way to 138 to Silverwood then 18/Rim of the World around the North side of Big Bear Lake to a finish at Snow Summit.
I think I'd like to be one of the millions (okay maybe a few hundreds) at the finish.

ooga-booga

will probably ride up and wait at the last significant part up the the climb up to the big bear "plateau"
but i love the scenery at the dawson saddle area and it will be less crowded there even tho it's a kom
spot. come to think of it, dawson saddle it is.

sd_mike

So, they assume the roadway will be open then? Hwy 2 has a winter closure section, plus all the other rockfall/landslide issues. Great scenery, poor choice of roadway though. Lest we forget the long-term closure from Islip Saddle to Vincent Saddle (also the winter closure section)?