Amateurs tour Amgen route

Cycling fans, local politicians, event volunteers and schoolchildren were all present Thursday in Solvang Park to see the Solvang and Santa Barbara routes revealed for the Amgen Tour of California - the biggest professional race in the country.

As part of the announcement, members of the public were invited to ride with race organizers and guest professional cyclist Tony Cruz to experience the Solvang route, a 15-mile individual time-trial circuit.

There was an interesting collection of cyclists lined up on the start line, including Solvang Chamber of Commerce President Linda Johansen.

“This is my Danish riding outfit,” she said, adorned in a Danish style bonnet and shawl on top of her riding fleece, spandex leggings and Amgen Tour of California socks.

The 2008 race, drawing some of the top athletes in the sport, will be held on a 650-mile course, beginning in Palo Alto Feb. 17 and ending in Pasadena Feb. 24.

Stage five will begin and end on the streets of Solvang on Friday, Feb. 22. The start to stage six will be hosted by Santa Barbara on Feb. 23, traveling 109 miles to Santa Clarita.

The 2007 race drew more than 1.6 million spectators, with an estimated tourist impact of

$1 million for Santa Barbara County.

“We're happy to see AEG and Amgen come to Solvang for the second year in a row,” said Solvang Mayor Pro Tem Jim Richardson.

Richardson said that the first time trial, held last February, upset some of Solvang's residents due to the road closures.

He said that the change in the route's starting location from the Old Santa Ines Mission to Solvang Park allowed for a Highway 246 bypass to remain open.

“There will be no blocking emergency access or necessary traffic,” he added.

The change has added a steep climb up Alisal Road at the start of the Solvang Time Trial, but otherwise follows much of the original route - traveling through Ballard and Los Olivos before taking the climb over Ballard Canyon Road and returning to Solvang.

“This is a phenomenal time-trial course,” said Dan Rudd, a cyclist and Santa Barbara stage Local Organizing Committee member, as he and a group of fellow Santa Barbara cyclists prepared to ride the 15-mile course.

The stage six Santa Barbara-to-Santa Clarita route remains identical to the 2007 route, with the exception of a detour through downtown Carpinteria, complete with a mid-stage sprint.

Santa Barbara Mayor Pro Tem Das Williams and 3rd District county Supervisor Brooks Firestone were also on hand for the announcement.

“We are a symbol of cycling in the world,” said Firestone, whose district includes the Santa Ynez Valley.

Firestone added that “ębleskiver and great wine” would await both the Tour of California competitors and spectators that come to the area.

Cruz, a Team Discovery Channel cyclist and former U.S Olympian, was on hand to answer questions and sign autographs.

“It's pretty amazing to see the turnout and the energy here,” he said to the crowd, including fifth- and sixth-graders from Solvang School, with whom he spoke before the press conference.

“This is an awesome race, said Cruz before riding the time trial route with the public.

Cruz has trained in Solvang with Discovery Channel for four years, and in last year's Tour of California helped his team achieve a second-place finish. Discovery Channel teammate Levi Leipheimer won the Solvang time trial, and went on to be the overall tour winner as well.

“I actually feel like I'm part of a community here, and you push harder to show the people here that you appreciate the support,” he said.

More details about the Amgen Tour are available on the race's Web site, www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

Glenn Wallace can be reached at 688-5522, Ext. 6007 or gwallace@santamariatimes.com.

December 7, 2007